Choosing The Right College School Spotlight: St. Olaf College Written by Elyse Krantzon February 12th, 2019 I became interested in the college admissions process after serving as a student tour guide in the admissions office of my alma mater. After graduating, I accepted an admissions counseling position at Bennington College in Vermont where I evaluated applications and reviewed art portfolios from students across the country. Three years later, after pursuing my master's degree in New York City, I joined the admissions staff at Barnard College where I served as a senior admissions officer. At Barnard, I directed Long Island and Boston recruitment in addition to managing the College's alumnae interview program, coordinating admissions statistics, and editing various college publications. Having also served as an alumni interviewer for Dartmouth College and visited over 75 colleges, I feel especially well-equipped to help students prepare for admission interviews and campus tours. Learn More About Elyse choosing the right college, college lists, There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. And while the media tends to focus on just a handful of schools, we at College Coach encourage students to think outside the box during their college selection process and explore a wide range of colleges. As such, we are highlighting a new college each week in our School Spotlight series. Check out the college below, along with the other posts in our series, and you may just stumble upon your dream school! School Spotlight: St. Olaf College Northfield, MN Love the idea of a liberal arts college but balk at the prospect of attending a tiny school? St. Olaf College, located 45 minutes away from Minneapolis and St. Paul, enrolls approximately 3,000 students from 49 states and nearly 80 countries. The College prides itself on offering a rigorous academic experience in a strong residential community imbued with Lutheran values. Study abroad is huge here, and more than two-thirds of the Class of 2017 participated in either international study or domestic off-campus study. Each winter, during a special 4-week session known as J-Term, students can stay on campus to pursue a single course in depth, or select one of the many off campus programs, such as Drawing from Nature in the Bahamas or Environmental Sustainability in Japan. The music scene on campus is incredibly active, as one-third of all students participate in some form of musical activity. The College features eight choirs, two orchestras, two bands, and dozens of smaller groups (including three handbell ensembles!). Fun fact: ever wanted to try your hand at curling? Now’s your chance. The St. Olaf curling club always welcomes prospective members! Photo credit: Top, Courtesy of University of St. Olaf College Related Resources Read | Posted on March 26th, 2024 California Colleges and Universities: A Treasure Trove of Opportunities Read | Posted on March 5th, 2024 The Top 3 Campus Safety Myths Read | Posted on March 1st, 2024 Celebrating International Women’s Day: Is a Women’s College Right for You?
