St. Olaf welcomes Class of 2017
St. Olaf College recently welcomed the Class of 2017, a talented group of 758 first-year students that is the most geographically and culturally diverse in the college’s history.
These new Oles hail from 497 high schools in 44 states and 34 countries. Sixty percent of them are from outside Minnesota, 17 percent are domestic students of color, and 7 percent are international students. The class also includes 15 Davis United World College Scholars, 28 National Merit finalists, and two National Hispanic Scholars.
A significant number — 102 — have siblings who are current students or recent graduates, and 87 have parents who attended St. Olaf. Twelve were admitted last year and chose to defer, spending a gap year in places ranging from Russia to India and doing things ranging from playing junior hockey to working on an organic farm.
Over half of the members of the incoming class were high school athletes and half were high school musicians.
“We have been working closely with some of these young women and men for years, and it’s a genuine delight to officially welcome them to campus as St. Olaf students,” says Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Jeff McLaughlin ’92.
“Together they are more than an academically talented and interesting group — they are the kind of people who will add greatly to our community.”