Chances... for a transfer!

Colleges & Universities Kalamazoo College
1

<p>I never did this (… often) when I was applying first time around, but as I have NO idea about the transfer rate or how difficult it may be to transfer in, I figured it would be reasonable to do one of these.</p>

<p>Asian-American from the Chicagoland area.</p>

<p>HS
Large (>4000) public co-ed high school
GPA: 3.9 W/3.5 UW
Rank: Top 15% out of 900 some students
SAT I: 720 CR, 590 M, 710 W/11 essay = 2020/1310 C
SAT II: 690 Lit, 670 USH
ACT: 33 E, 33 R, 29 M, 23 S, 11 essay = 29 C (30 if Kalamazoo superscores! Haha.)
AP: 8 AP classes taken… only took 7 AP exams. Haha.
Awards: IL State Scholar, AP Scholar with Distinction, and Quill & Scroll
ECs: Yearbook (11, 12 – editor) and church choir (9) and school choir (9, 10)</p>

<p>College
Small (<1000) private women’s college
GPA: Unknown for now. I’m assuming I’m between a 3.7 and a 4.0, though.
Rank: Not sure if I’m ranked. Haha
ECs: Concert Choir, FMLA (Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance), The GAP (Gender Activism Project which is something my friend started), The Album (the alternative lit mag on campus), and I plan on joining CASA (Coalition Against Sexual Assault) as a peer counselor
Planning on majoring in Psychology and Women’s Studies but considering Biology (I know, crazy interests.)</p>

<p>I’m also very involved in activism… I’ve gone up to DC for different conferences and protests since I’ve been here. I’m a feminist, pro-gay rights, anti-war, overly liberal vegetarian (trying out veganism and failing miserably).</p>

<p>So three questions –

  1. How’s the political climate at Kalamazoo? And how prevalent on campus is it?</p>

<p>2) How are the food and dorms? (After having such crappy food and living in a not so stellar, but beloved dorm, I feel it imperative to ask.)</p>

<p>3) Any chance at merit aid along with an acceptance? Haha :confused: That was the major deciding point last time and it will be the same this time. I’m not filing for need-based financial aid because my family didn’t qualify for any last year and there has been no negative decline that I’m aware of. If I don’t have any chance at a scholarship, I can’t apply. Eee :/</p>

<p>Thanks!!!</p>

2

<p>Since you say merit aid is a requirement, you should contact the Coordinator of Transfer Admission, Suzanne Lepley, and get your questions answered directly and accurately. Here’s additional information from K’s website: [Admission</a>. Kalamazoo College](<a href=“Admission – | Kalamazoo College”>http://www.kzoo.edu/admission/transfer.php)
[Admission</a>. Kalamazoo College](<a href=“Admission – | Kalamazoo College”>http://www.kzoo.edu/admission/staff.php)</p>

3

<p>1) How’s the political climate at Kalamazoo? And how prevalent on campus is it?
The majority of campus is very liberal. It’s very prevalent on campus. Everywhere you go, you see things about the women power group or one of the few environmental groups or the college democrats. </p>

<p>2) How are the food and dorms? (After having such crappy food and living in a not so stellar, but beloved dorm, I feel it imperative to ask.)
The dorms are great. I live in a double with a community bathroom, and my room is huge. Upper classmen get suites though, which I hear are really nice. The food…isn’t too terrible. It does get a little bla after a while, but it could be worse. They have a pretty big selection. After a while it does start to all taste the same though.</p>

<p>3) Any chance at merit aid along with an acceptance?
Possible, but I wouldn’t count on it. I have a merit scholarship, but it’s through a grant the college got from the National Science Foundation. I don’t think these kinds of things are very common. I would still suggest filling out the FAFSA though, you never know what Kalamazoo could give you.</p>

4

<ol>
<li><p>S is a sophomore at K. He’s spent a lot of time over the years on U-Michigan’s campus and says the student body and atmosphere at K is similar, kind of a small, LAC version of the liberal, activist big U.</p></li>
<li><p>S lived in a two-room suite as a freshman. One room was a lounge and the other a bedroom which shared a semi-private bath with the suite across the hall. He lucked out as a freshman. This year, a lousy housing lottery number so the large suites were all taken. He’s in a standard but large double, shared bath with the next-door double. They’re allowed to loft the beds with desks underneath so it hasn’t been too bad. He REALLY wants to get released to live off-campus next year. They’ve been allowing juniors to live off the past couple of years due to increased enrollment. Food…by second year, he’s definitely getting tired of the dining hall. It’s decent quality with food stations, etc. but gets old after awhile.</p></li>
<li><p>S was awarded a generous merit scholarship for all four years, but was a recruited athlete so that likely factored into the award given. You’ll need to ask if any merit aid is available for transfer students.</p></li>
</ol>