Academics

Welcome to your Knox educational experience. Now is the time to begin taking those first steps toward intellectual discovery.

Planning for Textbooks and Materials
When you arrive on campus, you will meet with your advisor to finalize your final course schedule, based on the course preferences you submitted. You should plan on about $300 for books and materials per term and be prepared to spend this at the Knox College Bookstore during your first few days on campus as your course selections are finalized. Certain courses will include additional costs that you must pay early on (like online access codes for homework, art supplies for art courses, or fees for labs or music lessons).

Select your course preferences.
Visit your student portal to complete the Course Preferences form. This form will lead you to the Open Courses List and the course descriptions in the Knox College Catalog, plus it addresses some common issues for selecting fall courses. We will share your course preferences with your academic advisor before you meet during New Student Orientation. Your preferences will serve as a guide as the two of you develop your official schedule for the term.

Time for some summer reading.
In case you missed it, check your e-mail for July 7. You received a link to your first assignment, a reading of the e-book Make Your Home Among Strangers.

Let Us Know Your FP Preference
First-Year Preceptorial is a small seminar course that all first-year students take. You will enroll in two additional courses during the fall term, but First-Year Preceptorial—or "FP" as it is universally and affectionately known—will be your foundation.There is not one FP course, but many FP courses from which to choose. Learn more about the various FP courses, and then complete your FP Course Preference form on your portal.

Have a Question? Ask a Prof!
If you have a question about courses or the academic opportunities at Knox, Professor/Advisor Tom Moses will be available through mid-August to answer any questions you have at askaprof@knox.edu.

Placement Exams Help You Find the Best Fit
All incoming students must take placement exams. Even if you believe you know where you should (or would like to) start out in a math or foreign language sequence, taking the exams will ensure that you are placed in a class at the level appropriate for your skills. Learn more about placement exams.

Learn more about your academic journey.
To help you make the most of the many opportunities for inquiry and creativity that a Knox education has to offer, here are a few ways to think about the academic journey on which you're about to begin.

Make the most of your academic experience with support services.
Knox also has many centers to support your Knox experience, including writing support and tutoring for students in all majors and at all levels; internships and career planning; off-campus study; and independent research and creative work. These resources will prove invaluable in your Knox journey.

Submit your final transcripts and test scores.
Be sure to request that a final high school transcript, any relevant test scores (AP, IB, GCE), and any college records be sent to Knox. We need this information not only to maintain your eligibility for financial aid and scholarships, but also to assist your faculty advisor as you register for classes.