Beloit College is located on the Wisconsin-Illinois border, exactly halfway between Seattle and Boston. It is the oldest college in Wisconsin and its founders went on to found Carleton College in Minnesota and the Claremont Colleges in California (Pomona, Claremont McKenna, Pitzer, Scripps, Harvey Mudd). Beloit is 75 miles from Chicago's O'Hare airport and 50 miles from Madison (University of Wisconsin - Madison is there), both of which are connected to Beloit by bus lines.
 |
| There is, of course, snow in Wisconsin in the winter. |
Why would someone come to Beloit? Known for anthropology, creative writing and international studies, Beloit attracts creative, independent and open-minded students who tend to be quite political and environmentally conscious. While definitely curious, some might even say the students are a little rebellious. Creative and artistic, they express themselves in various ways throughout campus - from the poetry garden to provocative sculpture.
The college encourages first year students to come "undeclared" and
explore a variety of subjects and seminars. Although there is no core curriculum, a structured faculty advising program helps ensure that students take classes within five domains. Writing is stressed across the curriculum, even in math and the sciences. Half of the students study abroad.
 |
| And...there is a spring too! |
Everyone lives on campus in older traditional dorms with one central dining hall. Community is strong here, both on and off campus. Dinner is not served on campus on Sunday night and students fill the adjacent downtown, mingling with residents.
Surprisingly, only 17% of the 1300 students come from Wisconsin and rarely is there more than one student enrolled from the same high school. The Admissions Office strongly encourages interviews, believing that it helps them make sure Beloit is a match for the applicant. They must be doing a effective job making that match because 92% of the freshmen return for a second year. Beloit graduates move on to graduate schools in large numbers - within 10 years, 70% have earned an advanced degree.
If you are looking for a smaller, intimate environment where professors won't look at you oddly when you keep asking them "yes, but why?", Beloit might be a dream come true.
