<p>My daughter is trying to decide between these two colleges. She is planning on majoring in biology and becoming a veterinarian. Which one of these colleges in better in the sciences? </p>
<p>Positives for St. Olaf-
-She loves the beautiful campus at St. Olaf and the community feel, and she feels comfortable and at home there. Which is why it has been her dream school.
-She also was in Marching Band and although not majoring in music is used to hanging out with the band kids.
-She is not into drinking or drugs at all, but she is not stuffy and still wants to have fun at college. St. Olaf does not allow alcohol on campus, so that is a plus.</p>
<p>Negatives for St. Olaf-
-She is spiritual not religious per say and is worried that St. Olaf may be a little to religious
-Farther from home</p>
<p>Positives for Macalester-
- She doesn't want a super religious school.
-She likes that Macalester is slightly more prestigious than St. Olaf and more well known.
-She is also very creative and her characteristics might fit better at Mac.</p>
<p>Negatives for Mac-
-She is not political at all though and that is one thing that worries her about Macalester as they are known to be quite political.
-Campus not as nice
-Can't smell Malt O' Meal :)</p>
<p>Does anyone have any insight into the college life at either of these colleges? And their biology departments?</p>
<p>The most important factor would of course be which one would better prepare her for entry into veterinary school.</p>
<p>Obviously, both are fine schools. St. Olaf is known for music, math, science whereas Macalester is known for political science, international affairs etc. with a liberal orientation. I grew up in MN and remember a general sense that St. Olaf was more distinguished academically than Macalester, which has risen dramatically in the rankings since then (helped by its urban location and some high-profile alumni). For sciences, I would go for St. Olaf.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t describe St. Olaf as “super religious” or “too religious.” It’s a Norwegian Lutheran school and no doubt it attracts some devout Lutherans but it also attracts a ton of less religious/more secular types, as well as people with religious affiliations other than Lutheran, owing to the strength of its academics and its music programs. And in my experience, even the most devout Norwegian Lutherans tend to be pretty tolerant of those with different, weaker, or no religious ties; I don’t think she’d encounter the sort of in-your-face proselytizing you might find at some self-identified Christian schools. St. Olaf’s student body is definitely less political/left-leaning than Mac, which sounds like a plus for your D; in fact, she might well face more political proselytizing at Mac than religious proselytizing at St. Olaf.</p>
<p>I think it’s easily possible to get a strong foundational education in biology at either Mac or St. Olaf, certainly strong enough to prepare your D for vet school. FWIW (and I tend to be pretty skeptical of these things), both Mac and St. Olaf are recommended for biology by both Gourman and Rugg’s. St. Olaf produces a few more bio majors, but then it’s a bigger school; as a percentage of all graduates they’re pretty similar. So I wouldn’t dismiss Mac as a “non-science” school; it’s best known for poli sci/international relations/global studies, but it’s quite strong in the sciences as well. </p>
<p>Academically, then, it’s pretty much a push given your D’s interests. She should go with the one that feels like the best fit, considering such differences as urban v. small college town, small compact campus v. more spacious & arguably prettier campus, politically active v. not so much, left-leaning v. more centrist (or politically balanced, perhaps), thoroughly secular v. moderately religious, somewhat active party scene v. largely substance-free, and odors emanating from a wide variety of exotic ethnic eateries v. Malt-O-Meal. Sounds to me like St. Olaf might be a better fit for your D, but that’s her call.</p>
<p>“St. Olaf’s student body is definitely less political/left-leaning than Mac, which sounds like a plus for your D; in fact, she might well face more political proselytizing at Mac than religious proselytizing at St. Olaf.”</p>
<p>Very well said. Macalester is a great LAC, no question, but I would lean more towards St. Olaf for the sciences. Their new science building is an amazing facility. Good luck!</p>
<p>Agree with bclintonk. Oles are certainly much more involved in religious life as a group. But this is a very tolerant and liberal minded campus. While Mac probably does, overall, have a slightly better academic reputation, this certainly not extend to math and the sciences where St. Olaf is very strong. Applying to vet school will be a wash from either. I’d tell her to go where she thinks she’ll be happiest.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t let the “dry campus” aspect of St. Olaf sway you one way or the other, because any campus (I think) will have substance-free residences…There is drinking at St. Olaf, as at almost all colleges. It can be intense. These are young adults away from home for the first time, after all. St. Olaf folks themselves will tell you the same thing.</p>