<p>Hello!
Like mentioned above, I am an introvert (male btw): I hardly ever go to parties , I always find it hard to make friends, I'm not athletic, sometimes bullied (lol)... you get the point.
Anyways, so I was wondering between Colgate an St. Olaf, which one should I apply for ED1? Let's not talk about majors, what is your idea?
Here is why I'm considering these two (ofc assuming that I got in)</p>
<p>*Colgate:
-pros:
academics
good reputation
amazing fin aids
NY state (though this is not necesarily what I care about)
amazing internships possibilities
-cons:</p>
<p>I heard that nearly all guys there are athletic O<em>O Would I become alienated? O</em>O
Great reputation as a party school...!
Everybody is preppy</p>
<p>*St. Olaf:
-pros:
friendly people (this is the most important thing)<br>
no greek life
great food
not being an athlete is not a big problem.
people are into music
great Math apartment!
-cons
not as great as Colgate in terms of reputation
no paid internships=>doing interns for fun lol.
the deadly winter (OMG!)
no placement services for graduates</p>
<p>ALSO, I HEARD THAT THE FIN AIDS DECREASE AFTER THE FRESHMAN YEAR ?!? IS THIS TRUE?</p>
<p>Sum: Overall, I'm really confused because while colgate does offer great academics and future career advantages, I really have to consider it's social scene. On the other hand, St. Olaf does not have a big reputation as Colgate, but I think I can fit into its stereotype.</p>
<p>If you have not visited these schools to evaluate how YOU feel about them then there is no point in applying
to either ED. How can you risk being bound by a possible acceptance decision if there is any doubt you can be
happy there.</p>
<p>About what you want to achieve in college, recognize that you need enough self confidence in yourself and your surroundings to launch a successful freshman year and take advantage of college life. And if it’s done well, your
freshman year will quickly transform your possibilities into personal accomplishments. That’s what it’s all about and you can put high school well and truly behind you.</p>
<p>I attended Colgate years ago and continue to discover it to be a terrific institution. The reasons are personal on the one hand and yet on the other Colgate demonstrates its positive momentum in many tangible ways. A campus tour and a visit to its superb facilities to see professors and students in action is what you need now.</p>
<p>Lastly, what’s your concern about stereotypes? Stereotypes are, I think, what you choose to make of them from afar. You need to get to grips with this kind of third party opinion-based generalization and decide why such thing should be of any concern. How? Get to know some Colgate students along the way by spending a day or overnight on campus. Then you will see for yourself how you feel about Colgate.</p>
<p>@markham well, I’m not currently in the U.S and will not be back there anytime soon so I cannot afford a visit to either of them. However, I do want to apply ED to maximize my chance of getting in.
That’s why I want opinions from you guys to make the right decision.</p>
<p>Do you have such a poor chance? Are you trying to do that because you have deficiencies? I doubt it is going to be worth it. Just apply RD to both and you can see where you get in and consider further. If you must, then it sounds like you feel you will fit well with and prefer St Olaf so pick that one.</p>
<p>Sorry, I did not anticipate that you are an applicant from outside the US. The timezone should have been a clue. As we are posting almost real time, I will reveal that I am in western Europe now.</p>
<p>I think the best thing you can do to get to the source is to arrange some online conversations with current students via the Office of Admission. Its contact information as well as the online virtual tour of campus are supplied at colgate.edu.</p>
<p>St. Olaf does not have name recognition outside of Minnesota and arguably the upper midwest. Colgat is a first rate college. If prices are the same, I would go with Colgate.</p>
<p>That being said, you need to determine where you fit in. You should spend some time on each campus and see where you would rather live for four years.</p>
<p>Take a look at Hamilton, which is not in Hamilton, but 30 miles from Colgate in Clinton. Many people compare Hamilton and Colgate and prefer one over the other. Hamilton may be more introvert friendly, though I’m sure there are many happy introverts at Colgate as well. Many are also admitted to both, though neither is easy to get into.</p>
<p>St. Olaf is an awesome LAC. They offer great financial aid to Americans, but in my experience with my DD’s inter national friend, the cost was nearly full price. You might want to look at Macalester College in St. Paul. They offer better financial aid to internationals and the students are for the most part intelligent, quirky, and non-athletic–and the food is very good. Lawrence U. is another college to consider and they gave my DD’s friend a great financial aid package. Food also great, by the way.</p>
<p>St Olaf does have name recognition outside of Minnesota! I am in MA and am familiar with it. I wish my son would apply there but the winters scare him. My daughter’s friend is a sophomore there and loves it. She is also an introvert. I’d pick St Olaf over Colgate for that reason alone.</p>