Comparing schools

Both Beloit and Knox have a student:prof ratio of about 12:1. Each college has both international and domestic study programs. Both colleges offer over 100 organizations and encourage the creation of new organizations. Both colleges support the community with service projects and expect their students to participate. Each of these colleges challenges their students to question their professors and converse/debate in an intellectual and respectul manner. Tuition for the colleges is about the same. Beloit offers a FYI (First Year Initiative) program. The incoming new students are divided into groups of about 15 students. The professor for this class is also their academic advisor. It seems like a great way to encourage, guide, and assist students with breaking into college life and study habits. Their sophmore program encourages students to take a wide variety of classes. They encourage students to mix it up with taking Physics and Theater together or taking Calculus and Music. A Beloit student can double-major in Political Science and Dance. Academics are customized and not pre-determined by the administration. Knox has an open class, multi-discpline policy also. Larger colleges expect that their students will focus in one direction only. These colleges encourage their students to diversify their studies. It is really refreshing compared to traditional college education. The freedom to choose is perfect for Christopher. He will be a student that takes Chemistry and Astronomy along with Art and Music.

From Beloit, he could take a bus to O'Hare airport, take a city train or bus to Union Station, and then take the Amtrak to Waterloo (just north of Fort Wayne). Galesburg has an Amtrak station in town. He could take the train from Galesburg to Chicago and then to Waterloo.

He has visited Ball State University and does not appreciate the focus on fraternity life. Beloit and Knox each have fraternities, but Greek life is not as dominant as it is on larger campuses. He has visited Kalamazoo College only on a brief basis taking Zeke's cousin back up to school. He visited both Hiram and The College of Wooster. I did not go with him on these tours, so I can't offer any details. All I have on those schools is the Hiram's campus felt more comfortable, but Wooster's academics seemed more challenging. I want to take him to Earlham for a visit. Maybe we can do that in December on a Saturday.

I think the decision will boil down to who accepts him and what they offer in scholarships. It's up to him now. Interviews at Beloit and Knox went well. Now he has to write his essay and submit the applications. After these steps are complete... we wait.