Frequently Asked Questions

New Student Orientation

When is New Student Orientation?

For incoming first-year Oles, New Student Orientation (NSO) will begin on Saturday, August 30th and continue through the start of classes on Thursday, September 4th.

Is there anything I need to do over the summer for New Student Orientation?

Yes! We have a summer module that incoming Oles take part in!

I’m a transfer student. Is New Student Orientation for me?

Yes! We have what we call NSO: Transfer Track (in the fall) and Mid-Year New Student Orientation (MY NSO),which is an experience specifically designed for incoming transfer Oles. Learn more about NSO: Transfer Track & MY NSOonline!

What will New Student Orientation look like this fall? Where can I find the schedule?

We are still working on the New Student Orientation experience and plan to share more soon. Be sure to keep an eye on the New Student Orientation website for more information!

What is an Ole card for and when will I get mine?

Your Ole Card is an all-purpose card that can be used to access your meal plan, check out books from the library, and gain access to your residence hall. It also is a debit card that can be used at the St. Olaf Bookstore, Print Center, Post Office, and the Lion’s Pause. You will submit your photo online before you arrive to campus and receive your Ole Card when you check-in to your residence hall!

Where can I find directions to campus?

We can’t wait to welcome you to campus! We have resources available for you online!

Residence Life

What will my residence hall look like? How do I find a roommate?

St. Olaf requires students to live in on-campus housing all four years. We have some great videos that show off our residence halls to give you a glimpse inside. Everything you need to know about the roommate pairing process can be found online!

Are there rules about what I can or cannot bring to my residence hall room?

Yes. These stipulations and more common questions can be found on the Residence Life website. One important one to highlight is that the college provides a refrigerator/freezer/microwave in every student room on campus. Students may not bring their own.

If I have questions about my New & Transfer Student Housing Agreement Form can I receive assistance?

No worries. Please send an email to housing@stolaf.edu and we can support you.

Am I allowed to drink or smoke in my residence hall or on campus?

St. Olaf College is a tobacco-free and vape-free campus indoors and outdoors. We also have an alcohol policy. You may find out more about the campus policy by referring to the Housing Policies.

Registration

If I’m undecided about my major, what will my fall semester schedule look like?

When will I register for my classes?

Registration will be in late June 2025 (specific date will be posted in May). Keep an eye on your St. Olaf email account for more information as we get closer!

How can I see which courses are offered in the fall?

Once you have deposited and activated your stolaf.edu email account, log into the Student Information System (SIS). On the left, you will see Class and Lab Schedule. Click on that to see course offerings for the Fall. You can search by department, major area of interest, or even by general education requirements!

How do I decide which courses to take?

We have a First-Year Registration Guide with sample first-year schedules for each major, concentration, and pre-professional program in which you are interested – make sure to check it out!

How likely is it that I will get into the classes I want?

We plan accordingly for course offerings that are specific to first-year students to ensure there is room, but as always, you’ll want to have alternate options in case your first choices are full.

How many classes/credits will I take in my first semester?

At St. Olaf, one full-semester course usually equals 1.0 credit and full-time status is 3.0-4.5 credits per semester. Most students take 4 courses for a total of 4.0 credits each semester. Taking fewer than 4.0 credits each semester may require additional semesters, summer courses, or overloading (unless a student has transferred in credits). Music ensembles are worth 0 credits and are billed separately. Music lessons are .25 credits each and count within your tuition.

Can I test out of the language requirement?

How do I know which placement exams to take?

All new students must take the math placement survey. Whether you need to take additional surveys depends on your interests and transfer credits. See the notes below each placement survey in the New Student Checklist to determine whether you need to take it.

Do I still have to take them if I have a 4 or 5 on the AP exam in that area?

Yes. In order for the registration system to allow you to register for the appropriate course, please take the placement survey even if you have pending transfer credits. Some of the surveys may just ask a couple of questions about your transfer credits in order to guide you to the correct placement result.

I’m not entirely sure I want to major in ________________, should I take the exam or not?

Yes. Even if you are unsure about your major or about taking courses in that subject, taking the placement survey can guide you toward course options. It’s ok if you don’t take the course you place into until a later term or don’t take it at all. This is a great time to explore and to create Plan A, B, and C schedules for yourself.

How do I transfer my pre-college credits?

To transfer AP/IB scores, have them sent directly from College Board/IB to St. Olaf. To transfer credits from other colleges/universities, have a final, official transcript sent directly from the awarding institution to St. space here Olaf for evaluation. An official transcript must come directly from the other institution and is defined as one available via secure link to a PDF or in a sealed envelope. For more information, visit the Registrar’s Office website.

Student Accounts

When and to whom are financial statements generated? When are payments due?

Financial statements are generated electronically and students will receive an email to their St Olaf email address when statements are ready to view. Authorized users will only receive a statement notification if access has been granted by the student. Fall statements are billed in early July and due August 1. Spring statements are billed in early January and due February 1.

How do I grant financial access to someone other than myself?

Per Federal guidelines, students must grant others access to their student financial account. Once the student grants access, the authorized user will be notified via email and can view and make payments to the account. Parent/authorized user access must be granted before we can discuss details for a student’s account with anyone other than the student. Instructions on how to add authorized users who can receive statement notifications, view and make payments to my financial account can be found online.
Learn more

Where and how can payments be made to a student’s account?

From mail to 529 to online payment plans, there are a number of ways to make payments on a student’s account.
Learn more

My Account Detail/Current Balance does not match what is listed as due under Bills/Amount Due. Which one is accurate?

On the financials main page in SIS you might see two different balances: one under Account Details/Current Balance and another under Bills/Amount Due. The balance under “Bills” shows the amount you owed at the time that the bill was generated. The most up-to-date charge is the one under Account Details because it will show if there were any charges that were added to your student account after the last bill was generated.

Why doesn’t my financial aid appear on my bill?

If you receive your bill and some or all of your financial aid is not showing on the bill, this means your award has not been finalized or there may be additional steps you need to take. Contact the Financial Aid Office or access Financial Aid Online to find out what might be missing from your file.

Dining

What are my meal plan options?

Students are automatically signed up for a 17 Meal Plan per week. Other meal plan options can be reviewed online. To make a change to your meal plan: Select Meal Plan Options, choose Financials, and then select Meal/Board Plan from the drop-down menu.

What dining options exist on campus?

We have three dining locations on campus! Stav Hall (better known as the Caf) is our full-service dining hall. The Cage is our campus cafe, specializing in sandwiches, hot/cold beverages, and sweet treats. The Pause is a student-run kitchen best known for pizza and ice cream!

Parking & Transportation

Can a First-Year student bring a car to campus?

Students are not eligible to obtain a parking permit during their first year. Exceptions are granted for students who reside 250 miles or more from campus. If you believe it is necessary to have a car on campus for a disability-related need, please complete the Campus Life Accommodation Request Form and our Disability and Access Staff will reach out to you. For more information, review the Parking Policy.

How and when can I apply for a parking permit?

Students can apply for a parking permit online starting May 5th and close on May 23rd (**the final payment is due no later than June 10th). Please note that student permits are not guaranteed. Students must receive approval confirmation from the Parking Office before bringing a vehicle to campus, as there are limited parking options available off-campus in Northfield.

What are my transportation options for accessing the Twin Cities?

The College offers a few options for students to access Minneapolis and St. Paul. Please visit our transportation website to learn more about options for accessing Minneapolis and St. Paul.