Olaf in a Nutshell

Colleges and Universities A-Z Saint Olaf College
1

<p>It’s up in chilly MN, and it’s hard to get to know this place just from college guidebooks. It does not get the highest ratings in the college guidebooks, but I personally think that it is a wonderful school. I live 800 miles away, and I’ve been on campus four times! I also got a PM from a mom of a student considering St. Olaf asking for what I thought the typical student was like, and I figured it might be helpful to answer it here.</p>

<p>First and foremost, NICE. I spent an overnight at Olaf back in November and they were the nicest kids I have ever met. My host and her friends were all sweet, which I was expecting, but what impressed me the most was how the other students treated me. One of my favorite tests at a college is to look lost and see if any students approach me, and if not, how they respond to being asked directions. At most colleges, no one approaches me, but they are cordial when I ask directions. At Olaf, I just paused in the hallway with my prospie folder, and two students approached me to escort me to class. They not only showed me where the classroom was, they walked inside with me to find me a seat, and introduced me to the professor!</p>

<p>I would also say that the atmosphere there is very non-competitive. There’s a strong feeling of unity and support among the students, and I did not feel that the students were competing against each other. I visit a Great Conversations class, so the discussion was wonderful. Students seemed motivated to do well, but were not pitted against each other. </p>

<p>I’ve heard the campus described as a “damp” campus rather than the dry campus they proclaim it to be. Alcohol is forbidden on campus, but there are certainly a few students who drink. I think the difference between drinking here and most colleges is that you get in serious trouble at Olaf, rather than just a slap on the wrist. However, the majority of students do not drink (for religious or other reasons) and that means that there is a plethora of activities on the weekend. There are parties, but the students usually remain conscious throughout the course of the party (lol). I never saw alcohol or drugs the entire time (unlike many other visits) and I think drug use is very, very limited.</p>

<p>Many of the students were blonde, and cute (haha, the guys were ador!). There’s not a whole lot of racial diversity, but racial acceptance is definitely there. By that I mean that the students won’t discriminate against you for being a different race and that there are plenty of differing opinions regardless of looks. I didn’t see any goth or emo kids there. Although there may have been a few, there is a general happy vibe and I’m not sure that a depressed attitude would fit in there. Quirky, artsy types would fit in, but not the hippies (especially due to the lack of drugs).</p>

<p>My advice to those applying next year:</p>

<li><p>Visit, visit, and visit! The campus is gorgeous, the food is delicious, and the kids are really friendly. Who wouldn’t want to spend a weekend there?</p></li>
<li><p>Interview and get to know your admissions officer. The admissions staff is very friendly and helped me get through the process very easily.</p></li>
<li><p>Regardless of your GPA/test scores, do not assume that you will be a Buntrock Finalist. Academics will get you a presidential scholarship, but after that it’s about character. Show interest in the school, interview, write a thorough essay… basically just show passion.</p></li>
<li><p>If you want a Buntrock and the Conversations program, be prepared to write a lot of essays. I just submitted my 8th essay to the school today! (hopefully the last…)</p></li>
</ol>

<p>I’ll check this thread, so if you have any questions please post them here. As a current high school senior, I’m in love with this school and I probably know more about it than many of the current students (lol). </p>

<p>And for some of the dorm stereotypes:
Kildahl - tiny rooms, great family-like community (houses GreatCon)
Ellingston - spacious rooms, window seats, more studious (houses GreatCon)
Mohn - nice rooms, but less social b/c freshman living over upperclassmen
Hoyme - partay dorm! or as much of a party dorm as Olaf is likely to have, dunno about the rooms b/c I didn’t visit (houses AmCon)</p>

2

<p>This is really close to the impression I got the two times I was on campus (once last Spring, once the other week for the music auditions). The most striking thing is the close-knit, familial, inclusive, cooperative atmosphere. It hasn't got the highest "ranking" in the country, but the sense I got was that the academics have gotten stronger faster than the numbers have been able to keep up, and with two Rhodes Scholars from this year's class I expect the school to start getting some recognition. They've almost completed a state-of-the-art math and science building, for those who like that kind of thing.</p>

<p>I stayed overnight in Ellingson, which is supposedly the "quiet/studious" dorm, but practically everyone I met was socially well-adjusted and obviously fun-loving, albeit in a quirky manner (it might have helped that we were all singers). The students I asked said that it's split about 50/50 between drinkers and teetotalers, which basically means that there's always a party somewhere if you're so inclined but you're never going to be in danger of being bored or ignored if you abstain, which if you ask me is the perfect mix. There's a re-worded version of St. Olaf's fight song that Carleton students wrote but Oles adopted as their own, which goes:</p>

<p>"We come from St. Olaf
We wear fancy sweaters
We live on a hill to be closer to God
We DON'T smoke, we DON'T drink
(At least that's what they think)
And under the covers we um ya ya ya!"</p>

<p>Obviously satire, but at least chuckle-worthy and worth considering.</p>

<p>St. Olaf is is still predominantly white, but recently they've been actively reaching out to minority students, and it's starting to show. It's hard, I think, to be a small private school with a mostly regional recruitment pool and not a lot of money to spare for advertising, but I saw non-whites around campus pretty frequently. Like the OP said, the place isn't swarming with scene kids like some other LACs, but there is no shortage of interesting people, including ones who listen to indie bands, and I can't imagine anyone being discriminated against for looking or dressing differently. </p>

<p>Anyway, that's my piece. I really loved it there. It's tied for my no. 1 right now.</p>

3

<p>I'm a high school senior, and i've done a lot of research about what colleges i want to apply to -- and st. olaf is my number one!!! i'm in south florida, and i haven't had the chance to visit yet, but i've been talking to my admissions counselor and i'm very excited!!
i want to study neuroscience as an undergrad, and i've visited the link on their webpage, but i was wondering if you guys knew anything about it?</p>

4

<p>I'm assuming that you're aware of this, but neuroscience is only a concentration (equivalent to a minor) at St. Olaf, not a major. However, the classes let you get some insight to the field while still letting you get the broad education, and you'll have to go to grad school regardless so it's not a big deal. </p>

<p>I actually talked to a biology professor about neuroscience when I came to visit. It's an interesting program, and I'm still considering taking Intro to Neuroscience. He also said that there are several related experiments going on on campus, so getting involved in research won't be that difficult.</p>

<p>I"m currently a biology major and I LOVE LOVE LOVE my biology class! My professor (Freedburg) is absolutely fantastic! :-D It's my happy class in the middle of the day. For lab on tuesday we went on a hike through the natural lands next to st. olaf and found several interesting specimens.</p>

<p>I'm still getting settled into the college somewhat, but feel free to send me any message with questions about St. Olaf.</p>

5

<p>I don't attend St. Olaf but I have visited when my brother toured the campus and I adored almost everything about it. The people that we encountered were genuinely nice and caring; there were no fake smiles, just pureness. You don't find that a lot today. If I was intelligent enough and had the opportunity to attend such a place I would. St. Olaf is a very special and unique place that is indeed a hidden gem in the college world. If I do have children there is no doubt St. Olaf would be one of the first colleges I would recommend on touring. By writing this I actually want to go back in time and do better in high school : ( And no graduate programs. . .</p>

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<p>How good is their finacial aid?</p>

7

<p>How many people get admitted for regular decision?</p>

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<p>mm99: According to the campus website, 63% of this year's first year class received need-based aid. Scholarships are pretty competitive; When I applied, over 500 students applied for music scholarships and 50-60 were awarded. For the service/leadership scholarship, around 700 applied and about 100 received. I don't know academic scholarship numbers, but it's competitive. I had a 3.8 GPA (in mainly advanced/AP classes) in high school and I didn't get one. They really take into account the personal statement and what classes you took in high school. (I have a strong feeling that a main reason I didn't get an academic scholarship was because I didn't take any math or science courses in my senior year, instead opting for some open periods.)</p>

<p>As far as regular decision, it's risky to wait that long. I don't know exact numbers, but the majority of students apply under ED/EA. Waiting until the regular decision deadline is sometimes viewed by admissions negatively; St. Olaf REALLY doesn't like kids who consider St. Olaf a safety/backup school.</p>