st olaf college supplemental essays

St. Olaf College

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Want to see your chances of admission at St. Olaf College?

We take every aspect of your personal profile into consideration when calculating your admissions chances.

St. Olaf College’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Why this college short response.

What excites you about St. Olaf?

Short Response Question 1

Everyone knows... we‘ve read about your accomplishments in your application.

Short Response Question 2

No one knows... there are no wrong answers here - just be your authentic self.

Short Response Question 3

You should know... we are eager to learn more about you.

Social Impact Short Response

If you could spend a year tackling any issue in your community before starting college, what would it be? Why is that issue important to you and what would you do to address it?

Common App Personal Essay

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you‘ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

St. Olaf College Essay Guide 2019-2020

About st. olaf college.

St. Olaf College is a small, private liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and is listed as one of the Colleges That Change Lives. A campus of roughly 3,000 undergraduate students, St. Olaf (pronounced OH-luff) was founded in 1874 by “Norwegian Lutheran immigrants”, and shares the town of Northfield with football rival Carleton College. Northfield itself boasts several local breweries and pubs, boutiques, and green spaces, and is a short 45-minute drive from the Twin Cities.

St. Olaf prides itself on the close working relationships between students and faculty; every single course is taught by a faculty member, not a teaching assistant. There are 40 available Bachelor of Arts majors (including the Individual Major), five Bachelor of Music majors, and 20 concentrations to choose from. The academic calendar consists of two semesters with a one-month “Interim” course during January in between. St. Olaf uses a highly holistic review process. Admission rates for the class of 2021 were 80% for Early Decision and 41% for Regular Decision.

Required Supplemental Essays

1. “how are you and st. olaf a good fit for each other” (max. 100 words).

For this essay, specificity is key. Pick two or three unique aspects of St. Olaf in general and your department of interest specifically, whether it’s the Natural Lands and associated ecological research, the plethora of study-abroad opportunities during Interim, or the renowned Kierkegaard Library. Tell St. Olaf why these are important to you; tie them to your academic and personal interests, as well as your future goals. If you are applying for the nursing or music programs – which require separate application components – you should talk about these here as well. If you’re having trouble coming up with a specific talking point, email or call a professor in a department you’re interested in to ask about unique features of their program.

Because of the short word limit, organization is just as important as content for this supplemental essay. Your writing should clearly link what St. Olaf offers to why you need it. This is especially important as St. Olaf’s mission is to foster global, community-minded leaders who are passionate about their vocation. Consider a non-traditional format , such as a poem or short narrative if you feel these fit your personality. Above all, be honest – admissions officers read thousands of application essays and can tell when applicants are saying something only because they think it’s the “right thing”, so make sure your essay sounds like you.

2. “Everyone knows that I…” (max. 10 words)

3. “st. olaf should know that i…” (max. 10 words), 4. “no one knows that i…” (max. 10 words).

Supplemental essays 2-4 are extremely short, and at first glance may look more like ice-breaker questions rather than essays, but they are still crucial to your application. For these essays, maintain the structure given to you in the prompt and simply fill in the blank. Subtraction from the ten-word limit gives you six words left for the first essay, four for the second essay, and five for the third essay. Therefore, the key is to make every word count . Use descriptive, specific nouns and impactful verbs; avoid qualifiers and weak adjectives. For example, “Everyone knows that I really love mathematics” is not as good as “Everyone knows that I took our Mathlete club to Regionals” or “Everyone knows that I write algebraic proofs for fun”.

Furthermore, these three essays should combine to paint a unique picture of you that is distinct from all other applicants. An admissions officer should be able to remove your name from these, have a conversation with you, and know that these essays are yours. Try to vary the types of things you discuss in each essay. Instead of making all three about academics, perhaps one will be about your ties to your family or culture, one about a passion or interest, and one about your part-time job.

Optional Supplemental Essays

1. “st. olaf isn’t just a place to spend four years. our community challenges and empowers oles to become individuals of action and substance. they are committed members of classrooms, ensembles, teams, and organizations. oles discover, collaborate, create, question, and inspire. they become engaged citizens who shape the world. as a st. olaf student, how would you make an impact on campus” (max. 500 words).

This essay is optional; however, since it’s the supplemental essay with the longest allowed word count, it’s in your best interest to write it to give a fuller picture of yourself as an applicant. If you decide to write it, you may want to expand more fully on an aspect of yourself from one of the previous essays, or write about totally different aspects. As long as you aren’t too repetitive, either strategy can work for you.

St. Olaf’s culture is very community-oriented, since it is a smaller school, with most students living on campus all four years. The culture is also very service-oriented, due to the school’s affiliation with the ELCA church. Even if you decide to live off-campus or are not an ELCA member, community and service are still important, and are at the heart of this essay question. Service doesn’t have to mean unpaid volunteering – what are your life goals, and how do they make the world a better place? For whom? How will St. Olaf help you get there? Similarly, which communities are you looking forward to getting to know or surround yourself with at St. Olaf? What ties your service and community goals together? St. Olaf is looking for students with clear and passionate answers to these questions.

This essay guide was written by Olivia Sullivan , St.Olaf Class of 2018. If you want to get help writing your application essays from Olivia or other CollegeAdvisor.com Admissions Experts, click here to schedule a free call .

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St. Olaf Supplemental Essay Prompts | Alexa Flash Briefing

Written by college coach guest author on november 6th, 2019.

Bright Horizons College Coach occasionally features blog posts written by guest authors. You’ll find more information about each guest author in the About the Author section on the blog post.

• Everyone knows that I...
• No one knows that I...
• St. Olaf should know that I...

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Academic Support Resources

by | Jun 7, 2022 | Uncategorized

Center for Advising and Academic Support (CAAS)

Doing homework, writing essays, or even catching up with lectures can be overwhelming in college, especially if English is your second language. But don’t worry! St. Olaf has the free academic resources offered by the Center for Advising and Academic Support . CAAS provides writing support, speaking support (for class discussions and presentations), help sessions for specific classes, and even individual tutoring sessions with a qualified student tutor. The office will also help you get accommodations if you have a disability.

Writing Help Desk

The writing help desk in Rolvaag Library is available for all St. Olaf students who need help on their papers. They could help you from brainstorming ideas to polishing final drafts.  Learn more about it from here: https://wp.stolaf.edu/asc/writing-help/

Speaking Center

Even for native English speakers, participating in class discussions and giving presentations can be hard. There are tutors available for all St. Olaf students who need help on practicing and gaining confidence in speaking in class. Learn more about it from here: https://wp.stolaf.edu/asc/speaking-center/

Help Sessions for Specific Classes (SI)

Many courses at St. Olaf offer help sessions led by fellow students who have taken the class before. These help sessions are called SI (supplemental instruction). Usually, on the first day of class, the professor will tell you if the course provides SI sessions. SI sessions can be very helpful in understanding the class material. Learn more:

https://wp.stolaf.edu/asc/supplemental-instruction-si/

Free one-on-one peer tutoring is available in most courses upon request, referral, and in consultation with faculty. Tutors collaborate with faculty and CAAS staff to monitor student progress. Some faculty may require a meeting with students before students can request a tutor from CAAS. Learn more about it from here:

https://wp.stolaf.edu/academic-support/tutoring/

Disability and Access (DAC)

If you have a learning disability or another disability that affects you academically, please check out the resources available to you through the Academic Support Center. We care about you and want to make sure you get the support you need!

https://wp.stolaf.edu/academic-support/dac/

All of these CAAS resources are free and available to ALL students. There might be a cultural stigma when it comes to asking for help or getting tutoring but I would like to clarify that these resources are used by the vast majority of St. Olaf students. They should be an integral part of your academic life and not an addition.

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• Supplemental Instruction
• Academic Success

Supplemental Instruction  (SI) is a long-standing and internationally recognized program that assists students in learning and retaining course information, is statistically proven to increase student grades by one letter grade, and enhances course retention and persistence. SI sessions are peer-facilitated and collaborative.

Si leaders & session schedule, explore the course dropdowns to see this semester’s si schedule., current schedule.

Biology 150 A – Peterson Josie J. – RNS 210 Sundays 5-6pm Tuesdays 5-6pm Thursdays 5-6pm

Biology 150 B – Rushing Sandra S. – RNS 206 Mondays 7-8pm Tuesdays 7-8pm Thursdays 5-6pm

Biology 243 – Maie Hannah O. – RNS 356AB Sundays 8-9pm Mondays 8-9pm Wednesdays 8-9pm

Business & Management Studies

Business 225 A/B – Wilson Mason B. – HH201 Sundays 2-3pm Mondays 4-5pm Wednesdays 7-8pm

Chemistry 126 A/B – Cruz Reyes Olga Z. – TOH 184/HH 433 Sundays 5-6pm (TOH 184) Tuesdays 7:30-8:30pm (HH 433) Thursdays 8-9pm (TOH 184)

Chemistry 126 C – Erickson Huy H. – RNS 150 Sundays 6:30-7:30pm Tuesdays 6:30-7:30pm Thursdays 6:30-7:30pm

Chemistry 126 D – Joiner Jack T. – RNS 410 Sundays 7-8pm Tuesdays 7:30-8:30pm Thursdays 8-9pm

Chemistry 126 E – Lantz Abby H. – TOH 308 Sundays 7:30-8:30pm Tuesdays 7:30-8:30pm Thursdays 7:30-8:30pm

Chemistry 248 A/B – Gittins Maia C. – RNS 204 Sundays 7-8pm Tuesdays 7-8pm Wednesdays 7-8pm

Chemistry 248 C – Roberts Max M. – RNS 435 Sundays 4-5pm Tuesdays 7-8pm Thursdays 7-8pm

Economics 121 A/B – Yao Henrik L. – HH 205 ​Sundays 7:15-8:15pm Tuesdays 7:15-8:15pm Thursdays 7:15-8:15pm

Economics 121 C – Becker Parker M. – RNS 190 Sundays 5-6pm Mondays 7:15-8:15pm Wednesdays 7:15-8:15pm

Economics 260 A/B – Sardar Sam L. – HH 201 Sundays 7-8pm Mondays 7-8pm Wednesdays 7-8pm

Economics 262 A/B – Mookerjee Signe J. – TOH 110 Sundays 2-3pm Tuesdays 7-8pm Thursdays 7-8pm

French 112 – Briand/Killackey Amelia P. – TOH 310 Sundays 3-4pm Mondays 7-8pm Wednesdays 7-8pm

German 112 – Chen Annabel B. – TOH 312 Sundays 8-9pm Mondays 7-8pm Wednesdays 8-9pm

Mathematics

Math 120 A/B – Thomas Maija B. – RNS 204 Sundays 8-9pm Tuesdays 8-9pm Wednesdays 8-9pm

Math 120 C – Balz Siri S. – TOH 112 Sundays 1-2pm Tuesdays 7-8pm Thursdays 7-8pm

Math 126 A – Hanhart Ian C. – TOH 186 Sundays 5-6pm Tuesdays 7:​3​0-8:30pm Thursdays 7:​3​0-8:30pm

Math 126 B/C – Stoertz Quang V. – TOH 112 Sundays 4-5pm Mondays 7-8pm Wednesdays 7-8pm

Norwegian 112 – Dorer/Meyer Kiera H. – TOH 310 Sundays ​7:30​-8:30pm Tuesdays ​​7​-8pm Thursdays ​​7​-8pm

Psych 125 A – Muir Mary Y. – RNS 310 Sundays 7-8pm Tuesdays 7-8pm Thursdays 7-8pm

Psych 125 B – Petok Ren L. – RNS 390 Sundays 4-5pm Tuesdays 7-8pm Thursdays 4:30-5:30pm

Psych 238 A/B – Neumann Sebastian E. – RNS 390 Sundays 7-8pm Monday 7:30-8:30pm Wednesday 7:30-8:30pm

Russian 112 – Parlin Sydney N. – TOH 310 Sundays 1-2pm Tuesdays 6-7pm Thursdays 6-7pm

Spanish 112 A/B – Hanson Molly S. – TOH 314 Sundays ​12-1pm Tuesdays ​6-7pm Wednesdays ​7:30-8:30pm

Spanish 112 C/D – Hill Cosimini Marina G.-O. – TOH 314 ​​Sundays 5-6pm Tuesdays 5-6pm Thursdays ​5-6pm

Want to become a Supplemental Instruction Leader ? Look for open positions and other student employment opportunities at the Academic Success Center.

Mary Doroff

Assistant Director of Academic Support – Supplemental Instruction and Tutoring

Office Hours: Wednesdays 9am-12pm Click to set up an appointment

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St. Olaf College

Scarf girl anonymous, a range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you..

It was my first day of high school- a public high school in Chicago. As I pushed past the sea of people bustling past me to get to my classroom, I felt like a buoy being tossed back and forth by the high tide. Three months prior, I graduated from a private Christian academy where diversity was defined by shades of blonde – bleach, strawberry, or dirty. At my new high school, however, blonde gave way to an array of skin tones, religious beliefs, and cultures. I treaded through the hallways and my sea-blue eyes widened as I heard unknown words in unfamiliar accents ping-ponged back at forth. My eyes continued to widen in awe as they caught a glimpse of something especially unusual: a girl with a scarf covering her hair. “It’s a hot day in September,” I reasoned. “Why in the world is she wearing a scarf?”

My inner conversation was silenced as the late bell rang for first period; I walked through the classroom doors to once again encounter “scarf girl.” My teacher droned on about how “x” is an “apple” and how “y” is a “banana” and that we should never make “fruit salad,” but algebraic fruit salad was the least of my worries; my focus was across the room. “Does she wear that at home? Does she have different colored ones? How does...

GradeSaver provides access to 2312 study guide PDFs and quizzes, 10989 literature essays, 2751 sample college application essays, 911 lesson plans, and ad-free surfing in this premium content, “Members Only” section of the site! Membership includes a 10% discount on all editing orders.

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Coalition App: Everything You Need to Know

Coalition App

How Does it Work?

Essay Prompts

What Schools Use It?

The Common App is the most widely used application for colleges in the US, but not the only one. The main alternative is the Coalition App, an application platform that is now accepted by more than 150 schools

Are you looking to know more about the Coalition App? Well, you're in luck because today, we're diving deep into this application platform; what it is, how it works, and what schools use it.

What is the Coalition App?

Similar to the Common App , the Coalition App is an online platform designed to streamline the college application process by allowing you to submit applications to a diverse range of schools, all in one place.

This makes it much simpler to apply to your target colleges without having to submit multiple applications . But with that said, some schools might ask for specific additional materials or supplemental documents outside of the main Coalition App.

The Coalition App is much newer than the Common App, and it’s used by fewer schools. This is because there’s a specific type of school that uses the Coalition App - schools with financial and academic programming for lower-income, under-resourced, and first-generation students.

In fact, one of the defining characteristics of the Coalition App is its focus on accessibility and inclusivity, and how it aims to break down barriers to higher education. The online platform it uses provides an online locker that makes it easier for you to track your achievements and documents throughout your high school journey.

Interested in learning more? Attend one of our free events

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How Does the Coalition App Work?

The Coalition App is designed to simplify the college application process, and so the steps to applying using it are fairly simple as well:

• Create Your Account on their website : This will serve as your central hub for managing your college applications.
• Identify Your Colleges: Choose the colleges you're applying to. (see list of colleges that accept the Coalition App below)  
• Gather Your Materials: Gather all the necessary materials, such as transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. Remember that the Coalition App provides a digital Locker where you can store and organize these documents throughout your high school journey.
• Complete Your Profile: This includes providing basic information about yourself, your academic history, extracurricular activities, and any other relevant details.
• Write Your Essays: The Coalition App allows you to write and revise your essays directly within the platform, making it easy to keep track of your progress. (See essay prompts below)
• Request Recommendations: If required, you can request letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or mentors through the Coalition App's Collaboration Space. This feature allows you to invite others to review and provide feedback on your application materials.
• Submit Your Applications: Once you've completed all the necessary sections of your application and reviewed everything for accuracy, it's time to submit! The Coalition App allows you to submit your applications to multiple colleges with just a few clicks, saving you time and hassle. 

Coalition App Essay Prompts

The Coalition App provides you with 5 essay prompts, but you only have to choose one to write about. 

Keep in mind that every member school that accepts the Coalition App requires this essay. Additionally, some schools might require college-specific essays for their individual application. 

These prompts might change in the future. However, they’re the same for both year 2023-24 and year 2024-25. Here are the essay prompts: 

• Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
• What interests or excites you? How does it shape who you are now or who you might become in the future?
• Describe a time when you had a positive impact on others. What were the challenges? What were the rewards?
• Has there been a time when an idea or belief of yours was questioned? How did you respond? What did you learn?
• What success have you achieved or obstacle have you faced? What advice would you give a sibling or friend going through a similar experience?

What Schools Use the Coalition App?

Keep in mind that the list of member institutions may evolve over time. As of May 2024 , here is the list of all the schools that use Coalition App: 

How Many Schools Can You Apply to on the Coalition App?

The short answer is as many as you want.

On the Coalition App, there is no set limit to the number of schools you can apply to. You have the flexibility to apply to as many member colleges as you want.This flexibility allows you to cast a wide net and maximize your chances of finding the perfect fit for you.

With that said, keep in mind that each school may have its own application fee and specific application materials, so it's important to strategize and prioritize your applications based on factors such as your interests, preferences, and resources.

Are There Coalition-Exclusive Colleges?

While some colleges initially committed to being "Coalition-exclusive," meaning they only accepted applications through the Coalition App, that landscape has evolved.

The University of Washington-Seattle was the sole Coalition-exclusive institution for a while, but it recently announced a change in its admissions process, no longer accepting Coalition Applications for fall 2023 admissions.

This shift means there are currently no remaining Coalition-exclusive schools.

Coalition App vs Common App: What’s The Difference?

Navigating college applications can feel like a maze, especially when comparing platforms like the Coalition App and the Common App.

The main difference lies in their membership and accessibility. While both platforms aim to streamline the application process, the Coalition App is backed by a specific coalition of colleges and universities, focusing on access and affordability. 

On the other hand, the Common App boasts a larger membership base, including a wide range of institutions across the globe.

When deciding which platform to use, consider factors like your preferred schools, application requirements, and personal preferences. 

• Read our post explaining the differences in details:  Common App vs Coalition App

Final Thoughts

We hope this deep dive into the Coalition App has provided you with valuable insights as you embark on your college application journey.

With its emphasis on accessibility and inclusivity, the Coalition App provides a robust platform for showcasing your unique qualities and achievements to a diverse array of colleges and universities.

Whether you're a first-generation student or come from a low-income background, this application offers valuable resources and support to help you navigate the college admissions process with confidence.

If you need help with finding the perfect school for you and applying to it, whether it's through the Common App or Coalition App, our expert strategists are ready to help.

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