CKQ College Profiles: Kalamazoo College

Each quarter, The College Knowledge Quarterly will feature a different U.S. College or University for families to get to know a bit better. The aim is not to tell you about a school you know (or at least you think you know) well, but to introduce you to a school you may have not considered a viable candidate before. In this edition, we are pleased to feature a school that offers not only one of the most fun names in college, but one of the most interesting academic plans, Kalamazoo College.

Kalamazoo College (U.S. News ranked #72 – Liberal Arts Colleges; Forbes ranked #164), is a small, private school in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serving approximately 1,400 undergraduate students in a small city in a suburban environment, approximately two hours west of Detroit and two hours east of Chicago.

Kalamazoo College is best known for its academic plan, known as the “K-Plan”, which is a nearly open curriculum with an emphasis in experiential learning. As part of most K-Plan, students will study overseas, as part of a large and thriving study abroad program and will complete a ‘Senior Individualized Project’. Most courses are writing intensive and designed to prepare students for a wide variety of jobs in the marketplace. Some of the denoted markers of Kalamazoo College include: small class sizes, interdisciplinary learning, a close-knit community, so much so that professors routinely know their students names and interact with them outside of class, and a great deal of discussion-based learning – another hallmark of a great liberal arts-style college. Students tend to report that Kalamazoo is school that embodies “social justice within challenging, yet enriching academics, with a liberal atmosphere”.

Students rave about the sense of community at the school.The campus is attractive and offers a welcoming environment for students of all walks of life.It’s a place that ‘feels like home’. Campus is the hub for most activities, though downtown Kalamazoo is very close by and offers some good alternatives for students to explore.It's also a school that advocates a ‘work-hard, play-hard mentality’.Students are busy most days and nights, and discussions of social and political issue are common to overhear, but students also know how to have a good time as parties are a common theme as well.

Being situated in the north-central part of the nation, you would think that opportunities for solid internships would be hard to come by, but with two major cities in driving distance, these opportunities are actually quite plentiful.

Students at Kalamazoo are best described as liberal-minded, intelligent, but weird (but weird in fun and different ways). The majority of the population comes from Michigan or the Midwest, but there are plenty of students who come from the coasts or overseas too. This creates an environment that lets student creativity come to life. Students demonstrate that creativity in their schoolwork, their hobbies, activities, and fashion.

The reputation of professors at Kalamazoo College is strong. They are active in the campus community, always appear helpful and interested in their student’s work and projects. Interactions between faculty and students are common and part of normal collaboration at the school.

Despite all of the amazing characteristics Kalamazoo College brings to the table, it is still an accessible education, both in terms of admission and financial aid, as it is located in a less desirable part of the country for most students (yes, it is cold most of the year). The admission rate last year was 73%, the average admitted student had a 3.85 GPA and the middle 50% ACT scores were 24-31.

According to the admission office, rigor of high school curriculum and academic GPA, and extra-curricular activities are the most important factors in the admission decision, followed by application essay and letters of recommendation. Other factors include: standardized test scores, an interview, talent/ability, character/personal qualities, first generation students, alumni/legacy, geographical residence, state residency, racial/ethnic status, volunteer work, work experience, and demonstrated interest to the college.

According to the Collegeboard, the school offers a total of 29 majors, has a student-to-faculty ratio of 13-1, and operates on the quarter system.

Kalamazoo College offers an Early Decision 1 application; it is due by November 1st, along with an Early Decision 2 application, due February 1st, an Early Action deadline of November 1st and a regular admission decision deadline is also posted for January 15th.

For more information, please visit: http://kzoo.edu/