<p>Hi, I'm a prospective student and I had some questions about the social life at St. Olaf. Charming as it is, I know Northfield is a very small town and I was wondering about the social life on campus. Is it fairly quiet on weekends? (I'm the sort of person who is driven crazy by a dead silent campus on Friday night). Do students go to Northfield much? What do kids do on campus, especially during that magical time in mid-february when the wind chill is -30? Do most students eat at the Cafeteria, or are there other options? Are there busses to Northfield for people to pick up groceries and other stuff? What about the cities?</p>
<p>I know thats a lot of questions, but any answers would be greatly appreciated to someone who is leaning towards St. Olaf but wants to know everything about it before making a decision:)</p>
<p>Duke, yes students go to Northfield and the twin cities frequently. There is a bus that goes into Northfield that will take you to Target etc.. There is also a bus that will take you to a movie theater in a suburb north of Northfield (can't remember the name) for, I think, $3 and that includes the movie ticket. On campus there are many scheduled activities and there is always a musical performance of some sort. You probably need to go spend the night to see if St. Olaf is right for you. Where are you from? We are from Chicago and my d loved St. Olaf, we had visited several times, until she spent the weekend. She said she could just not picture herself spending four years in Northfield. The visit was kind of strange as the St. Olaf host was not allowed to take the prospectives off campus and not much was going on that weekend. She has never had that restriction placed on her when spending the night at other schools. St. Olaf is a good school in a quiet town, I think you need to go spend the night.</p>
<p>i just got back from spending the weekend at olaf, and even though it was 9 degrees outside, there were a variety of really cool things happening. People really seem to take advantage of the events on campus, and nearly every student i met said that they felt like they couldn't leave campus over the weekend because they would miss too much.</p>
<p>Thanks for the comments, I live in Minneapolis so its not that far for me. I understand your daughters sentiments completely, I've done overnights where I came home in the morning and just knew that wasn't where I belong. I do plan on staying overnight at St.Olaf to check out what the campus is like, i'm glad to hear students have a lot to do over the weekend, erinaguilo is the campus fairly quiet? Are students up and about late at night, hanging out in the commons or whatever? Did you sit in on classes? How did that go?</p>
<p>Duke: There are nice restaurants in Northfield, but the Dining facility at St Olaf is very good, highly rated and from personal experience (as a parent) it is excellent.</p>
<p>Our D has traveled with friends up to the "Mall of A.: which to you would be boring but is fun to them. Lots of activities and performances on campus. our D is very busy and enjoys the school.</p>
<p>She is from NJ, with easy access to NY and Philly, but fines St Olaf and Northfield to have plenty of diversions. ICarleton is also in Northfield and events are sometimes duel sponsored.</p>
<p>Go visit overnight see the campus and enjoy.</p>
<p>Re: going off campus with a Host, many schools (since they are legally responsible for the prospective student do not allow their hosts to drive off campus with the Prospie. However walking or taking the campus shuttle is ok.</p>
<p>meganvirg, there was a shuttle to the hockey game and the movie so I don't know why the restriction, hasn't happened anywhere else. Most likely would not have made a difference. The visit was a dud for her, she was actually left alone for a couple of hours and called me (interupted a great nap) to come hang out with her, appeared to be poor planning.</p>
<p>Duke, d sat in on two classes and said they were okay although not particularly challenging or engaging. She actually knew many of the answers in the one class she attended. Once again, largely dependent`upon the professor and class. D also said the students at St. Olaf were assigned less homework then she is in high school, that was appealing to her!</p>
<p>Thanks daviban and meganvirg for the replies. Does anyone know if classes are challenging and engaging overall? I'm a person who gets extremely bored in "easy" classes and actually gets worse grades in those than more difficult ones. Dav, do you know what classes your daughter sat in on? I know thats kind of obscure information thanks again for your help :)</p>
<p>duke, I know one was an English class that she thought was very easy. In all fairness she attends a competitive high school and is in her second year of AP English. The course she sat in on was a first year class. The other class I believe was psychology, not 100% sure. The professor just lectured and she did not find him all that engaging. Finally, she sat in on a Bio class. Once again, she was bored but passed the Bio AP test with a 5 last year so that might be a placement issue. All I can say is she did not come back with a "wow" impression, like "wow" those professors were awesome. She has had that feeling at other schools. Once again, I am sure it depends on the professor and the class. I also think, for the most part, that my d has had amazing teachers in high school so the bar is set pretty high. Sit in on a few classes when you visit and see what you think.</p>
<p>thanks for all the help dav, I have a lot of AP's myself and my high school has great teachers as well I'm hoping the placement out of AP's would get students into more challenging higher level classes at St. Olaf, on scholarship day all I heard from students were how the classes were challenging and the professors very engaging and great teachers so I'm hoping your daughters experience was an exception....</p>
<p>Is anyone at St. Olaf in the Great Conversations program? I received a letter for it today and it seems to include a lot of General Education requirements as well as being very thinking and discussion oriented. Is it worth being in?</p>
<p>Duke, our D is in the Asian Conversation program - one of three Conversation programs at St Olaf. It is entirely voluntary to join and continue in any of the three Conversations. Our D is very pleased that she join her program, look into all of the three Conversations and ask questions, who knows you might like one of them. Good Luck!</p>
<p>Meganvirg, is this your son's first year in the Asian Con.? What does he think so far? My son received a letter about it and was very interested.</p>
<p>Lizzie1: It is our D's first year at St Olaf and she loves the Asian Conversation classes. It is necessary that the student be enrolled in either Japanese or Chinese classes as well. The Asian Conversations is limited to an enrollment (each year) of 20 students. after three semesters of Asian Studies and languages classes - during the Interim term in January the group takes a three week class in Japan and China, That is the formal end to the A. C. program.</p>
<p>If your son is interested he should contact the A. C. Program directly. Go to the Asian Studies and contact the Professor about his interest. Good Luck.</p>