Feedback on St Olaf?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Something you should consider is that St. Olaf is sponsored by the ELCA. Quite conservative. The Church is pretty active and prominent, not just a historical figure.

Huh? As far as Christian denominations go, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is pretty darn liberal/progressive. Perhaps you are thinking of LCMS or WELS -- those are very conservative.

-- lifelong Lutheran attending an ELCA church led by a lesbian pastor

Region and synod matter, as with many mainline Protestant churches in our country. These fault lines are a big deal now. Just something to consider first before making a four-year commitment.

There are lots of kids at St.Olaf who are non-religious, but there are also LMS and WELS kids there, too.

The situation with the Methodists are an example that should be considered in context to St. Olaf.

[Anonymous]

It is mostly not religious, ELCA or Catholic. Very few Wisconsin or Missiouri synod people there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Something you should consider is that St. Olaf is sponsored by the ELCA. Quite conservative. The Church is pretty active and prominent, not just a historical figure.

Huh? As far as Christian denominations go, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is pretty darn liberal/progressive. Perhaps you are thinking of LCMS or WELS -- those are very conservative.

-- lifelong Lutheran attending an ELCA church led by a lesbian pastor

Region and synod matter, as with many mainline Protestant churches in our country. These fault lines are a big deal now. Just something to consider first before making a four-year commitment.

There are lots of kids at St.Olaf who are non-religious, but there are also LMS and WELS kids there, too.

The situation with the Methodists are an example that should be considered in context to St. Olaf.

is that different than any other college in the US?

[Anonymous]

We have friends who raved after their visit

[Anonymous]

A wonderful school. Very loyal alums!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Solid school with a good bunch of kids who tend to take their studies seriously but are not cut throat with each other. Not a lot of drug use or excessive drinking. Students tend to be quite sheltered in a lot of ways but also open minded and curious. 20 years ago, the job prospects were largely limited to Chicago and Minneapolis unless you really went after things elsewhere on your own. I think things are better now and have seen that some NY banks and consulting firms recruit there. I don't regret going there but I would encourage my kids to aim higher. It does not close any doors but I can't say it really helps to open any either.

Completely agree with the first two characterizations of Olaf. However, to slightly disagree, as a DMV lifer that went to St. Olaf, I didn't feel it was a hindrance in job prospects in what I would consider a competitive field at that same time frame. Today even less so. I think today's students are less sheltered, very progressive and open minded however it is not an urban or even suburban campus. My cousin's kid is there now - took a break after soph year to study/research/serve in Africa for a year and changed majors (Pol Sci to Pre Med) - wasn't a big deal. If your child is interested in studying abroad it's one of the best places. Math department is top notch as is the music program.... It is very different from Macalester (and certainly Carleton) in feel and the view it is given from those on the East Coast. Have 3 kids, for one it could be a college I would include in their search. For my current HS Senior it's not on the list. Each kid is different but I certainly wouldn't feel like my dc wasn't aiming high enough if they chose to apply there.

Helpful, thanks. How would you describe the difference in feel of St O vs Macalester vs Carleton?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Solid school with a good bunch of kids who tend to take their studies seriously but are not cut throat with each other. Not a lot of drug use or excessive drinking. Students tend to be quite sheltered in a lot of ways but also open minded and curious. 20 years ago, the job prospects were largely limited to Chicago and Minneapolis unless you really went after things elsewhere on your own. I think things are better now and have seen that some NY banks and consulting firms recruit there. I don't regret going there but I would encourage my kids to aim higher. It does not close any doors but I can't say it really helps to open any either.

Completely agree with the first two characterizations of Olaf. However, to slightly disagree, as a DMV lifer that went to St. Olaf, I didn't feel it was a hindrance in job prospects in what I would consider a competitive field at that same time frame. Today even less so. I think today's students are less sheltered, very progressive and open minded however it is not an urban or even suburban campus. My cousin's kid is there now - took a break after soph year to study/research/serve in Africa for a year and changed majors (Pol Sci to Pre Med) - wasn't a big deal. If your child is interested in studying abroad it's one of the best places. Math department is top notch as is the music program.... It is very different from Macalester (and certainly Carleton) in feel and the view it is given from those on the East Coast. Have 3 kids, for one it could be a college I would include in their search. For my current HS Senior it's not on the list. Each kid is different but I certainly wouldn't feel like my dc wasn't aiming high enough if they chose to apply there.

Helpful, thanks. How would you describe the difference in feel of St O vs Macalester vs Carleton?

+1. Came here to ask this exact question!

[Anonymous]

St Olaf is more conservative than Carleton or Macalester which are both very liberal. That is not to say it is conservative, I simply make the contrast to the other two. St Olaf is also, I think, larger than both. St Olaf is probably the most midwestern of the three and Carleton the least so. Carleton is the strongest academically and the only one that is really in league with Williams, Midd, etc. in New England. I would not really say that the schools are in competition or rivalry with each other. Certainly not St Olaf and Carleton. They don't interact all that much either, to be honest.

[Anonymous]

One more item on the midwesternness of St Olaf vs. Carleton - I was surprised by how many St Olaf students from MN I knew who got into Carleton but chose St Olaf as they felt they would be out of place at Carleton. One had even grown up in the town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:St Olaf is more conservative than Carleton or Macalester which are both very liberal. That is not to say it is conservative, I simply make the contrast to the other two. St Olaf is also, I think, larger than both. St Olaf is probably the most midwestern of the three and Carleton the least so. Carleton is the strongest academically and the only one that is really in league with Williams, Midd, etc. in New England. I would not really say that the schools are in competition or rivalry with each other. Certainly not St Olaf and Carleton. They don't interact all that much either, to be honest.

Our Carleton neighbor points out that there is a historical rivalry between Carleton and St. Olaf. St. Olaf’s fight song refers to it.

https://wp.stolaf.edu/about/history/umyahyah/

Apparently the Carleton kids don’t care, because they don’t consider the St. Olaf kids academic equals. Given that it is a fairly small place, and the economy is shaped by both institutions, any rivalry is probably more lore than fact.

The rivals to St. Olaf are Luther (just over the border in IA) and Gustavus Adolphus, in St.Peter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One more item on the midwesternness of St Olaf vs. Carleton - I was surprised by how many St Olaf students from MN I knew who got into Carleton but chose St Olaf as they felt they would be out of place at Carleton. One had even grown up in the town.

Almost half of St. Olaf students are from Minnesota alone (48% per most recent CDS).

[Anonymous]

We toured all three, St. Olaf, Carleton, and Mac, and they all seemed great but Carleton and Mac definitely seemed much more hippie/"alt"/granola than St. Olaf which came across as more...conventional? I don't know. Not conventional in the business major-frat-jock type -- definitely didn't get those vibes -- but just more "down to earth-middle of the road-pragmatic midwesterner" type. Probably stems from the fact that St. Olaf does, in fact, have more midwesterners than the other two.

Also, big difference in locations between Mac and Carleton/St. Olaf: Mac is in the heart of the Twin Cities (albeit in a pretty residential area but just a stone's throw from all the restaurants/theaters/bars/shops/etc. one could possibly desire) whereas Northfield, where Carleton and St. Olaf is, is a small, bucolic-feeling town about an hour outside of the cities.

Make sure to visit any of the three in January or February before committing

[Anonymous]

This is all super helpful.. Thanks, DCUMers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We toured all three, St. Olaf, Carleton, and Mac, and they all seemed great but Carleton and Mac definitely seemed much more hippie/"alt"/granola than St. Olaf which came across as more...conventional? I don't know. Not conventional in the business major-frat-jock type -- definitely didn't get those vibes -- but just more "down to earth-middle of the road-pragmatic midwesterner" type. Probably stems from the fact that St. Olaf does, in fact, have more midwesterners than the other two.

Also, big difference in locations between Mac and Carleton/St. Olaf: Mac is in the heart of the Twin Cities (albeit in a pretty residential area but just a stone's throw from all the restaurants/theaters/bars/shops/etc. one could possibly desire) whereas Northfield, where Carleton and St. Olaf is, is a small, bucolic-feeling town about an hour outside of the cities.

Make sure to visit any of the three in January or February before committing

Heh...we toured Macalester in early April a few years ago and it was 35 degrees and sleeting. In April. DC noped on that one...

[Anonymous]

Northfield is a cute college town. St Olaf is a bit further from town than Carleton. The cities are about 45 min away, if you have access to a car. Flights from DC area to there are easy to find. Carleton (trimesters) and St Olaf (semesters) have totally different schedules which helps with hotel/restaurants on big weekends (move in, parents, graduation). Both are good schools, just different.