St. Olaf is everything I could have asked for. It is academically challenging, has great profs, there is an abundance of things to do each and every day, and the food is always delicious! I have met some amazing people while being here and would not trade being a student at this college for the world.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Take your time in choosing your college or university. Make sure that you go and visit schools you are interested in, even the ones you think you'll never attend! That is most important in my opinion. Make sure to take your time on your essays as well. It's good to brag! Good luck!
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
The cool thing about Olaf is that YOU decide how hard you want to work and what grades you want to get. The professors give you the tools but you are the one that puts the work in, and usually everyone wants to do well here. It is a neat environment to be in!
Describe the dorm life at your college.
Dorm life rocks. I know most people in my dorm and everyone loves to hang out with each other. We all support each other in our studies but can also take breaks on the weekends and have fun and be together. There is an option to live in a dorm all four years which I find really great. The dorms are very clean and actually pretty upscale for a few of the schools I visited.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
AMAZING. I have nothing negative to say about the food and dining at St. Olaf. It is sort of a buffet-like style with a few different lines with different types of food for your choosing. Having organic food is very important to the staff and a lot of the food is from nearby farms in Northfield. Theres options for all the food groups and it is very easy to eat healthy (but also not so healthy..the desserts are so yummy!). Lastly, for the vegetarian or gluten free people, there are options all day, every day for them!
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
I am not sure where to even begin - there are so many things to do on camps and off campus. On campus, there are a huge amount of clubs and organizations you can take part in. There are different religious organizations, political awareness groups, unique sport teams, etc. You can also apply to take part in some organizations and groups that plan fun activities for the students at St. Olaf, for example, what music artists will visit the school each fall and spring, the Pause Dances that take place every couple of weeks, support for sporting events, etc. I am a member of the Women's soccer team and it is a blast! Athletics are an important part of the Olaf community and even students who do not play a sport like getting involved and cheering on the teams. Another cool part of Olaf is the music department. There are always concerts going on whether it is people in the world famous choir or just some awesome kids who want to show their talents off. Off campus activities are also really fun. Northfield is a beautiful little town and there are always events going on downtown. Just a few weeks ago there was a Christmas event with light shows, caroling, bands preforming, horse and carriage rides, and discounts at all the local stores. That is just one example of the things that go on all the time!
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
St. Olaf is pretty expensive if you just look at the numbers. I work three jobs to help my parents pay for my tuition but I enjoy working that much and that hard because I love being a student at Olaf so incredibly much! The professors are one of a kind and with the post-graduation opportunities that we are provided I know that I will be successful and that my education here will be worth the money.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
The first thing that comes to mind for me is our school song :) It is very catchy and is one of my favorite things to do at sporting events. It may be more special to the soccer program but after we win games we go over to our fans and everyone sings the fight song!
My favorite place to hang out on campus is the Pause. There is a room with a big screen TV that usually has some sort of sport game on and also includes a pool table and some couches. Lots of people fall asleep there when the walk back to your room is just too much! The Pause has AMAZING food as well. The pizza is always a delicious late night treat and the shakes are delicious as well.
I enjoy studying best in the library but you can pretty much go anywhere. For math, it is nice to go in Thompson Hall (which is also where the admissions office is located) because they have white board walls that you can write all over. Regents is also a favorite of mine. On the third floor there is a spot where there are windows instead of a wall where you can look out and see for miles and miles. In the fall and winter months it is especially beautiful and peaceful.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Honestly any type of student will feel welcomed at Olaf. If you are an athlete or interested in music you will love it, if you want a challenging academic schedule you will love it, and if you enjoy meeting new and interesting people you will love it. There are also quite a large number of foreign students that come from all over the world to attend Olaf. I have learned about many different cultures and it has been fun meeting people who are different than me!
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
As I said, you will always be able to find something that interests you. Music, radio, sports, politics, economics, faith, anything you can think of I will bet you Olaf has a club, organization or activity that will be suiting to you!
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
There is not a greek life at St. Olaf. One unique thing is that we have Honor Houses. These houses are right along the outer parts of campus. Many are language houses for example I know of the Spanish, Norwegian, Russian, and German houses and I know there are a few more. These language houses host activities pertaining to the language and culture and usually the students that live there are either majors and/or natives from that country. We also have honor houses like the Poetry House, the Gay Pride House, and Diversity House, just to name a few. It is really fun to go down to the houses on the weekends and see what activities will be in store!
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
I have NEVER felt unsafe on our campus or even right off campus. Public Safety is amazing and there are always three or four officers out all day every day. We also have something called Safe Ride. Safe Ride will pick up a maximum of two people until midnight every day. I take advantage of this when I park my car late at night and do not really want to walk in the dark, by myself all the way back to my dorm. They will also pick you up if you need a ride from campus to off campus houses if you live there. It is great and there are never any questions asked regardless of the way you are utilizing the ride. Regardless, I truly appreciate the campus safety at Olaf. I never ever question my safety.
St. Olaf is everything I could have asked for. It is academically challenging, has great profs, there is an abundance of things to do each and every day, and the food is always delicious! I have met some amazing people while being here and would not trade being a student at this college for the world.
Take your time in choosing your college or university. Make sure that you go and visit schools you are interested in, even the ones you think you'll never attend! That is most important in my opinion. Make sure to take your time on your essays as well. It's good to brag! Good luck!
The cool thing about Olaf is that YOU decide how hard you want to work and what grades you want to get. The professors give you the tools but you are the one that puts the work in, and usually everyone wants to do well here. It is a neat environment to be in!
Dorm life rocks. I know most people in my dorm and everyone loves to hang out with each other. We all support each other in our studies but can also take breaks on the weekends and have fun and be together. There is an option to live in a dorm all four years which I find really great. The dorms are very clean and actually pretty upscale for a few of the schools I visited.
AMAZING. I have nothing negative to say about the food and dining at St. Olaf. It is sort of a buffet-like style with a few different lines with different types of food for your choosing. Having organic food is very important to the staff and a lot of the food is from nearby farms in Northfield. Theres options for all the food groups and it is very easy to eat healthy (but also not so healthy..the desserts are so yummy!). Lastly, for the vegetarian or gluten free people, there are options all day, every day for them!
I am not sure where to even begin - there are so many things to do on camps and off campus. On campus, there are a huge amount of clubs and organizations you can take part in. There are different religious organizations, political awareness groups, unique sport teams, etc. You can also apply to take part in some organizations and groups that plan fun activities for the students at St. Olaf, for example, what music artists will visit the school each fall and spring, the Pause Dances that take place every couple of weeks, support for sporting events, etc. I am a member of the Women's soccer team and it is a blast! Athletics are an important part of the Olaf community and even students who do not play a sport like getting involved and cheering on the teams. Another cool part of Olaf is the music department. There are always concerts going on whether it is people in the world famous choir or just some awesome kids who want to show their talents off. Off campus activities are also really fun. Northfield is a beautiful little town and there are always events going on downtown. Just a few weeks ago there was a Christmas event with light shows, caroling, bands preforming, horse and carriage rides, and discounts at all the local stores. That is just one example of the things that go on all the time!
St. Olaf is pretty expensive if you just look at the numbers. I work three jobs to help my parents pay for my tuition but I enjoy working that much and that hard because I love being a student at Olaf so incredibly much! The professors are one of a kind and with the post-graduation opportunities that we are provided I know that I will be successful and that my education here will be worth the money.
The first thing that comes to mind for me is our school song :) It is very catchy and is one of my favorite things to do at sporting events. It may be more special to the soccer program but after we win games we go over to our fans and everyone sings the fight song! My favorite place to hang out on campus is the Pause. There is a room with a big screen TV that usually has some sort of sport game on and also includes a pool table and some couches. Lots of people fall asleep there when the walk back to your room is just too much! The Pause has AMAZING food as well. The pizza is always a delicious late night treat and the shakes are delicious as well. I enjoy studying best in the library but you can pretty much go anywhere. For math, it is nice to go in Thompson Hall (which is also where the admissions office is located) because they have white board walls that you can write all over. Regents is also a favorite of mine. On the third floor there is a spot where there are windows instead of a wall where you can look out and see for miles and miles. In the fall and winter months it is especially beautiful and peaceful.
Honestly any type of student will feel welcomed at Olaf. If you are an athlete or interested in music you will love it, if you want a challenging academic schedule you will love it, and if you enjoy meeting new and interesting people you will love it. There are also quite a large number of foreign students that come from all over the world to attend Olaf. I have learned about many different cultures and it has been fun meeting people who are different than me!
As I said, you will always be able to find something that interests you. Music, radio, sports, politics, economics, faith, anything you can think of I will bet you Olaf has a club, organization or activity that will be suiting to you!
There is not a greek life at St. Olaf. One unique thing is that we have Honor Houses. These houses are right along the outer parts of campus. Many are language houses for example I know of the Spanish, Norwegian, Russian, and German houses and I know there are a few more. These language houses host activities pertaining to the language and culture and usually the students that live there are either majors and/or natives from that country. We also have honor houses like the Poetry House, the Gay Pride House, and Diversity House, just to name a few. It is really fun to go down to the houses on the weekends and see what activities will be in store!
I have NEVER felt unsafe on our campus or even right off campus. Public Safety is amazing and there are always three or four officers out all day every day. We also have something called Safe Ride. Safe Ride will pick up a maximum of two people until midnight every day. I take advantage of this when I park my car late at night and do not really want to walk in the dark, by myself all the way back to my dorm. They will also pick you up if you need a ride from campus to off campus houses if you live there. It is great and there are never any questions asked regardless of the way you are utilizing the ride. Regardless, I truly appreciate the campus safety at Olaf. I never ever question my safety.