Knox College Top Questions

Stay Focused and determined on all your goals and never give up.

If I could go back and tell my high school self one thing, it would be to treat myself with more kindness. I spent too much of my young adulthood criticizing myself and comparing myself to others. Perhaps it's because I'm from a generation that's been pressured to succeed, one where success is narrowly defined as "being the best." I tried my best at whatever I did, whether it was a swimming race or a paper; but like most of us, my best was rarely perfect. What I thought were failures--lost contests and grades under an A--were really just shortcomings. By being kinder to myself and more accepting of those shortcomings, I could have learned more from my experiences. Instead of being disappointed, I could have appreciated my accomplishments and tried to understand my mistakes. Success is not based on numbers and plaques. I don't remember my grades from high school or the names of awards I recieved, but I remember being proud of writing a poem and finsihing my first lab experiment. What really lasts is your willingness to grow and learn, and you can only do that by loving yourself first.

I promise you are going to find a place to fit in. You're not abandoning your friends by coming here, and you will make a large amount of new, wonderful, amazing friends who will support you 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}. Don't worry about the music either; you're going to be so busy with rehearsals and private lessons and personal practice time that you won't know what to do with yourself. Also I know you're really going to miss Angel (and sometimes the homesickness does get overwhelming), but you do get an awesome beta fish, and your family is only a phone call away. Everyone that you love will still be there when you get back.

I would tell myself to not worry. Life goes quick and risks are meant to be taken. College is hard and school work is important. In order to succeed I need to put in the time and effort. I need to go to teachers and make sure I am well prepared. I need to leave my comfort zone because in college there is no one that wants to be a friend with a non-social person. Be social and take care of school. Parties will be there for the next four years so don't worry about not being cool because you do not party. Parties are the same no matter what, even if you are not there to experience them. Do not worry about women either. They will distract you from your schoolwork so worry about school above all. That is all.

To rephrase a well-known song, a little less thought and a lot more action please. The person you are on Day one of orientation is not the person you will be by Thanksgiving break unless you refuse to do things. So try things- clubs, auditions, classes. Sit down with strangers and start asking questions. Go and try out for a sport you've never done or choir. Join a volunteer group. Just do more than something, do many things. I don't mean overwhelm yourself, but don't limit yourself just because it's your first term of college and you're new to this. College is a four year shooting star that moves so quickly. In one year, my entire self-definition changed drastically and it's a beautiful thing. Just doing things without giving myself the time to think and psyche myself out made transitioning into my new life easy and enjoyable. I watched people transfer out of school after only 10 weeks because they thought too much about how different everything was. I liked high school. I didn't want to change, but that doesn't mean that I didn't absolutely need it.

I would tell myself to strive to be who you are. Do not let the people around you affect the nature of being. There will be great people that will help you in many ways, but there are people in the world who struggle with themselves and unknowingly draw negativity from the people around them. Stay positive and work alone if you have to. Maintain integrity and be a leader. Everything else is just a detail.

To enjoy every moment, and know that even when something seems to be the most stressful desicion in the world, it is part of the best experience of your life. I would also encourage myself to take classes outside of my comfort zone, and maximize the benefits of a liberal arts education to the fullest degree. I was a theatre major and now I am going back to Graduate School at the University of Chicago for my masters in Social Service Administration. Had I not had a liberal arts education, I am positive this transition would not be possible today. I only wish I had opened these doors a little earlier during my time at Knox College by exploring all of the options available to me at that time.

My time at Knox College was an invaluable experience that helped make me the person I am today. Prior to enrolling in college I was someone with a strong set of opinions, yet I was afraid to express them. Knox gave me the courage and the confidence to express my opinions, while also forcing me to critically think about why I held such opinions in the first place. Knox forced me to challenge my own assumptions about the world, as well as those held by others. The end result was that I was able to come away from the experience with a much broader world view that served to strengthen my position on some of my views while totally changing my perspective on some of my other views. Thanks to Knox College I can proudly say that I am a more informed individual with the capacity to undertsand my worldview in the context of other peoples' perspetives.

College is an experience for the better, that's for sure. You get to meet new people which definately helps your social skills. Besides the college social life, the education now a days to get a good job is absolutely a deciding factors in who gets the job and who does not. You learn the reality of being out on your own, with nobody to fall back on. It has certainly been a maturing process for me and I am sure the majority of college students as well.

What I have recieved after attending Knox College for only one year has been so amazing, it's difficult to put into words. Notonly have I recieved an interactive and stimulating education, but I have recieved a deeper understanding of myself. I have always been an independent person, so living far away from home was never a pressing issue. It was the time I spent with others, others who had different life experiences and different perspetives than I had, that made me more aware of who I was and who I wanted to be. Being away from my hometown, family, and childhood friends allowed me to introspect and find different habits and ways of thinking that felt natural to me - I just didn't know they existed. I have found a home amongst those at Knox College and I will be forever grateful that I found an institution that encourages diversity and open-mindedness in such an inclusive environment.

Don't waste your time trying to plan out every single detail; every single class, what extracurricular you will do, what your dorm will look like, etc. because IT WILL CHANGE. Go with the flow of things, take classes you normally would not take, try new clubs, meet new people and watch yourself at parties. And although many college students will maintain their highschool maturity, do not let others stop you from being who you are and doing what you want. Live life for you and enjoy it! Also do not pass judgments on others- they are not worth the time of day and college IS way too short. Be more confident because you will do great things. :)

"Julia, you have to stop being such an introvert. All those orientation events you're thinking about not going to? Go to them. Trust me, it'll make your first night on campus easier. Also, sign up for more clubs. The Anime Club is not only good for watching a great show every Thursday evening, but for meeting some potential friends. They are a very wacky group. You'll love them. Try out the Ballroom Dancing Club, too. You may be a bit awkward at first, but you'll get the hang of it. Plus, it makes for good exercise. I also suggest you get a job on campus your first year. I can't help but feel that getting a job my first year would have made getting a job this year a lot easier. Besides, it's actually quite fun working. The people you work with are patient and entertaining and you feel extremely accomplished. Oh, and maybe learn some computer programming over the summer. It'll be a big help for when you decide to minor in computer science."

Stephanie- try your best, even though it may seem like a better idea to follow the beat of a new drum, stick with the beat in your heart. Don't forget how strong we started in freshman year! I know that all the AP classes might begin to take too much of your time, but please for our sake just keep pushing through it. Start looking for scholarships early, mom and dad will have a rough time in a year or two and we will lose almost everything. Start taking biology classes and listen closely in chemistry class; it will help you so much when you graduate. Most of all listen to the voice inside of you, no matter what anyone else tells you or how much someone tries to influence you-the only person and opinion that matters is your own. You don't need friends that will not cultivate your needs to grow. Let the people that hold you back go, you will make it through everything without their help. P.S. Don't forget to tell mom how much you love her- she needs a little extra support right about now.

I would definitely say to myself remember to have a balance between school, work, and fun. If push comes to shove then ALWAYS choose school, because a degree will look a whole lot better than a dead end job or a picture on facebook. Another thing I would tell myself is that I'm doing this for me not for anyone else, so do your best which is all you can do.

There is some useful advice I would give myself if I could go back in time to talk to my high school senior self: start your applications early, learn to take useful notes, practice effective studying, get into the habit of sleeping early and learn to maintain a schedule by making a temporary schedule and following it.

Back then, I would've told myself that mistakes are inevitable, and also that while college might not be the experience I expected it to be, thus far it has provided me with all the tools necessary to go out into the world as a strong, independant individual. I wouldn't change anything I've done in college, even if it did take me until this year to get a grip on what I want to do with my life. The only thing I wish I would've encouraged my younger self to do is to join some of the literary magazines on campus, and get more experience in the writing/publication process. I would also congradulate myself on doing a good job picking out a college that is perfect for me!

I would tell myself not to sweat so much over the small things. I wouldn't have worried so much about fitting in, my high school GPA, and picking the perfect school. I think you can be happy and fit in at most schools if your attitude is open. I would have been more independent and learned to do things on my own (laundry and cooking) before I arrived on campus. The transition was fairly easy because Knox College made an effort to bring the freshman in early to introduce them to college life. I would just enjoy the last days of high school because you don't travel the same path again.

My biggest advice for students and parents that are looking for the best college is to VISIT THE CAMPUS. If the student is planning to live on campus, then it is essential to take a tour of the school, sit in on a few classes, and even stay overnight with a host student if possible. Your college will be your home for the next 3-4 years, so it is important to be familiar with it before you decide to enroll. After you select your college, please be sure to make the most out of your experience. The years will go by extremely fast and you do not want to look back on your college experience and say "Gee, I wish I had done this or that." It is a great idea to fully participate in your college's "new student orientation." This is a great way for you to meet new people and develop lifelines while you are away from home. Also, be sure to join a few extra-curricular activities. Most of all, study hard, read your books and go to class! College is a place for you to learn and academia should be your biggest priority.

To find the right college, it is necessary to visit the college first. If you don't know what it looks like, how the students interact, how classrooms are set up, the odds of you enjoying your experience are so much lower. Know exactly what you want your experience to give you (a proper education or best friends or a career opportunity or fabulous networking) before you choose. If the school doesn't have your major, don't even bother applying or visiting. Take into account what racial, political, and socio-economic diversity means to you, and if it could make or break your decision. If financial issues are a problem, find a school that makes that problem disappear. Remember that talking to students, professors, and alumni helps you get a guage of what sort of school you are considering, and if you fear peer pressure, try to make friends during orientation to keep form falling into the wrong crowd. The goal is to get a great education and have a good time -- otherwise, you can always transfer, but that takes more time the second time around. :)

While the school I chose was not my first choice initially, over the course of my senior year I started to grow more attracted to what my school had to offer. The school seemed to offer more opportunities to acquire scholarships and receive financial aid then did the other schools. And during my visits, I was always encouraged to have individual meetings with the admissions counselors and the faculty members making me feel that the school was looking for my best interest and that they wanted me to attend their school more than I may have wanted to at the time. If I could give a parent or a student advice about finding the right college is to keep all your options open until the final decision deadline and definitely go and visit the college and the amount you learn, see and hear about the college during a single visit is worth more than any information you can find on a brochure or a website. Consider all the aspects the college has to offer when choosing a college. Academics and rankings may be important to consider, but it doesn't mean anything if you end up not liking the school.

I would tell parents not to pressure their kids too much into making quick decisions. I would advise anyone to keep their horizons open if they don't know what they want. You might be surprised what catches your eye when you're exploring. To get the most out of college one should get out and try new things. Even though new experiences and environments can be terrifying, its well worth the initial pain to make connections and utilize what your college has to offer.

Research colleges, a lot, big ones, small ones, liberal arts, other kinds, more than you would ever want. Then visit those that sparked your attention the most. Ask questions about the college and what happens after graduation to students passing by and to alumni (ask the school, they usually have a list on hand of alumni willing to be contacted by prospies). And if you are like me and usually don't have any questions until after you're gone look and listen while you are visiting, talk to students. Get a feel about the kind of people who go there. And if you think of questions afterwards write them down so you don't forget them next time you visit a college/talk to someone. There are only three questions that really mater when you decide on a college: Is this place academically sound? Could I live/go to school here for 4 years? What can I do once I am out? The rest isn't really that important. Because as my father says "Education is the only thing no one can take away from you" and "don't let schooling get in the way of your education". ;)

Pick a college that feels right to you, not because of the cost. Any college that has a few of your interests will help you decide what you want to do, even if you're 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} sure you know what you want to do, you might find something else that you want to do insead.

During my college application process, when I asked my parents this question, their answer was, "Whatever you do, do not let cost be a factor!" That is why, despite the fact that I am struggling to pay my own way, I chose to attend a school that is best-suited to my aspirations at a four-year institution. My only constant source of trouble is my perceived inability to fund my continued enrollment at a school, who's spiritual essence, or creed, when followed to it's natural conclusion legitamately scorns the very notion of paid tuition. Sadly, since our society has not yet realized that such institutions are the fundamental backbone of technological and social evolution, cost continues to be a 'V.I.P. List' that serves to divide the social classes, when a diploma in our society is a ticket to the middle-class. So before the system is reformed, your options are to pick a fat university where you can get a processed degree and be shoved through the system like anchovies, or submit yourself to debt and attend a school where your educational experience ammounts to more than just a multiple choice exam. FREE UNIVERSITIES PLEASE!!!

When choosing colleges, for many students, it starts out with hundreds of choices about the size, location, and price of schools. In reality while financial constraints are a major factor in choosing a school, I believe that in order to find the right school, it just has to have the right feel and really define the people who go there. Once you've visited many schools of all shapes and sizes, that's when you should make your decision. While Ivy league schools are great, most people can't afford to go, so instead of wanting an education that's grossly over-priced I say choose the school that feels right, that fits your own individual personality. When you do find the school that fits you, you'll know exactly how to get the most out of the college experience. Just make sure when you do pick that perfect college that you know the people you meet there will be life-long friends and will help you indefinitely get the most out of attending college.

My biggest advice regarding the college search is to not stress over it too much. I know that choosing a college is a big step, but it is important to remember that "the right college" cannot be found through some miracle formula. Mostly, your college is what you make of it. I think that any college has the potential to be "the worst college" as well as "the best college," but it has to do with a blend of whether or not the school fits you as well as whether or not you are making an effort to have the best college experience. Don't be afraid to try out for a sports team or a play; don't stop yourself from talking to that person sitting near you at dinner. However, if the school is just not fitting your needs, don't be afraid to consider transferring. It all comes down to whether or not you think you are receiving the best education to achieve your future goals.

Please visit the campu and classes and ask yourself, does this fit your lifestyle and your way of living your life.

On selecting a school, I would say that visiting each school while it is in session and the student body is visible is key. The websites, admissions counsellors, malings, pamphlets, and other sources that students use to judge what school they should attend are not enough to make a fully informed decision. These sources provide important information to narrow the search, but seeing the campus and its inhabitants can prevent a good admissions campaign from becoming a negative college experience. In order to judge whether one will fit in well on a campus, they must be able to see the student body interacting and going about their day, so winter trips where many students opt to remain inside may be less productive than visits during periods of nicer weather. As far as making the most of the college experience, I have one piece of advice; don't let any oppurtunity or activity that interests you, even slightly, to go ignored. Look into everything that could hold some enjoyment or benefit, you only have 4 years to experience life as an undergrad so make the most of it.

Pick somewhere that you know will be the best academically--don't go to a school for the people, or because you know there will be a lot of parties, or because you think the dorms are pretty. Go to a school that will give you the strongest education and academic experience--after all, the purpose of college is to learn and prepare yourself for the future. Otherwise, you are just wasting your money!

I highly suggest visiting and even staying a night in your prospective school. Talk to a variety of students, even the ones who don't like your friends in high school - not just the admissions counselor. Apply to a lot of schools, at least four, so that you are not stuck in the end as I was with just three. Take the chance of a more challenging school over an easy school - you can find easier classes, and you can adjust. It's better to be too busy than to be bored. And once you get to school, be open and crazy and excited, look into studies, arts, and genres you had not before, and walk into rooms full of strangers with a high-held chin and with ands extended in friendship. Don't be afraid - you have your whole adult life to be anxious and fretting over taxes and job-cuts and spouses and children. Instead, be bold. Know yourself, and if you don't, then find yourself and enjoy it. College is now, and only now.

Many people focus on going to a school with a "name" or a reputation for something, like research. However, if those kinds of schools don't fit you as a person or your personality, it doesn't matter what their merits are, they are not going to give you the best education. The best education comes from a school that fits YOU. College is about getting a degree and hopefully securing future employment, but it's also about improving yourself as a person. College should help you learn not only about school subjects, but also about your own subjective take on the world and on yourself. At graduation, you should be a pro in whatever major your choose, but also know yourself better than you did four years before. Search for the college that focuses on you and your own personal development, as well as your academic development.

Make sure you visit the college campus and if you are interested in sports, make sure you meet with your coach and find out how it fits. Also determine your academic dreams, if you are looking for a tough academic school, meet with professors and decide if the college meets your needs. Also, if you are in need of financial aid, meet with the financial aid office with the campus and pick apart the package they have awarded you. Good luck! The perfect college is out there for you so stick with it (and it might not be the college you think!).

Don't be afraid to say after your first year that you would rather go somewhere else. Most of the time its easier to get into a school as a transfer student anyway, so if your not happy then make a change. And live on campus, preferably a dorm, atleast one year. It will be crazy and frustrating and annoying at times, but you will walk away with some of the best friends of your life. You will also learn to not be so uncofortable with nudity. Demand what you want from the school, if you scream for it long enough the administration will come through. And don't take out too many student loans, I"m really in debt now and regret it beyong everything else.

To prospective students and parents, As a senior I feel especially able to offer advice on making the most of your college experience. My best advice when choosing a school is to be realistic about your abilities, academically, financially, and emotionally.Pay attention to the average high school GPA and SAT/ACT scores reported. These do not necessarily indicate potential success, but they do provide a good picture of the students you could be attending classes with. To some degree all colleges are competitive, be realistic about you ability to compete with those students. At the same time college should be challenging and provide a step up from High School. Finding the perfect balance is a key to a successful college experience. Be realistic financially, but do not let school loans scare you away. A good education does not necessarily need to come with a huge price tag. Lastly, college is about exploring new things take advantage of every opportunity! College has been a fabulous experience for me and with a careful college search it can be for you too! Good luck! 2009 Graduate from a Small Private Liberal Arts College

College is, for most people, the first chunk of time they have away from their parents, which really allows it to be quite a formative time. So, you really have to go to a place that has less restrictions as opposed to more. College is learning new material, certainly, but it's also (to sound oh so clich?) focused on learning about yourself. So, you want a lot of options at whatever school you're going to, as that will provide you with many more paths on which to take yourself. For future job searches, since so many people go to college these days, most people don't really look at your undergraduate degree, so don't worry. Feel free to do what you want, and worry about doing something with it later. Don't stress, it'll be awesome.

College is one of the most imortant periods of life. When chosing where to go I believe it is most important to connect with the people you will be surrounded by, including both students and faculty. Therefore, one should talk to students and proffessors who are actually at the school, rather than going solely off information gained from brochures and administrators whose job it is to sell the school. Campus visits are helpful, but not always practical. If you can visit for more than one day you will gain a better feel for the college than if you simply come for an afternoon. Additionally, when parents and students visit together they should spend some time exploring the campus seperately. The information presented to students and parents can be different and it's important to get as much input as possible about what life at the school is really like. If a visit is not possible, read student generated reviews, and make an attemt to correspond with individuals at your top choice schools. Web sites that review faculty performance are also helpful when determening the overall quality of teaching at the school. Most importantly, chose the college that feels right.

Take an overnight visit if possible so that you can get away from your parents and THEN see how comfortable you are. And go to a college in a location different than your home town/home area. Expanding your horizons is uber-valuable.

pick a place that interests you and do not be afraid to socialize and get your hands dirty. College is the best time of your life if you want it to be.

Don't be closed minded based on the size of the school. A lot of small schools are very highly rated.

Keep an open mind and don't be too discouraged if you don't get in or are waitlisted at your top choice. Have a wide range of schools that you'd be very happy attending. Parents, allow your children to make this decision for themselves (but help with the applications fees, of course). The best thing my parents did was let me go wherever I wanted for college; there was no school too big or too small or too faraway that they didn't want me to go to. Just let your child find wherever they're happiest. End of story. Students, be mature in your decisions and don't choose a school that's 800 miles from home just because you want a change of scenery. I applied to 19 schools in the U.S. and the U.K. and I ended up going to a school three hours from where I live in Chicago, but the flat prairies of Western Illinois are definitely a change of scenery for me.

Don't be discouraged by the initial appearance of your school, often it takes a bit of digging to find its best aspects. The guided tours can be great but they can also sometimes gloss over the real perks of campus life. Don't go into your college search thinkging that you know definatively what you want to do and how you want to do it. College has the uncanny ability to change people.

If you are a student, look for a campus that feels right to you, an amazing library, interesting and engaged professors, and access to study abroad opportunities. I cannot recommend study abroad more highly. Make sure you do it. Period. It will change your life and broaden your horizons in ways you would never have dreamed of. Think of the thing you like to do most, or the thing you like to most do or talk about, and make that your major. Then through yourself into your studies and you can't go wrong. Also, don't worry about becoming best friends with the first person you see, you'll be there for a while, and you will find amazing friends that will last you a lifetime. As for parents, support your kids, but above all, give them the space they need to grow and flourish. Let them try and sometimes fall flat on their faces because that is the way that we grow and learn! Feel free to comfort after a fall, but for all the sound and well learned advice that you've passed to us over the years, we still need to learn some things for ourselves.

I would give parents and students different adivce. Parents to you I say allow your child to explore different avenues and schools so that they really find a place where they feel comfortable and believe they can live and learn for the next four years of their lives. Students, make sure you choose a place where you feel you can belong, don't worry about living away from home, don't sweat the small stuff, work hard but also make sure to take the time to have fun.

I would encourage parents/students not to choose a school based on reputation or ranking but rather how student life on a particular campus and the location appeal or don't appeal to the student. After essentially finishing a degree in physics it's abundantly clear that the quality of my education has much more to do with my own dedication or focus and less to do with the professors I had along the way. Having gifted, accessible teachers is a wonderful perk but you can get a quality education at any college or university if you truly want to apply yourself and explore your area of study. I've found most people choose premier schools & use their school's ranking as a form of validation don't end up with as good of a mastery of their field as those who "no-name" at which they had a satisfying quality of life while pursuing their degree.

Very rarely does a college senior have a crystal-clear idea as to the exact area of study that he or she wants to pursue in college. Even if a college student does have a precise major in mind, a change of mind is quite possible once a student realizes the variety of posibilities open to him or her. Therefore, I believe that the most important thing a parent and/or student can do when choosing a college is not to worry so much about choosing a college based on an exact area of specialization, but instead to focus on the sort of person that graduates from a particular college. Talk to a variety of seniors currently attending a particular college and find out their life philosophies. After three years of attending the college, do the students seem truely invested in what they are doing? As a student you must be able to look into the future and ask yourself, 'do I see myself becoming this kind of person and being happy?' If the answer is yes, then you know that you are making the right choice and will get the most of your college experience.

I debated for weeks over my college selection so I understand the frustration that can come with the process. Ultimately, what I found to be most useful was to make a list of what qualities I truly valued, and then to create a list of the pros and cons of my final choices. This led me to select Knox College over Marquette University, a choice I have never regretted. It is important to go to college open to new ideas, ready to embrace fresh experiences that will change you. If you go to college with people you know, my advice is to be sure to meet other people and not spend all your time with your old friends. While this is a safe and comfortable option, you miss out on a great deal if you are not socializing. Finally, college is a perfect time to have fun. No parents! Enjoy yourself at college- it is four years of living an exception to the "real world," but make sure you keep up with school. The main reason college is so great is because you learn about topics never even mentioned in high school. So study hard, but enjoy the college life.

The most important thing for a student to get the most out of his or her college experience is to search for a campus that is comfortable to the student. The first thing to look for is the type of school, whether large or small and which area of the world or United States. After that, the decision is cut in half. Next, the student must consider their main area of desired study, activities, and simply the atmosphere of each campus. To fully understand the campus and people that attend each campus, overnight stays are necessary. After making a top 10 or top 5 list, stay overnight at those schools and at that point, the decision will be easy.

Don't decide on a college just because it has a big reputation or maybe one of your friends is going there. You really need to like the school regardless of what everyone says. I regret not doing an over night at Knox before I came here, so I would suggest that. Another thing to remember is that you may not feel like you will miss being home now, but trust me, everyone will experience being home sick while being at school, so choose the distance of your school wisely. I know I wish I was closer to home.

The process of finding a college is one of the most important decisions in a student's life as it will be the next few years of their life. The best advice I can give is to go on multiple tours of the colleges and if possible, have the student do an overnight at each college they are really considering to see what life is really like. Also, students should see how accomodating and friendly the other students are on campus, as well as the professors. Maybe, they could plan to attend a few classes with different professors to see how they like the class sizes, teaching styles, etc. All students should check out the freshman dorms, specifically the beds (comfortability), showers, locations of bathrooms and closet space. If the student is interested in sports, they should be sure to meet with coaches and other athletes of that sport. There are many other things to consider, such as academics, but students and parents must be sure not to get overly-stressed throughout this lengthy process.

A Student will know which college is right for them the minute they step foot on campus. Not because of the size, or freedom like most parents think. The student will know at the bottom of their gut that this is the school for them.