<p>My brother is going to be senior next year and will start looking for schools soon. It would be great to offer him suggestions.</p>
<p>He wants to become a doctor so a strong bio program would be good.
He wants to play Tennis, but most likely DIII would be best.
Around MN is good
Small classes, he doesn't want lecture hall classes.
He's not a nerd so really intellectual schools are out (St. Olaf; too artsie/musical/nerdy)</p>
<p>He isn't the most amazing student in the world; a very average guy.
High class rank/GPA, top of the class. Takes difficult classes. His ACT will be average 20-30. I'm guessing a 27.
His EC's are decent.</p>
<p>Gustavus is okay but its really close to home (an hour away).</p>
<p>Are you sure you're not thinking of Carleton? I could see someone seeing that as "nerdy," although many like that, but I have never really seen that label applied to St. Olaf. I always thought it was similar to Gustavus, outside of the people in the amazing music programs.</p>
<p>St. Olaf is very pretty (I heart Northfield) but I don't think its my brother's style. Carleton is nerdy but to a relative extent, so is St. Olaf. They have a more intellectual feel that I don't think my brother shares. Plus all those music kids would drive him up the wall.</p>
<p>Carleton is perceived as the most academic (or nerdy by your standards) and then St. Olaf. According to most of the kids at our very large school they think St. Olaf is way more competitive than Gustavus. Gustavus has the rep of having the smart All American type or kid next door while St. Olaf has a little more competitive science and music driven student. Gustavus just seems more laid back. All do well in preparing premed students. </p>
<p>Have you checked out the MIAC site that has season tennis stats??</p>
<p>DD2 and I visited St Olaf and Gustavus on back-to-back days last October. We went expecting to like St Olaf (the "better" school), but honestly preferred Gustavus. St Olaf's national rep is based largely on its music program coupled with solid academics. I did have the opportunity to talk with an admissions counselor who had worked for both schools--he felt that the academics were comparable but that the students at St Olaf were more musical and the ones at Gustavus were more athletic. St Olaf also draws more out of state kids, although not to the extent that Carleton and Macalester do. DD1 has four HS friends who went to St Olaf (all female, all serious musicians, none science majors--the only one unhappy there is the one who used it as her "safety") and three who went to Gustavus (also all female, 2 athletes, 2 science majors). DD2 loved the studio art and theatre departments at Gustavus--these weren't even on the tour at St Olaf; she was left with the impression that these areas were second class to the music program at St Olaf. We also felt that the core curriculum was more rigid at St Olaf--First Year Writing and 2 required religion classes (the same religion course is mandatory for all freshmen; there is a slight choice in the 2nd one).</p>
<p>Thanks Masquemom, that helps a bit. Most of my musical friends are heading there so its hard to see my brother mix in there with people like that. </p>
<p>Gustavus is a good school, and a great tennis team but I don't know if my brother can walk on and join. It may be too competitive for him. I mean he justs needs good prep for medschool. Does anyone know the strongest departments of Gustavus?</p>
<p>Using NorthMN's MIAC website, they also mentioned St. Thomas and St. Johns. Does anyone know about these schools?</p>