GALESBURG — Knox College is offering high-achieving high school seniors the opportunity to earn college credit while taking courses on the Knox College campus.
Knox Early College students take courses in subjects not otherwise available in high school — astronomy, biochemistry, Chinese, Japanese, or philosophy, for example — or pursue higher levels of study in fields such as biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, or Spanish.
To qualify, students need to be high school juniors attending Galesburg, Abingdon-Avon, ROWVA, Knoxville, Williamsfield, United, or Monmouth-Roseville High School (or a home school within Knox or Warren County). They must rank in the top 10% of their class or have an unweighted GPA of at least 3.8.
During their senior year, students take one course per term on the Knox College campus. They earn college credit — up to 10 semester hours — that can be used at Knox or transferred to other colleges and universities.
Students accepted into the program receive a Knox Early College Scholarship to cover the full cost of tuition for each course. (The cost of books, course materials, or private lessons is not included.)
In addition to three classes per year, Early College participants receive a Knox College ID, giving them access to campus facilities — the library, computer labs, fitness center — and campus activities.
Area high school juniors can apply for Knox Early College at knox.edu/earlycollege. The application deadline is April 1 and applicants will be notified if they are accepted into the program by April 15.
Emma Curry, a graduate of Avon-Abingdon High School and current Knox College sophomore, took classes on 20th Century Europe and the World, Classical Mythology, and Roman Art and Architecture during her senior year. “We had no classes like them in my high school,” she said.
Her favorite part of classes was the atmosphere on campus. “The class sizes were small enough that I wasn’t overwhelmed, and the professors were great. I never felt like I was out of place when I was in class, even though I thought that would be a possibility.”
The experience with Early College helped Curry solidify her decision to attend Knox. “After getting to be on campus and take these classes, along with learning about the school, the people, and Knox’s commitment to learning, I was sure that Knox was where I wanted to attend,” she said.
