Kalamazoo College

That said, I regret to say that "K" is not what it once was, especially for those of use who don't study math and science. Having talked to numerous alums who graduated in the '60s through the '80s, I have been amazed at the decrease in the level of expectations on "K" students. I think a lot of this is not specific to Kalamazoo, but is indicative of the larger trend toward "experiential learning." For someone who plans to go on to med-, law- or engineering school, I think that "K" probably provides a good, well-rounded education. However, for those of us who tried to take our experiential educations out into the workforce, we found that we had a whole lot of experiences and not a lot of practical skills and information.

The good news about this is that, for the most part, "K" grads are a pretty smart and resourceful group. Most of us have managed to find decent jobs, but for the majority of my peers, that meant going back to grad school. The bottom line: if you're going on to grad school immediately after undergrad, "K" is still a pretty good school. If you're not, get as much specific, hands-on experience as you can through internships, individualized studies and your SIP (if they still do those...). Please don't expect your "K" diploma to be a ticket to a great job. You'll either have to work for it while you're there or (like many of us) after you graduate.