How to Apply to Biology at Kalamazoo College: No General Requirements, Major Declared in Sophomore Year, Four Core Courses, Five Electives and Three Cross-Disciplinary Cognates, for Domestic, International (Including China) and Transfer Applicants

Kalamazoo College (K) is a private liberal arts college in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with three terms a year (the College calls them quarters). Biology is taught by the Department of Biology; students apply to the College and declare a major after entry. The guide below follows the College’s website and is organised for US domestic applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, with a section for transfer students at the end. Chemistry, mathematics, physics and other majors are not covered here; K has no pre-health major, and medicine, public health and similar career paths appear on the website as advising and related concentrations, so they are outside this article (see the website).

1. Degrees and programmes

• One biology major: the Academics page says K has 30 majors, 21 minors and 12 concentrations, and the biology program page says K offers a “Major in Biology”. The pages read do not give the degree title (B.A. or B.S.) and do not list a biology minor; check the catalog or ask admission.
• Major requirements (catalog): at least nine biology courses exclusive of lab credit (four required and five electives) and three cognates, all with C- or better and none taken Credit/No Credit. Core: BIOL 101 (Biology Explorations), BIOL 201 (Cell and Molecular Biology with Lab), BIOL 202 (Climate Biology with Lab), BIOL 303L (Writing and Quants, lab only) and BIOL 490 (Senior Seminar, 0.5 credit in fall and 0.5 in spring of senior year). Five electives: one 200-level biology course (with or without lab); three 300- or 400-level courses with a concurrent lab; one 300- or 400-level course without a lab. The department may approve up to one course taken outside K (approved study abroad, interinstitutional enrolment, dual enrolment or transfer credit) toward the 300/400-level electives.
• Three cognates, one unit each, and one course cannot satisfy more than one: “Natural Basis of the Living World” (chemistry, computer science, environmental science, mathematics or physics); “Human Context of Biology” (anthropology and sociology, classics, community and global health, critical ethnic studies, economics and business, history, philosophy, political science, psychology, religion, or women/gender/sexuality); “Modes of Expression” (art/art history, English, music, studio art or theatre arts).
• Related concentrations: the catalog points to Biological Physics, Community and Global Health, Environmental Studies and Neuroscience; see the catalog for their requirements. Biochemistry at K is a separate major in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, not part of the biology major.
• Course highlights: upper-level courses in the catalog include plant physiology, entomology (with lab) and several topics courses (plant-animal interactions, evolutionary ecology, neurodegenerative disorders, the symbiotic habit). The program page says students can learn on the College’s Lillian Anderson Arboretum (140 acres of marsh, meadow, pine plantation and second-growth forest), and names three study-abroad programmes suited to biology students: ecology and evolution in the Galapagos Islands, community and global health in San José, Costa Rica, and sustainable ecological development in Chiang Mai, Thailand; the College has more than 50 study-abroad programmes.
• Research: the catalog says BIOL 195L teaches basic lab skills to introductory students; BIOL 200 (Research Apprenticeship in Biology) lets majors take part regularly in faculty research projects, with at least 50 hours per quarter, and three apprenticeships earn one full unit toward graduation.

2. How admission works: apply to the College, declare a major later

• At application: the Academics page says K has no prescribed general education requirements and that students wait until the second term of sophomore year to declare a major while still typically graduating in four years; students who already know their field can start taking its courses straight away. The pages read do not say whether applicants choose biology on the application, or whether the department has its own admission standard or a cap on places; the admission pages describe applying to the College as a whole.
• Declaring and switching: the pages read do not give a grade threshold for declaring biology, nor conditions for moving in from another major; this is not published in the pages read, so ask admission or the department.

3. Prerequisites and placement

• High school courses: the admission pages and catalog read do not state minimum high school biology, chemistry or mathematics requirements; ask admission.
• First-year biology: BIOL 101 is the “jumping on” point for all students beginning college-level biology, and must be completed (or BIOL 112 or 123) before BIOL 201; the catalog also says first-year students cannot take both BIOL 201 and BIOL 202 in the same year.
• AP / IB: the catalog’s FAQ says AP/IB biology credit does not count toward the biology major but may receive general elective credit if the exam score meets the College’s criteria; AP/IB or transfer units cannot count as cognates. The registrar’s rules on AP/IB graduation credit were not read.
• Preparation for professional and graduate school: the catalog says some career tracks may require courses from other departments; for example most medical schools require physics and organic chemistry, and many graduate programmes in organismal and ecological biology require biostatistics. Majors should consult the Director of Careers in Health and Medicine or a biology faculty member when planning.
• Labs and graduation requirements: the major includes lab courses (BIOL 201, 202, 303L and three upper-level electives with labs); seniors take BIOL 490, which includes literature preparation for SIP research and defence of a thesis based on the SIP; the catalog says senior biology majors may be required to take a written comprehensive examination as part of BIOL 490. Biology majors are encouraged but not required to complete their SIP in biology. K’s SIP is a College-wide project whose details each department sets; the College-level SIP page was not read. The program page says an annual Diebold Symposium lets seniors present their SIPs.
• Honours: the pages read do not describe a departmental honours programme; not published in the pages read.

4. Timeline and materials (first-year applicants)

• Rounds and deadlines: Early Decision (ED, binding) 15 November, notification 1 December, deposit 15 January; Early Action (EA) 1 December, notification 18 December, deposit 1 May; Regular Decision (RD) 1 February, notification 15 April, deposit 1 May. FAFSA opens 1 October, with a 1 March priority date. The pages show no year, so check that the dates apply to fall 2027 entry.
• How to apply and fee: first-year applicants use the Common Application only; no application fee.
• Materials: high school transcript (including any dual enrolment or early/middle college transcripts) sent by the school directly to the Office of Admission; counsellor recommendation/school report; teacher recommendation (the College also accepts alternative references such as coaches or employers, and does not say it must come from a science teacher); application essay. The College says it reviews grades and grade trends, academic rigour (it names AP, IB and dual enrolment as examples), activities and the essay. Homeschooled applicants must interview and submit a non-family reference and an academic portfolio.
• Testing: test-optional since 2015. Scores that are submitted are used as additional material and “do not have a direct impact on the admission decision”. Applicants without scores are still considered for merit scholarships, which are based on high school GPA and rigour.
• Biology competitions: the website does not say how subject competitions are viewed in admission.

5. US domestic applicants

• Costs (2026–27): the cost page lists tuition and fees of $66,308 and food and housing of $13,803. It does not distinguish in-state from out-of-state, and says most students do not pay the full price (a net price calculator is provided). Figures for books and travel are not given on the pages read.
• Merit scholarships: the cost page says 100% of admitted students receive a merit scholarship based on academic achievement, worth $44,000–$53,000 a year (the international page says $44,000–$52,000; the two differ, so confirm with admission). No separate application is needed.
• Need-based aid: file the FAFSA. The cost page says 99% of students receive some aid, the average need-based package is $61,080, and the College provided more than $57.4 million in institutional aid in 2025–26.
• In-state residents: the cost page mentions partnerships with the local Kalamazoo Promise and Bearcat Advantage scholarship programmes, whose eligibility was not read; the pages read say nothing about priority or guaranteed admission for Michigan residents.

6. International applicants

• Materials: Common Application, no fee; proof of English proficiency; secondary (and any university) transcripts sent directly by the institution (transcripts sent by the student are not accepted); counsellor recommendation/school report (required); teacher recommendation (optional); bank statements from parents or sponsors (no more than six months old) and an income statement; the Resource Verification Form; the financial aid form in the application portal. The College says it is “need aware” for international admission. A passport is not needed to apply but is required for the visa. International students are about 4% of the student body, from more than 30 countries.
• English requirement: all international applicants verify English proficiency. Waivers: from an English-speaking country with English as the language of instruction; English as a second language but at least two years at a secondary school in an English-speaking country; a full IB diploma with English A1/A2 and a predicted grade of 5 or higher. Accepted evidence: TOEFL iBT recommended 84 or higher (computer-based 213; institution code 1365); SAT evidence-based reading and writing recommended 600 or higher; IELTS required overall 6.5 (no band below 6); Duolingo required 130 (no band below 115), with 115 (no band below 100) eligible for an interview; Pearson PTE required 62 (no band below 58). International students need not submit the ACT or SAT but may use them to show English proficiency.
• Funds and aid: the College says families should generally be able to pay $25,000–$35,000 a year, depending on the scholarship; the average international package (need and merit together) is roughly 55–65% of the total cost. Need-based aid requires the International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA) or the College’s own international aid application at the time of application; otherwise do not expect need-based aid for the four years, and the page says need-based aid for international students is minimal. The international page still shows 2025–26 estimates: tuition and fees $63,426, room and board $13,257, health insurance, books, supplies and travel $4,440, a printed total of $82,452, plus $2,000–$3,000 of personal expenses. See section 5 for 2026–27.
• International scholarships: the merit scholarship ($44,000–$52,000 a year on the international page, no separate application); the full-tuition Global Leadership Scholarship, which needs a separate application, a one-page leadership resume, an essay of up to 300 words and a recommendation, renews for four years and excludes other merit awards (the printed deadline, Common App complete by 1 November and an admission decision by 18 December 2025, belongs to the previous cycle, so confirm the 2027 entry dates with admission); and the Davis UWC Scholars programme.
• Interview and visa: the pages read do not mention an interview for international applicants. A student visa application can start only after admission, the deposit and the Resource Verification Form; the Center for International Programs helps with the I-20 and visa.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the website does not publish whether or how the Gaokao is considered; contact admission (admission@kzoo.edu).
• Transcripts and school-leaving materials: no China-specific requirements are published; the general requirements are in section 6 (transcripts sent directly by the school, and so on).
• English: see section 6. The College’s list of English-speaking countries and territories does not include mainland China (it includes Hong Kong), so mainland applicants submit a score unless another waiver applies.
• Preparing for biology: the website gives no note on how Chinese high school biology, chemistry or mathematics courses correspond to K’s; ask admission and the Department of Biology.

8. Outcomes

• Outcomes (the College’s wording): the program page says biology alumni have pursued careers in public health, conservation, academia and other sectors; it lists job titles such as physician, research assistant, sustainability analyst, geologist and teacher; employers including Bronson Hospital, the National Wildlife Federation, Pfizer, the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and Charles River Laboratories; and graduate schools including the University of Chicago, the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, the University of Rochester and Johns Hopkins University. The page prints no placement rate.
• Costs and scholarships: see sections 5 and 6. The pages read list no scholarship specific to biology.

9. Transfer students

• Who counts: applicants who have completed high school or an equivalent, have previously enrolled in any degree-seeking institution, and have not attended K before.
• Deadline: fall transfer applications are due 15 June, with the deposit due 1 July, on a rolling review; the pages show no year, so check. Applying by 15 June is strongly encouraged. Spring entry is not described in the pages read.
• Materials: the College’s own transfer application (not the Common Application), no application fee; the final high school transcript; official transcripts from every college attended; a college report from the last institution confirming good standing; and an academic evaluation (the equivalent of a teacher recommendation, preferably from a college instructor). Successful transfer applicants usually present a B average or better in current courses. Transfer students are eligible for merit scholarships in the same range as first-year students.
• Credit transfer: up to 18 of the 36 units required for graduation; a transfer credit evaluation follows the offer of admission; the College cannot guarantee that accepted credit will apply to a major or to graduation. The catalog says the department may approve up to one course taken outside K (including transfer credit) toward the 300/400-level biology electives, and that AP/IB or transfer units cannot count as cognates; special requirements for biology transfer students are not given in the pages read, so confirm with the department.

Checklist

US domestic applicants:

• ED 15 November; EA 1 December; RD 1 February; no application fee; Common Application, transcript, counsellor and teacher recommendations, essay; testing optional
• FAFSA (priority 1 March); start with BIOL 101 in the first year and plan a cognate such as chemistry or mathematics

International applicants (including China):

• English evidence (TOEFL recommended 84, IELTS required 6.5, Duolingo required 130, PTE required 62) or a waiver; bank statements, income statement and Resource Verification Form; ISFAA or the College’s international aid application if you want need-based aid
• Whether the Gaokao is considered is not published

After entry:

• Declare in the second term of sophomore year; nine biology courses plus three cognates; BIOL 490 seminar; a possible written comprehensive exam; a biology SIP is encouraged

Transfer students:

• Fall deadline 15 June, deposit 1 July; up to 18 units transfer; the College’s own transfer application

Sources: Kalamazoo College, Academics; Biology program page; Academic catalog: biology; Admission: how to apply; Admission: first-year students; Admission: international students; Admission: English proficiency; Admission: test optional; Admission: cost and aid; Admission: transfer students. The dates on the admission pages show no year, so check that they apply to fall 2027 entry and see the College’s website for the latest.