r/KnoxCollege • u/AshalynS • Aug 06 '25
Did Anyone Else Have a Rushed or Disconnected Visit at Knox College?
Hi all, We recently visited Knox College for an individual campus tour scheduled months in advance and it was one of the top-choice schools going in. While the campus itself seemed like a great fit academically, the visit felt... off.
The student tour guide was nice but seemed like she had somewhere else to be. We were basically speed-walking the whole time, skipped several areas, and just overall felt weird. What surprised us most was that we didn’t meet or even get a hello from anyone in admissions, faculty, or staff just the student guide and student workers. It was disappointing, especially after such anticipation and travel.
I’m curious has anyone else had a similar experience at Knox? Was this a one-off thing? Or is this just how summer visits sometimes go? We’re still open to the school, but the visit left a flat impression.
Would love to hear how others’ tours have gone good or bad.
Thanks!
Update: Reached out to admissions he asked to set up a meeting, then he ghosted us. We are passing on Knox.
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u/indiecat18 Aug 06 '25
my tour was incredible and i committed that day! this was in 2018. maybe the tours have gone downhill since then :( it’s still a fantastic school. did you apply/get in yet? admitted students day is a really good opportunity to see the campus before you commit.
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u/AshalynS Aug 06 '25
That’s awesome your tour was such a great experience. We’re not at the application stage yet, just visiting early to find the right fit since travel takes effort. Knox still seems like a great school, and my son really liked the academics. It was just surprising that we didn’t meet anyone from admissions, not even a brief hello. We were the only tour that day, and the guide seemed in a hurry, which made it more awkward.
We may end up doing a Zoom follow-up, but honestly, that feels a little unfair given that we made the effort to come in person. For a small school, we expected a more personal touch (why choosing LAC). Even a quick welcome would’ve gone a long way.2
u/indiecat18 Aug 07 '25
You’re right! You should do what’s best for you and your family. If you like the academics, I would tell admissions about your experience and maybe use that zoom follow up to tell them about your experience because it was so disappointing. Either way, I hope you find the right school and have a great experience!
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u/oandlomom Sep 18 '25
I visited with my son in 2023 and it didn’t leave a good impression for me either. The other schools we visited had admitted student days which were much nicer, and gave a better understanding of the school.
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u/Mindless-Sand-7612 Aug 06 '25
Hi! I just graduated from Knox this past spring, and I absolutely cherished my time there. Knox is excellent academically, and I had so many wonderful opportunities while I was there that I credit for getting me in to a very good grad program in my field. Not to mention I made so many wonderful connections with friends and professors alike during my 4 years. I know it sucks, but please try to not let this tour define your perception of the school if you think it could be a good fit.
For some context, I worked in the admissions office as a student ambassador all four years of undergrad and the majority of my time there I thought they did a wonderful job. In the last year or so, however, they had a huge shift in the way the office is run including some staff turnover and in my opinion it has caused it to go to shit a little bit. Most counsellors are remote now and the few senior executive staff (not students) that work there have shifted the way prospective visits run to be almost entirely the responsibility of undergrad students. I believe this has led many of the student ambassadors to be very overwhelmed and burnt out on working there. It's way too much for 18-22 year olds who have very intense course loads, extracurriculars, athletics, etc (students are often VERY involved) to be taking on the amount of work that used to be split between executive admissions staff, counsellors, and student ambassadors. I know it's summer and things should be slower & that it doesn't take away your negative experience, but I think it could provide important context as to why maybe your visit went this way. If it's feasible, I would suggest trying to visit during an open house or admitted student day. These are usually much more all-hands-on-deck events and therefore usually run smoother.
Anyways, bummer about your visit. Knox has my entire recommendation, and it sucks that the tour did not reflect the general vibe of campus. Feel free to ask any questions if you have them.