University of St. Thomas (MN)--anyone know much about this school?

[Anonymous]

My son is a sophmore so we are still early in the search. Right now when I ask him about what he wants in a college, his first response is that he wants to go somewhere "cold." He is the kid you see standing at the bus stop in January wearing shorts and a t-shirt. He runs very hot and would be miserable somewhere in the south.

We are "cafeteria Catholics" so while he wouldn't be opposed to a Catholic school, he isn't specifically seeking one. Right now he is open to big school/small school, urban vs. "small college town" etc.
I was thinking of possibly doing a trip (at some point, who knows exactly when with Covid) to Minnessota to show him University of Minnessota Twin cities and University of St. Thomas.
Carleton and Macalester would likely be out of his league.

Since he's a sophmore, it's still early, but I'm estimating he will probably have around a 3.9 WEIGHTED GPA, an SAT somewhere in mid 1300s--with standard ECs (a sport, but not the "star" of the team. An instrument, but not in the "honors" orchestra or first chair. Eagle Scout, with many leadership positions in Boy Scouts.)

[Anonymous]

OP here.
yes, I realize I spelled Minnesota wrong...twice.

[Anonymous]

Their sports JUST moved from Division 3 directly to D1. Sorry. That's it.

[Anonymous]

I am from the Twin Cities area and it has a very good reputation there, but I have not found it to carry much weight outside of that area.

It is in a very nice area. There is so much to do in St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Students tend to be very very pre-professional focused.

Culturally I would liken it to Boston College (just a midwestern version).

[Anonymous]

I agree with the Midwestern Boston college commenter.

Other MidwesternSLAC he might consider
Ripon
Knox
St Lawrence in Appleton WI
Beloit
St Olaf
Gustavus Adolphus
St Norbert

I mention these because they are under the radar of people in the DC area and one might be a fit for your kid. There are also some nice little SLaCs around Chicago like North Central College.

And for just cold, Saint Anselm in NH

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am from the Twin Cities area and it has a very good reputation there, but I have not found it to carry much weight outside of that area.

It is in a very nice area. There is so much to do in St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Students tend to be very very pre-professional focused.

Culturally I would liken it to Boston College (just a midwestern version).

+1

St Thomas is a good school that's known very well in the Upper Midwest...
...and about no where else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the Midwestern Boston college commenter.

Other MidwesternSLAC he might consider
Ripon
Knox
St Lawrence in Appleton WI
Beloit
St Olaf
Gustavus Adolphus
St Norbert

I mention these because they are under the radar of people in the DC area and one might be a fit for your kid. There are also some nice little SLaCs around Chicago like North Central College.

And for just cold, Saint Anselm in NH

University of St. Thomas isn't a SLAC.

[Anonymous]

He doesn't have to go all the way to MN for a cold college LOL
With those stats, he would get into St. Lawrence University in upstate New York (20 mins from the Canadian border), which is alot closer than MN to the mid atlantic (if you are around here OP).

Not to mention UVM, UNH, the various schools in Maine etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the Midwestern Boston college commenter.

Other MidwesternSLAC he might consider
Ripon
Knox
St Lawrence in Appleton WI
Beloit
St Olaf
Gustavus Adolphus
St Norbert

I mention these because they are under the radar of people in the DC area and one might be a fit for your kid. There are also some nice little SLaCs around Chicago like North Central College.

And for just cold, Saint Anselm in NH

St Olaf may be a very good fit for him. Also look at Carroll College in Helena, MT, and potentially Gonzaga in Spokane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the Midwestern Boston college commenter.

Other MidwesternSLAC he might consider
Ripon
Knox
St Lawrence in Appleton WI
Beloit
St Olaf
Gustavus Adolphus
St Norbert

I mention these because they are under the radar of people in the DC area and one might be a fit for your kid. There are also some nice little SLaCs around Chicago like North Central College.

And for just cold, Saint Anselm in NH

St Olaf may be a very good fit for him. Also look at Carroll College in Helena, MT, and potentially Gonzaga in Spokane.

Doubling down on St. Olaf and GUstavus Adolphus. My family's from there, had nieces and nephews go there, and they are excellent schools with great music programs (and where a huge percentage of students participate in music, despite not being music majors). Also not so hard to get in from here, but very good schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the Midwestern Boston college commenter.

Other MidwesternSLAC he might consider
Ripon
Knox
St Lawrence in Appleton WI
Beloit
St Olaf
Gustavus Adolphus
St Norbert

I mention these because they are under the radar of people in the DC area and one might be a fit for your kid. There are also some nice little SLaCs around Chicago like North Central College.

And for just cold, Saint Anselm in NH

St Olaf may be a very good fit for him. Also look at Carroll College in Helena, MT, and potentially Gonzaga in Spokane.

Doubling down on St. Olaf and GUstavus Adolphus. My family's from there, had nieces and nephews go there, and they are excellent schools with great music programs (and where a huge percentage of students participate in music, despite not being music majors). Also not so hard to get in from here, but very good schools.

Plus I meant to mention but those are Lutheran schools (our family is Lutheran) and it's a great grounding while being quite progressive in terms of policy prescriptions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the Midwestern Boston college commenter.

Other MidwesternSLAC he might consider
Ripon
Knox
St Lawrence in Appleton WI
Beloit
St Olaf
Gustavus Adolphus
St Norbert

I mention these because they are under the radar of people in the DC area and one might be a fit for your kid. There are also some nice little SLaCs around Chicago like North Central College.

And for just cold, Saint Anselm in NH

St Olaf may be a very good fit for him. Also look at Carroll College in Helena, MT, and potentially Gonzaga in Spokane.

Doubling down on St. Olaf and GUstavus Adolphus. My family's from there, had nieces and nephews go there, and they are excellent schools with great music programs (and where a huge percentage of students participate in music, despite not being music majors). Also not so hard to get in from here, but very good schools.

Plus I meant to mention but those are Lutheran schools (our family is Lutheran) and it's a great grounding while being quite progressive in terms of policy prescriptions.

And part of the appeal is that a huge percentage of students make music in some ensemble/group, not just music majors. Also look at Lawrence College in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Lots of awesome schools in that part of the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am from the Twin Cities area and it has a very good reputation there, but I have not found it to carry much weight outside of that area.

It is in a very nice area. There is so much to do in St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Students tend to be very very pre-professional focused.

Culturally I would liken it to Boston College (just a midwestern version).

Agree…
In the late 90s, one group it drew was (midwestern) kids who didn’t get into Notre Dame. Both of my siblings and cousin went there, not sure what kind of kid it attracts now, but they are all happy, working, adults who speak fondly of UST.

Definitely take a trip out and check out the different size MN schools. Gustavus and St. Olaf and the Twin Cities schools are definitely doable in one trip. Would be really nice examples of urban vs rural/small town.

Might add Luther or Drake in Iowa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am from the Twin Cities area and it has a very good reputation there, but I have not found it to carry much weight outside of that area.

It is in a very nice area. There is so much to do in St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Students tend to be very very pre-professional focused.

Culturally I would liken it to Boston College (just a midwestern version).

Agree…
In the late 90s, one group it drew was (midwestern) kids who didn’t get into Notre Dame. Both of my siblings and cousin went there, not sure what kind of kid it attracts now, but they are all happy, working, adults who speak fondly of UST.

Definitely take a trip out and check out the different size MN schools. Gustavus and St. Olaf and the Twin Cities schools are definitely doable in one trip. Would be really nice examples of urban vs rural/small town.

Might add Luther or Drake in Iowa.

Me again…
Might also add St. John’s outside of St. Cloud, MN

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He doesn't have to go all the way to MN for a cold college LOL
With those stats, he would get into St. Lawrence University in upstate New York (20 mins from the Canadian border), which is alot closer than MN to the mid atlantic (if you are around here OP).

Not to mention UVM, UNH, the various schools in Maine etc.

It's probably easier to get a direct flight to Minneapolis than it is to get to St Lawrence. It's either a flight plus long drive or a connecting flight on tiny planes. And these days crossing the Canadian border isn't all that easy.