Knox College is a small school in a small town, but it educates students with big dreams. Knox students make the campus what it is, and tolerence is very high here. We are one of the most diverse campuses in the nation, and a variety of opinions permates every discussion, in classways, hallways, dorm rooms, and even bathrooms.

We are a quirky school with a long history and various unique traditions. Right now, we are awaiting Flunk Day, our Spring Carnival, held on a different day each year. The celebration causes all classes to be cancelled, and the students enjoy a day of relaxation, music, carnival rides, and for many, drinking.

Knox is on a unique 3-3 calender. The academic calendar has three terms, Fall, Winter, and Spring, and we take three classes during each of these ten week terms. This calendar has its pros and cons, but, personally, I love it! The classes are intense, covering an 18 week semesters worth of material in only 10 weeks, but, because you are so immersed in the material, you learn it more thoroughly.

Our class sizes are small; the largest class I've had is my current Astronomy class, which was capped at 34, and the smallest class I've taken is 14, although I have heard of classes with as few students as 6. These really allows you to get to know both your professor and your classmates, which is very helpful come finals week, when you are scrambling to write papers and organize study groups.

Your classes will definately extend outside your actual classrooms. I took a Gender and Women's Studies class my first term at Knox, and after chatting and become friends with one of my classmates, we decided to start a feminist radio show and blog!

Knox is diverse in every aspect. We have a high international student population. My friends come from Spain, Israel, Mexico, the Caribbean, Ecuador, and China (in addition to suburbia). These friendships have truly enhanced my understanding of the world.

In addition to international diversity, we also have a high percentage of minority students and LGBT students. Almost everyone is on a scholarship here, but familal incomes range from very low to very high.

Parties are pretty prevelant here; the campus is located in the middle of a small town surrounded by cornfields. This can definately lead to bordem, and bordem can definately lead to drinking or taking drugs. But, the scene is pretty easy to avoid if its not your thing.

Your freshman year, frats parties are pretty central to the social scene, but again, it is easy to find something else to do. Movie nights are big around here; our library has a great selection of films.

Knox does a decent job of bringing speakers to campus, but they usually present on weekdays, so students do make their own fun on the weekends. If you can, bring a car! Not much is within walking distance, but a car can get you to Peoria or other larger cities, and if you have a car, you can avoid taking taxis to the movie theater or Target (they get really pricey).

Knox is pretty much percieved as a haven for extreme liberals, hippies, athesists. Its students are generally stereotyped as smart kids who aren't quite at the Ivy League level, but that may be because Knox students definately party.

Knox is undeniably left-leaning. In a campus of nearly 1400 students, the College Republicans can claim 6 members. But, the campus does have a diverse political scene, as well as a very wide range of religious beliefs. And, the whole campus does not fit the hippie stereotype; we have several Greek organizations (not that some of the Greek kids aren't hippies). We are smart, and many of us were accepted to the Ivy League schools, but choose Knox for its much more laid back atmosphere.

Knox is a pretty crazy place, and it definately takes a certain kind of student to flourish here. Our cheesy tagline on the folders we give to prospective students is "Are You Knox?" But, in reterospect, it is a pretty important question. You must be self-motivated to succeed here and creative in order to fully experience everything the school has to offer. Definately visit before you make your decision and talk to students; we are generally friendly, if a little akward, and it will give you a better idea if "You Are Knox."