<p>No dog in Grinnell, but we were and remain highly impressed. Thankyouwarrenbuffett. I would note that I know several professors at a top 20 research u who sent their kids to St Olaf and have been pleased.</p>
<p>If geographic distribution is important to OP, here’s the link to the St. Olaf’s figures:
[St</a>. Olaf College | IR: Student Geographic Profile](<a href=“http://www.stolaf.edu/offices/ir/students/geographic.html]St”>http://www.stolaf.edu/offices/ir/students/geographic.html)</p>
<p>It shows that 49% are from Minnesota, and Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin together account for 19%, so yes, nearly 70% are from four midwestern states.</p>
<p>The Grinnell factbook can be found on the Insitutional Research page of that school’s website and it includes figures up to 2010.</p>
<p>Here’s another site that shows geographic distribution: [Where</a> Does Your Freshman Class Come From?](<a href=“http://chronicle.com/article/Interactive-Freshman-Class/129547#id=153384]Where”>http://chronicle.com/article/Interactive-Freshman-Class/129547#id=153384)</p>
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<p>I’m not sure I’d call the ELCA “liberal” as a denomination. There are indeed many liberals in the ELCA. There are also many conservatives. The recent decision about gays caused a huge controversy, and some congregations have chosen to go their separate ways because of it. In my own congregation, we all get along, because we don’t talk about politics and we are much more focused on other things.</p>
<p>wow, dodgersmom, that is a cool website! I just started a new thread with the link (but went to the main page, which features Princeton). We often have debates on CC about how regional or national a school’s pull is, and this spells it out quite clearly!</p>
<p>My D was admitted at both and chose StO hands down (and is not religious). It is definitely a personal preference matter, though. The Oles that I’ve met from the 2000s say that StO is not dry, not conservative and not that religious. My D grew up in the Episcopal tradition, just as many Oles grew up in the Lutheran tradition. It gives a cultural grounding but does not mean that they are strong practitioners of said tradition. A paraphrased quote, “Oles are very green. If you should happen to stagger out to chapel on Sunday morning you will see the recycling bins completely full of bottles.” StO has gotten more liberal in this century, I gather with 24hr birth control available and other hallmarks of modernity. In fact, they bucked the church on that one in not taking a head in sand approach.</p>
<p>The aid packages were comparable with StO slightly better for us, but may work the other way for someone else. D applied to Grinnell as an aid backup since they do theirs differently and it was quite good, but not game changer good.</p>
<p>Travel much easier to StO if that makes a difference.</p>
<p>D wanted some of the structure that StO provides. I can see a different kid preferring Grinnell’s looser approach, but not because it’s better - just different.</p>
<p>Where we live (west coast) StO is very well known and Grinnell not so much. Again, this is not to say that Grinnell isn’t quite prestigious, but that’s not a selling point above all others - it depends on what our D wants and where she’s going.</p>
<p>StO is twice the size if that matters - D liked that it is bigger than her high school.</p>
<p>In the end - we can all try to sell our favorite, but they are different enough and both good enough that your D should be able to make this choice based on her own gut feeling.</p>
<p>I sent you a PM dogsledder</p>
<p>Just to throw in my two cents about StO, in all the discussions I’ve had, St. Olaf appears to be moderate-liberal, not conservative. St. Olaf definitely preaches morality and a life of service, but not necessarily conservatism. The students are traditionally very tolerant, accepting people. During an overnight stay, I met a girl who was atheist who felt totally comfortable on campus and her religion class ended up being her favorite class. The week I visited was also evidentially some sort of sexuality week, culminating in a drag ball. Like bclintock said, these are not going to be predominately Bible-thumping conservatives.</p>