Based on what you said, your two “good fits” are St Olaf and UW.
The difference will be:
- do you want to watch sports, or compete in them?
- do you want personal attention and interactive classes, or the larger social life?
- do you want Madison, or Northfield(+45mn to the Twin Cities)?
St Olaf is also well-known for study abroad so if you want to go places easily, that may tip the scales (they also have a study-in-Chicago program that’s great for 2nd semester Sophomores).
For what it’s worth, I don’t think students are bored at St Olaf, so I wouldn’t cross it out due to boredom, but rather think it terms of vibe, academic requirements, importance of participating in sports and competing on a good team, importance of watching football games…
Can you go to both for an overnight? Or at least to spend a day, attend two classes (one in your future major, one in a freshman requirement), eat in the cafeteria(not just for the food, but rather to see if other students are friendly, what they talk about…), read the paper, sit in the library, in the student union… You’ll quickly note differences and feel “right at home” or not. Or perhaps both will feel “right at home” but one will stand out.