Countdown to May 1: It’s Time to Decide!
You’ve applied, visited, sampled the food, talked to Admissions and Financial Aid, perused the website, and even connected with future classmates online or in person at an Admitted Student Day. It all comes down to this: it’s time to make the college decision. May 1 is less than a week away. The Class of 2016 is shaping up to be full of bright, engaged, well-rounded, and fun students, and when you deposit, you’ll join the next awesome group of Oles.
For a final look at campus and encouraging words from the Vice President and Dean of Enrollment Michael Kyle ’85, enjoy the short video below.
- Maggie
Admitted Student Days: Recap and Upcoming Schedule
Last weekend was incredible for us in Admissions — if you were there, thank you for coming. You made it one of the most energetic Admitted Student Days in recent memory! We are on track to have this coming weekend be the best-attended Admitted Student Day. Check out the schedule if you want to see more specifically what will go on during Saturday’s events.
Below, a few of my favorites from the first Admitted Student Day last Friday night and Saturday:
(Photos 1, 2, and 5 by Kyle Olbermann; 3 and 4 by Thomas Dunning.)
Looking forward to this weekend… again!
- Maggie
10 Things To Do On Admitted Student Day
This weekend, we will host our first Admitted Student Day. Maybe you think, “well, I’ve been to campus, why should I come to one of these Admitted Student Days?” or “I’ve already deposited… should I still come?” So, below, I’ve highlighted a few reasons why these days are particularly special. From my perspective, my colleagues and I — who will be wearing matching blue shirts — love the energy and enthusiasm of these days. We finally get to meet students with whom we’ve worked for months (and sometimes years). Whether or not it’s your first time meeting us, we have gotten to know you by reading your application, emailing with you, and talking with you on the phone. It’s fun for us to see the next class of future Oles explore campus with the knowledge that they could actually be students here in a few months.
1. Meet your future classmates… and roommates… and teammates…
From informally meeting during registration, to the students-only lunch in the Pause, you’ll meet the students who will become part of the community in the fall. Around 30% of the students who attend Admitted Student Days have already decided on St. Olaf (how to tell? see #5).
2. Learn about the beginning of your beginning here: Week One!
From Move-In Day to the first day of class, Week One is a time of transition. From socializing, adjusting to dorm life to registering for classes and finding level 3 1/2 in the library, there is a lot to do. Learn about the support systems in place to ensure your arrival and adjustment to college life at St. Olaf goes smoothly.
3. See some of the updated buildings on campus, including the Hall of Music.
The renovated Administration building next to Christiansen Hall of Music holds an entirely renovated space for student musicians, faculty, and staff. With 40 practice rooms (all with different acoustic levels), 9 teaching studios, a percussion suite, and even a reed-making room, it’s just one fresh space to explore of many on campus.
4. Taste the food. Make sure it still suits your palate. And, take a free St. Olaf Cookie for the road.
Breakfast in the Caf, lunch in the Pause, and a St. Olaf cookie to-go — you will be well-fed and get a true sense for the culinary atmosphere at St. Olaf. You’ll even get to taste Johnny Pops popsicles, the entrepreneurial creation of current Oles. Yes, Newsweek ranked us #1 for food, but you may as well see (and taste) for yourself.
5. Get your “I’m an Ole!” button.
Deposited students will receive this button upon check-in to wear during the day’s events. Attach it to your shirt and let everyone know you’re official. If you get to the end of the day and decide you’re ready to become an Ole, you can deposit and we’ll bestow this valued trinket upon you. Also, we have buttons for your parents, as well!
6. Update your Ole gear: the Bookstore will provide a 15% discount.
Wear your name-tag into the Bookstore, and grab the St. Olaf signature “Flavor of the Month” sweatshirt, black and gold sweatpants, and a pennant to hang in your future dorm room. These guys below definitely took advantage of the discount last year…
7. Mingle with current Oles and start planning what clubs and organizations you’ll join.
Over 30 student-led clubs will be present for the Co-Curricular Fair over the student lunch. Volunteer organizations, special-interest groups, intramural sports, multicultural and religious organizations — you’ll be able to walk from table to table and meet current students who can tell you about their groups. You’ll even be able to sign up for the clubs that look interesting to you and get a head-start for next fall. Check out the full listing of current student organizations!
8. Learn about resources for mapping out life after St. Olaf.
Led by staff from the career connections team in the Center for Experiential Learning, hear an informative panel where alumni and current students draw connections between their experiences at St. Olaf and how that has propelled them successfully into the work world. Your college career is imminent, but it’s important to know what St. Olaf can do to prepare you for life after your four years here.
9. Scope out a residence hall.
Check out a residence hall tour to Ellingson Hall, which was renovated last summer. This year, Hoyme Hall will undergo renovations, as well; it’s all part of the continuing effort to provide an even better residential experience than we already have. Start to plan your room, what to bring, and how it could fit into your new shared living space. The ladies below did a great job on Move-In Day last fall:
10. Discover your favorite spot on campus!
The official tours will show you the key places on the Hill; feel free to use that time — or time to wander on your own — to see where your new study place, meet-up spot, or meditation location will be. You can — and probably will — have more than one favorite place. I encourage you to take time to investigate the nooks and crannies of campus, from an outdoor spot, to the space under the Memorial Chime Tower, to a study corner of Regents Hall.
In addition to the highlights above, there will be a luncheon for parents with President David R. Anderson ’74, various information sessions about academic areas, and tours of campus. The basic schedule is on the registration form, found on your students’ applicant status page; additionally, more details are on the home page. You’ll receive a complete schedule upon check-in at Buntrock Commons. We look forward to welcoming you — see you soon!
- Maggie
Spring Break 2012: Ole Spring Relief
Campus has livened up this past week, as students returned from Spring Break off-campus. Many students chose to take part in outings aside from simply the typical beach-destination style of trip. Ole Spring Relief (OSR), in its seventh year, brought along over 100 students to volunteer in clean-up efforts. Evan Deam ’14 shares a few thoughts about his experience, and Steven Wett ’15 provides the photos. Their experience received local press in the Birmingham News.
But doing service is only part of the reason I like OSR so much. Another reason is that it’s such a great opportunity to meet and befriend a bunch of various Oles you might not otherwise get the chance to meet. Even though the trip is only a week long, we get really close to one another; surely this is testament to the St. Olaf community.
Coming Soon: Admitted Student Days!
Our office is abuzz as we prepare for this year’s Admitted Student Days, held on the 14th and 21st of April. As we hear from our admitted students — and those of you who have already deposited! — we get increasingly excited for what will be energy-filled, informative, and fun days.
To register, simply log on to your applicant status page. If you haven’t yet, activate it by using your Common Application email address and the PIN provided to you in your admit letter. If you have questions or don’t have your PIN, let us know and we can help you out.
We will continue to update you with fun facts about the day and provide even more insight as to why these days are awesome — both for students who are still deciding and for students who are already Oles. So, click on the image below and check back soon!
Spring Has Sprung, Ole-Style
This is my favorite time of the year not only in the office, but on the St. Olaf campus, as well. We’ve had an unseasonably warm winter, and now our spring is reminiscent of summer days (we have even been warmer than Hawaii!). This week, campus is weirdly quiet as Oles are on spring break; but last Friday I took a sunny stroll as midterms let up and students got some much-needed outdoor time. Luckily, I had my phone with me to capture it all on Instagram.
A contemporary dance class moves outdoors
Outdoor classroom chalkboard
Reference Room
Juggling club
The memorial wind chimes as seen through the Chapel doors
The memorial wind chime tower's greenery begins to show
...and a student studies for her midterm indoors in the quieter-than-usual Fireside Lounge
There is no happier place than St. Olaf in the springtime. 2016ers: next year, this could be you.
- Maggie
You’re In! Congratulations to the Class of 2016!
Congratulations to the admitted Class of 2016! By now, St. Olaf admissions notifications have reached their destinations, and though there are always tough decisions to be made, we are excited about the students we admitted to be future Oles. My colleagues and I love this time of year, as we get to meet the students who are the future of St. Olaf. We look forward to meeting you on campus and during our Admitted Student Days on April 14 and 21; additionally, we’re always available via phone and email to answer questions that arise as you continue narrowing down to your college. The National Reply Date is May 1, so be sure you take all the time you need between now and May 1 to decide.
If you applied for need-based financial aid, the majority of those awards will be mailed by the end of this week. Merit-based scholarship notification occurred with your notice of admission; however, Fine Arts Scholarship awards will be mailed by the end of this week, as well as notification for students who interviewed for the Buntrock Scholarship on March 10. Thank you for your continued patience.
Click the image below to enjoy the “welcome” greeting from some of our students!
Check back to the blog in the coming weeks to hear from current Oles and learn about our Admitted Student Days on April 14 and 21. We look forward to welcoming you to campus to show off the place — and the people — that drive the passion behind the work we do.
- Maggie
Photo of the Week: Outdoor Dining in March
Students dine on Buntrock Plaza (some even played guitar) while weather warmed to mid-60s this week. Shorts, t-shirts, and outdoor activities are here to stay. (Photo by Caroline Wood ’14)
Countdown to Notification: March 15
Today, campus weather hit its warmest yet — it’s currently 61 degrees, and students have shed their winter gear for outdoor wear and frisbee tossing. The plazas and sitting areas not covered with melting snow have livened up with groups of students in t-shirts and shorts reading, talking, and enjoying lunch. What a wonderful preview for full-on spring!
Inside the Admissions Office, the admissions committee works toward finalizing the Class of 2016 as we welcome visitors to campus. I love this time of year, as it is always a thrill to meet (or see again) the students whose applications I read and who will form the next class of Oles. As we answer phone calls and emails, I would like to remind our applicants that we will be notifying students of admission to St. Olaf on the same day, by March 15 at the latest. While some schools have notified based on rolling admission notification dates, St. Olaf reviews applications on a holistic basis to ensure that we form the next class of St. Olaf students in the best way possible. This is why we have a single-notification application process. So, in the next week and a half or so, we continue to thank you for your patience. It won’t be too much longer!
Say hello to two of our Admissions student workers, Mary Claire and Sam. The one in shorts was especially excited about the balmy weather on campus today.
- Maggie
Only at St. Olaf!
Yesterday’s early spring snow and rain gave way to a few small ponds on the campus green today… so first-year students Michael Mayer ’15, Brian Craig ’15, and David Brendan Johnson’15 got creative and turned it into a beach party. Featured first on the college’s Facebook page, It was even caught by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune’s “Campus Connect” blog.
Photo by Thomas Dunning '15
- Maggie
