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jocelynDAD
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Posted: Wed Apr 5th, 2006 05:41 pm |
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D and I visted St Olaf in May 2005 and W and D visited in February 2006. Next week we will be in Northfield, Minn so D can select the college she will be attending, St Olaf and Illinois Wesleyan are the two schools of her 7 acceptances that are still standing.
I was very impressed with the physical plant of St Olaf. It probably ranks as the best I seen for an LAC. Kenyon's setting cannot be matched IMO and Bryn Mawr's old buildings are gems and lovable. That said, St Olaf really has done an excellent plan in their physical plant. They are in the process of building a new Chemistry/physics building this coming year.
The admissions people have been swell, this is D's 3rd overnight visit and the other two were flawless. The faculty has been welcoming and willing to meet with Megan when she was a rising Junior. As an admitted student, I am anticipating that D will be treated as she was as a rising Junior.
They were as generous to us, a Middle class relatively high EFC family, with financial aid.
Their choir came to New York near Christmas and we were invited to attend as guests, met the President and VP of Admissions as well as some alums. These people are proud of their school and I think they have good reason to be.
When W and D arrived in NOrthfield in Feb 2006 it was below 0 degrees with a windchill. The school and town operated on a full schedule with no problems.
D was told it was the worst weather in the past two winters. Northfield is home to Carleton College another excellent LAC. Since the two colleges operate on different schedules, St Olaf two semesters with a January term and an optional summer session and Carleton operates on a 3 - ten weeks semesters, there is almost no interaction academically between the two schools.
There is a feeling that I gathered that Carleton does not want to associate itself with St Olaf. Perhaps there was a reason buried in the past, because IMO it is a shame that they two excellent schools do not combine their strengths, just my opinion.
Northfield is a nice college town and adequate for normal needs. The Twin cities are less than an hour away. Northfield residents probably commute to work in the Twin Cities, it is that close.
St Olaf has just about 3000 students, so it is a bit larger LAC than most. Their retention and graduation rates are very good.
Since about 770 students are enrolled each year, this Lutheran/Norwegian college is seeking to expand their student body in all directions. S/D from the East, South and West would find St Olaf a welcoming place. By the by, religion is not primary in the academic sense, two general classes are a part of the core curriculum. Nothing religious is mandated and the atmosphere is secular.
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rhumbob
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| Joined: | Mon Mar 20th, 2006 |
| Location: | California USA |
| Posts: | 66 |
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Posted: Sat Apr 8th, 2006 07:35 pm |
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My D and i visited St. Olaf in November, 2005. The weather was beautiful, about 60 degrees. St. Olaf was the most attractive campus we visited (also went to Hope, Wheaton, and Carleton). St. Olaf sits on a bluff overlooking Northfield. The campus is comfortable. There is art all through the campus. The buildings are not awe inspiring but they integrate with the environment. The inside spaces seem well designed with plenty of light and interesting architecture. The reserve book room at the library and the cafeteria were great places to be. We took a tour, had lunch, and D met with an admissions person. The food was outstanding. We went to a chapel service. It was ell attended. D and I both like the fact that chapel is not compulsory.
Along with Hope College (in Holland MI) St. Olaf is on my D's list of colleges she will apply to.
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CarolynLawrence
Administrator
| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 3197 |
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Posted: Sat Apr 8th, 2006 08:09 pm |
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| Thanks to both of you for sharing your thoughts on St. Olaf. I think it is an excellent school, and it is one of the few larger LACs. Some of their study abroad programs are the most unique ones I've seen anywhere. Their "around the world" study abroad program where students literally travel around the world (as I recall Egypt, India, Korea and Europe are on the intinerary), taking classes in each country, made me want to go back to college myself. Another thing I particularly like about St. Olaf is their January term where students take just one class, and many of them are off-campus. That is a really great way for kids to fit in the extra interests they may not have time for in the regular semesters.
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binx
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| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 459 |
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Posted: Mon Apr 10th, 2006 08:57 am |
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Thanks for this report! My D loves St. Olaf, just from visiting the website. I think she decided solely on the basis of their fight song. (Um, ja, ja, um, ja, ja.... ) It is probably one of the first places we will take her to visit next fall. I like everything I've read, but frankly, am not convinced D will really like being so far from everything. She is something of a city girl at heart. At this point, we are still working on convincing her that there needs to be other schools on her list.
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carldad
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| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
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Posted: Mon Apr 10th, 2006 02:27 pm |
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I am a graduate of St. Olaf and know many current students there. If any of you have particular questions I would be happy to answer them for you.
Binx mentions the concern that is Northfield is so far from everything. Actually Northfield is only about 40 minutes from downtown Minneapolis or St. Paul and the 2 colleges have regular buses up to various locations in the cities including the Mall of America. Also remember that with two colleges in town there are many activities that are occuring on the two campuses.
As to the earlier question about the relationship between the two schools, it is more one of ignoring each other than bad feelings. They actually do cooperate in a number of areas such as a combined library catalogue and they try not to duplicate most materials in the library. There is not a huge amount of socializing because the student bodies tend to be different types of students although it is fairly common for St. Olaf students to go to Carleton for parties as Carleton is a "wet" campus. There is a bus that regularly goes between the two campuses and such places as Target, Cub Food and the clinic so getting around Northfield is not that difficult.
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jocelynDAD
Member
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Posted: Sun Apr 16th, 2006 02:12 am |
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Just returned from visiting St Olaf. D will be attending this Fall.
They have 300 acres for the campus proper (600 more in trees and trails).
The campus is close but with the nicest 'quad' setting, surrounded by about ten academic buildings, student center, chapel, library (English department is located in same building but with separate stairs/elevators).
The food is just simply the best cafeteria food, I have seen (and eaten) in any college.
The cafeteria can be visited by anyone (for a reasonable cost - lunch was $5.85) and the campus its trails etc are open and available to any visitor. The local C of Commerce booklet advises this open campus to all.
Friendly is the operative word to describe St Olaf.
Carldad - while I did not detect hostility, the comments that D heard during her visits were that among the students (many from the same schools in Minnesota) was that you were either a "Carleton type" of a 'St Olaf type'. Only repeating what she heard!
Our D's choice was well received by my W and myself. While we were silent until D made her choice, St Olaf was tops for both W and myself.
D took classes with the head of the English Department, the head of Asian Studies and the Japanese Professor, all areas she is intending to study. The Admissions staff set up the visit to meet these interests of D.
Anyone planning to visit please ask to speak to Anne Donahue (800-800-3025) in the Admissions office - she is terrific.
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tokenadult
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| Joined: | Thu Apr 13th, 2006 |
| Location: | Minnesota USA |
| Posts: | 6 |
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Posted: Sun Apr 16th, 2006 03:23 am |
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Wow! They must have greatly improved the food at St. Olaf since my dad attended there more than fifty years ago. I'll have to visit the cafeteria the next time I go to Northfield.
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jocelynDAD
Member
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Posted: Sun Apr 16th, 2006 04:19 am |
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You mean in the days of single case typewriters, adding machine with a crank handle, ink pens and bottles in the round slot on the desk top, 2 cents deposit on a 7 cents bootle of pop, gas is 29.9 cents and the attendents cleaned your windows, check your oil and tires when you fill em up.
 Wow a lot has changed in the past 50 years, prop planes are out, skates and a fruit carton are now skateboards and cost too much $$$.
Bon Appetit is the company and believe me when I tell you that buffet restaurants do not put out the selection of food I saw on the two lunchs I had. Servers were at all posts, food that needed to be hot were hot and so was the counters under the dishes, cool and cold items were cool and cold.
So if you are near Northfield go to the Buntrock Student Center, take the elevator to the 3rd floor, go to the entrance, ask the price, pay the man/lady and eat your fill. Send in your assessment - see if your evaluation will top mine. 
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atlantamom
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| Joined: | Tue Mar 7th, 2006 |
| Location: | Illinois USA |
| Posts: | 112 |
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Posted: Mon Apr 17th, 2006 12:55 am |
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| I have a question. Are there any Jewish kids there? Is there a Christian orientation? I'm asking because it is Lutheran-affiliated and in Minnesota.
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westkymom
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| Joined: | Mon Mar 6th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 304 |
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Posted: Mon Apr 17th, 2006 02:36 am |
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I was also wondering about the extent and kind of any religious ambiance there. My son is just now considering St Olaf, but he's gun shy about ending up in the middle of any religious controversy. Mind you, he likes religious diversity -- the more, the better, so he can learn about other cultures. But he detests emotional conflicts.
Any comments in this area are deeply appreciated.
--Rhonda
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jocelynDAD
Member
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Posted: Mon Apr 17th, 2006 09:00 am |
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While they have a 15 minute open chapel daily around 10 am, classes are scheduled so that this period is open, to me it was a coffee break in mid morning time, attendance is not mandatory in the least.
There is a general requirement to take two courses in the religion category from over 50 different offerings. These include courses in Buddhism, Judaism, ethics,Hinduism, religions of China and Japan, etc.
We are secular in thought - not belonging to any religion and clearly while the origins of the college are Lutheran and Norwegian. Religion is by no means preached at the students nor is religion emphasized - it is backdrop not in the foreground.
Re: Jewish, there is a small Jewish Student Association as well as a Muslim Student Association.
The ambiance seems to be very laid back and I saw no indications on our family's three visits of any overt controversy or outward religious anything. They are proud of their Lutheran tradition and their roots in their Norwegian heritage, last fall the Prince of Norway (future King) visited the campus and while we were there last week, a Princess from Norway visited on a children's book tour.
Their publication states that 41% - Lutheran, 27% other Protestant, 13% Catholic, 2% World religions and 17% - no response
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atlantamom
Member
| Joined: | Tue Mar 7th, 2006 |
| Location: | Illinois USA |
| Posts: | 112 |
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Posted: Mon Apr 17th, 2006 12:23 pm |
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| Thanks for the info!
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jocelynDAD
Member
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Posted: Sat Jun 3rd, 2006 06:45 am |
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Diversity at St OLAF:
St Olaf is located in Minnesota. It is cold most of the school year. Minnesota does have a minority population of Hmong from Vietnam. Other minorities are rather non-existance in any significant number in Minnesota.
St Olaf does gather its students from Minnesota (Over 40 %), and Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin provide another 40% or so.
Minority population at St Olaf for 2005-6 (Class of 2009)
731 enrolled (64 minority students - just under 9% total.)
40 Asian American
10 Hispanic American
11 African American
3 Native American
For the entire student body in 2004-5 (Classes if 2005-6-7-8)
3058 enrolled (232 minorities or less than 7% of the students)
136 Asian - A.
45 Hispanic - A.
43 African-A.
8 Native-A.
They are diligently seeking minorities and IMO would be very receptive to any minority prospect with a positive academic record and potential.
Howsoever, the lack of minority populations in Minnesota is reflected in the student body.
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CalifMom
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| Joined: | Sat Aug 26th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 18 |
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Posted: Mon Oct 16th, 2006 12:53 am |
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We just visited St. Olaf. My daughter had an interview (I was invited in for the last 5 minutes), we took a tour (I only made it through part of it because of a bad knee) and had dinner in the cafeteria.
Northfield, MN is about 30 (?) minutes outside of the Twin Cities. There is transportation provided between the school and the Mall of America, and since the MOA is minutes from the airport, I guess D could use a combination of taxi plus the school shuttle to get to/from the airport. I'm not clear if its actually a school shuttle or just the town/city bus. The town is picture perfect (we lucked out with the weather - mid-70s in early October). D and I thought the campus was fairly attractive. Most of the buildings are pretty close together which would be handy during cold weather (apparently there is one dorm far enough away that they joke its "in another zip code" - heh). D says the dorms are nice enough. I got to see the athletics building with its two-story track, large exercise equipment/weight room, tennis courts, basketball, of course an indoor pool. D loved "The Pause", the school nightclub. She was told there is a lot to do on campus, which would be important in this semi-remote location. Our tour guide said she feels most students stay on campus over the weekends, another point important to D. She did not have an opportunity to attend a class.
The admissions office staff was very friendly and accommodating (we were late because I misunderstood the driving directions, D was horrified). They were able to give D a later interview slot and D got a personal tour by a very sweet girl from Iowa. By far the best school cafeteria I've ever seen - WOW! It would be hard to not to gain a freshman 50, much less the freshman 15! The students we passed were also some of the friendliest we'd come across; smiling and saying hello, not running us down in the parking lot... 
Very favorable visit. D has decided to apply.
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CarolynLawrence
Administrator
| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
| Posts: | 3197 |
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Posted: Mon Oct 16th, 2006 04:36 am |
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| CalifMom, Oh goodie! A year or two ago, I came across St. Olaf's enrollment management plan somewhere on the net and I remember they specifically mentioned being interested in boosting applicants from California. So, your daughter might get a bit of a boost. Certainly, with her interests, St. Olaf is a natural fit. Be sure to take a close look at their Study Abroad options - they are some of the best I've seen at any school, and the January term plan makes it possible to study abroad more than once without losing too much time from campus life.
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jocelynDAD
Member
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Posted: Mon Oct 16th, 2006 05:51 am |
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Go on St Olaf's site and search for ARFAC. This will give you the minutes of the monthly Admission/Retention Committee. The September session gave the details of the last recruitment class (2010) and the plans for the class of 2011 as far as recruitment is concerned.
They are seeking geographic diversity as well as racial diversity. They are still over 40% Minnesotans and Lutheran.
CalifMom you are right, it is the best cafeteria food at a college that I have ever experienced.
Our D2 is in the midst of her first semester and she loves the school, particularly the other students.
Dorms are really not far from the campus, our D2 is in the dorm just on top of the incline down to the Gym, it is the dorm that you referred to and it is not a significant hike. FWIW, there are some basement level tunnels from buildings to buildings so it is possible to navigate with some ease.
Airport: They will provide bus service to the airport during breaks/Xmas/end of semester - etc.
MOA - each weekend day there is bus service from campus to MOA/Minneapolis area.
D2 reports that while the campus is a church oriented college with a proud tradition, she has seen or felt any tension concern religious practices or non practice on campus. D2 (like her parents) is not active in any religion activity and that has not been a barrier or a problem in the slightest. 
CalifMom: What is your D planning to study?
Last edited on Mon Oct 16th, 2006 06:04 am by jocelynDAD
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Descartes
Super Moderator
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Posted: Tue Oct 17th, 2006 01:17 am |
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CalifMom wrote: Northfield, MN is about 30 (?) minutes outside of the Twin Cities. There is transportation provided between the school and the Mall of America, and since the MOA is minutes from the airport, I guess D could use a combination of taxi plus the school shuttle to get to/from the airport. I can't speak to the school shuttle, but there is public transportation (light-rail train and perhaps a bus line) available from MOA to the airport (and onto downtown Minneapolis, for that matter), so a taxi would not be necessary.Last edited on Tue Oct 17th, 2006 01:18 am by Descartes
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deloar
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| Joined: | Tue Oct 31st, 2006 |
| Location: | NE OH |
| Posts: | 33 |
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Posted: Sat Aug 4th, 2007 07:34 pm |
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My D is interested in St Olaf for vocal music. Aren't sure when she will be able to visit though. Anyone around who can comment on the school and/or the vocal/choral music program?
Thanks.
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CarolynLawrence
Administrator
| Joined: | Sun Mar 5th, 2006 |
| Location: | USA |
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Posted: Sun Aug 5th, 2007 12:06 am |
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| David, You might want to PM JocelynDad directly for his insights as his daughter is going into her senior year at St. Olaf. I will also be doing a quick visit at St. Olaf next week, and I will try to give you my on-the-fly impressions when I get back. Overall, though, I am very impressed with St. Olaf -- the academics seem good, it's a nice size (one of the larger LACs at 3,000 or so), and they also have some of the best study abroad options I've ever seen at any school. I do know, however, that their admissions standards have tightened in the past few years, so it is no longer quite the "safe bet" it used to be -- but still a wonderful place. By the way, somewhere I have an article about how St. Olaf makes admissions decisions. When I get back from my trip, I'll see if I can find it and post it here.
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John5616
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| Joined: | Thu May 17th, 2007 |
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Posted: Tue Aug 7th, 2007 10:24 pm |
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Here's the article about the St. Olaf admission process, from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune (may require free registration).
http://www.startribune.com/1592/story/1022855.html
I went to St. Olaf 25 years ago, and hope my children will consider it. It is extremely well-known for its music program, particularly the St. Olaf Choir, which specializes in a capella and sacred music, but there are several other choirs, bands, and orchestras, all of which are open to non-music majors.
It also does a good job in liberal arts, particularly science (a new science building will open in 2008), math, languages, and international studies.
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