<p>Hi -
My D is considering Ill Wesleyan and St Olaf. While IWU looks very good, I'm a little concerned by the fact that the student body is overwhelmingly Illinois residents. Any negatives to that, like the campus clearing out on the weekend?</p>
<p>IWU is seeking more OOS students, and is an excellent school. Of course so is St Olaf. Nice choice to have IMO.</p>
<p>from usnr:
olaf
Average percentage of students on campus during weekends:
80%
USNews.com:</a> America's Best Colleges 2008: St. Olaf College: Campus Life</p>
<p>IWU
Average percentage of students on campus during weekends:
82%
USNews.com:</a> America's Best Colleges 2008: Illinois Wesleyan University: Campus Life</p>
<p>this stat is surprising because where would the students go on a w/e in such a small town as Northfield? I know our olaf student tour guide lived in the town. I assumed that olaf would have been in the 90s pct living on campus on the w/e.</p>
<p>during the summer session, during a question that asked what he'd like to change or improve about IWU, the admissions dean answered that he would like more of the country to see IWU.</p>
<p>mathews put IWU at 10 (not sure how he was ranking or collating this list) of colleges that are not that well known, but that are good.</p>
<p>Jay Mathews' Suggested List of 100 Colleges You Should Consider</p>
<p>Jay Mathews’</p>
<p>National Education Columnist and Author of Harvard Schmarvard,</p>
<p>Suggested List of 100 Colleges You Should Consider</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Elon University</p></li>
<li><p>Earlham College</p></li>
<li><p>Clark University</p></li>
<li><p>College of Wooster</p></li>
<li><p>Kalamazoo College</p></li>
<li><p>Rhodes College</p></li>
<li><p>Guilford College</p></li>
<li><p>Occidental College</p></li>
<li><p>Washington College</p></li>
<li><p>Illinois Wesleyan University </p></li>
</ol>
<p>High</a> School</p>
<p>Wow, Joe, thanks much for that - I didn't know that metric was available. I think I can answer the question where kids go on the weekend from St Olaf - the Twin Cities, of course. They have a regular bus to the MegaMall (known as the Mall of America to those outside of Minnesota), <1 hour away.</p>
<p>I agree, both schools are excellent choices, and I've seen IWU characterized as "up and coming" by a number of college reviewers.</p>
<p>My S is a soph at IWU and the campus definitely does NOT clear out on weekends. We're from Wisconsin and he doesn't come home very often. In addition to there being a lot going on during the weekends socially, there is a large music/theatre population on campus that has rehearsals. They couldn't leave if they wanted to!</p>
<p>another interesting stat from that same site...</p>
<p>olaf
Students who have cars on campus
26%</p>
<p>IWU
Students who have cars on campus
70%</p>
<p>Looks like the oles must be takin' that mall bus since most do not have cars.</p>