Summer: A Great Time to Visit St. Olaf!
The leaves are out, the flowers are blooming, and Admissions is open! Summer is a great time to get a sense for life on the Hill. Whether you’re in the area already and want to check out Minnesota colleges, or insert college visits into your family’s great Midwestern road trip, there are a variety of ways to visit this summer so you and your family get a first look at St. Olaf.
Minnesota Private College Week (MPCW)
June 25-29
Session 1: 9:30 – 11:45 p.m. each day
Session 2: 2:00 – 4:15 p.m. each day
Each summer, every private college in the state of Minnesota opens its doors for two open house sessions daily. This makes it conducive to visiting a few schools per day, which is pretty handy if you’re seriously considering Minnesota private colleges. The MPCW program is an introduction to St. Olaf. It’s a way to hear from its people, including a mini-lecture from faculty; learn about how the admissions process works; and meet some students in their natural habitats as they show you campus from their perspective.
Summer Visit Days: July 9 & 23; August 6 & 13
8:30 – 1:30 p.m. each day including lunch
Summer Visit Days are a more in-depth look at campus. The programming will include information about our liberal arts curriculum; abroad and off-campus study opportunities; mini-lectures from two faculty members; and all about student life during the student-led campus tour; additionally, you will get the chance to dine in Stav Hall, the campus cafeteria, and get a taste of our top-ranked food.
Individual Visit
The Admissions Office is open every weekday this summer from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the exception of Wednesday, July 4. We offer multiple tours every day, a morning and afternoon information session, and the opportunity to arrange an individual interview with a member of the admissions staff. This is a great way to get your individual questions answered by one-on-one interaction with tour guides and admissions officers; additionally, it’s fun for us to meet the students with whom we’ll work during the application and visit season!
When planning your trip to St. Olaf, note that the entrance off of Highway 19 will be closed for the summer as crews work on the road and Hoyme Residence Hall. Be sure to plan for the detour as you map out your trip. Also, this summer, we’ll be featuring the culinary skills of St. Olaf student entrepreneurs in the form of JonnyPops — a delicious way to support our students while cooling off during the hot months. More on JonnyPops in an upcoming blog post.
We can’t wait to welcome our visitors to campus this summer! It’s a beautiful time to visit, and your college search will certainly be well-informed by the time you depart. See you on the Hill!
– Maggie
What do t-shirts with a Norwegian sweater print have to do with a well-rounded liberal arts education? Everything!
Oles are educated broadly and deeply to prepare themselves for anything after graduation — including a variety of careers. They learn to communicate effectively, think critically, solve problems creatively… and get plenty of practice for real-world situations while they’re students. Entrepreneur in Residence Sian Muir, who teaches in the Economics program’s Management Studies concentration, let this play out during the Fall 2011 Marketing course. In this class, student groups created businesses to sell a product or service on campus. And, on a campus with Norwegian roots, this group of students came up with one of the most popular fashion staples of the winter: the Norwegian sweater t-shirt.
To learn more about this project from Sian and the students themselves, click on the video below:
Below, summer tour guide Sheldon Way ’14 models the t-shirt (and one of the new campus Adirondack chairs).
Sheldon Way ’14
– Maggie
2016 Oles: Time to Check Out “Destination St. Olaf”
A month after decision day (and three months until Move-In Day) and excitement only continues to build! As our office transitions to our summer student ambassadors — and we get used to the lull that follows Graduation and Reunion Weekends on campus before traffic picks back up — the campus continues to prepare for the 2016 class.
This week, the Destination: St. Olaf page was created by the Dean of Students and Residence Life Offices for students and families to keep track of the required forms, class registration information, and need-to-know facts before moving to campus (like what to pack!?). There is a lot of information on this page, but it serves a great purpose: it’s a one-stop shop. You’ll need to have activated your St. Olaf user name and password to access and submit the forms, but there are check-lists for your family to peruse in case they want to keep updated along with you. Keep in mind that due dates stretch across the summer months, so it’s good to check back and be sure you’re keeping up with everything.
If you have questions about the page or anything else in preparation for Move-In Day and Week One, email questions2016@stolaf.edu.
– Maggie
Summer is Here!
May 1 has come and gone, and with it, a wonderful enrolled class of 2016 Oles! As we move into the summer months, we will keep you and your family updated with information on how to prepare for moving to campus. You have a St. Olaf user name and password to activate, Housing Preference form to submit, and a variety of other forms to complete before coming to campus — information on everything will be forthcoming in the beginning of June.
Additionally, once June hits, we’ll welcome our incredible group of summer student ambassadors; starting in mid-June, they will be individually profiled here, and will contribute as guest bloggers, as well! This is a great group of Oles — going through the hiring process with them was a highlight of my spring. They have a variety of backgrounds and stories, and represent Oles very well. If you include St. Olaf on your list of college visits for the summer, you’ll be able to meet and interact with at least a few of our student ambassadors.
On the Hill, we’re saying goodbye to our Class of 2012 — below are a few photos from the beautiful morning of the last day of classes. The spring has been beautiful this year, and we are excited to welcome our summer visitors and then our new Oles to campus!
Sunrise before the last day of classes over Mellby Hall
A student walks to class on the last day of classes
The “commuter parking” for bikes in front of Buntrock Commons
An Ole gets a jump-start on studying for finals outside on one of the picnic tables
Enjoy your summer kick-off!
-Maggie
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
The Ole Admissions Blog 