FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) About ROKS
Why should I come to KBS for the Fall when I can take the
same classes on campus?
You gain lots of advantages by being at KBS:
- Small class sizes (8 to 14 students)
- Field-oriented classes in a variety of habitats
- Coursework that's integrated across classes
- Exploration of career options through mentored professional
experiences (internships)
- Conduct original research during classes, instead of doing "cookbook" labs
- Be part of a small, interactive, focused and fun learning community!
What's this professional experience thing? It's like an internship, right?
Yes! Each student in ROKS will not only have the conduct original research as a part of their coursework, they will also be able to choose their own project to work on as part of a professional experience (NSC 292). Depending on your interests, this might be sustainable agriculture, lab research, education, outreach, work at the sanctuary, or much more! Here's a list of past and potential future projects.
You'll work directly with your mentor to identify a project to work on--and when you're done, you'll have something unique to put on your resume.
We also have bi-weekly "Meet your Mentor" nights, where professionals working in the field come in and have dinner with the ROKS students. Past visitors have included people from MSU Extension, USDA, The Nature Conservancy, Tillers International, and more!
What is the Kellogg Biological Station?
Where is it?
KBS is a field station located on the shores of Gull Lake between
Kalamazoo and Battle Creek, approximately 65 miles from the East Lansing
campus.
KBS, as part of Michigan State University, develops programs in research, education, and extension toward understanding natural and managed terrestrial and aquatic systems. This will help us better conserve our natural resources. KBS features: |
How am I doing all this in one semester, again?
Easy! The courses are shorter in length, and meet more often, just like summer classes do. The courses are also integrated--instead of having 4 completely unrelated courses, your classes will overlap in projects and topics. The instructors actually collaborate to plan out your semester and learning experience.
Where will I live?
As a ROKS student, you'll live in apartments located near the shore of scenic Gull
Lake. The KBS cafeteria serves 17 delicious meals per week.
Vegetarian options are available at every meal. Housing costs are
comparable to living on campus.
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