The Liberal Arts Colleges...

catpb
Fri, 12 Nov 2010 01:37:17 +0000

Alright, I admit, the last post prompted me to act! St. Olaf is a very friendly (but not cliquey) school with extremely high academic standards and a wonderful math program. They pride themselves on the percent of students who study overseas, and you would feel very welcome on campus and in the classroom. While the school is Lutheran (the vast majority of LACs have some sort of religious affiliation), many students are not and religious participation is completely optional. Relative to many schools, St. Olaf seems religious because it puts religion on the table as a subject worthy of discussion, but in a moral/spiritual/academic sense, not in a dogmatic sense. The winters in MN are not that different than the winters in Illinois, except that MN schools have connecting buildings and with a smaller, tighter campus, you will not have to be outside too long if you choose not to be. Larger campuses mean you get more face time with the elements! St. Olaf also has great food, great facilities, a fantastic indoor athletic facility, tons of activities, etc.

Good luck with your application and decision!