I write this blog more for myself than anyone else. It is completely my opinions and thoughts and I figure a few people read it, but most of them are relatives or friends so no big deal. I read other blogs and sometimes comment on them, even though I have no idea who the person is. Actually I follow several blogs that I have no idea who the writers are and I never will, I just enjoy their writing. If I leave a comment it is always a positive one, I don't find it necessary to put my opinions on someone else's page when I really don't have any idea who they are or how they feel...other than what the chose to share online. I have often read on these other blogs about people who leave mean or derogatory comments...telling the writers their opinion on what was being discussed and how the writer is wrong and the commenter is right. Never in a million years did I think I would have such comments on blog...but now I do!
I wrote MY opinion of our St. Olaf college visit. MY thoughts, MY feelings, MY opinions. Now I have a comment from someone in Pennsylvania who is considering going there and somehow found my blog through a Google search. This person, whose profile is private (chicken), proceeds to tell me how what I wrote is wrong. Ummmm, excuse me, but who asked? I gave my thoughts and told what Kayla and I felt about the visit...didn't ask for anyone else's thoughts on the college or their visit. With all three kids I have gone on a total of 7 college visits and I have never had the experience like I did at St. Olaf. To me this says a lot...I wasn't impressed with the college or the people...my opinion, my blog. Don't like my opinion? Don't read my blog...simple as that.
July 28, 2010
Went for a college visit today to St. Olaf in Northfield, MN...and neither Kayla nor I were impressed. The campus is huge with lots of old buildings and looks beautiful, but the buildings are old on the inside as well. We got a tour of the campus from a girl that should not be giving tours...she made so many mistakes it was horrible! We were walking to the dorms and she is telling about all the games the students play which included "Spoon Murder"...basically trying to "kill" each other with spoons. She told all about how everyone was paranoid and locking their room doors...doesn't sound like a good way to make friends to me. Then she starts telling about how the dorms are segregated by floor and the opposite sex cannot be on the other sex's floor after midnight. The next thing she says is "but that is never enforced so you can have boys in your room whenever you want to." What?? I know that happens on college campuses everywhere, but you aren't supposed to tell the parents that! Then she starts talking about the campus being a dry campus, but lots of people drink alcohol behind closed doors so you can find it if you want it. Again...what?? Once more, something every parent knows but not something you tell the parent if you want them to think you are trying to "sell" this college.
We toured the science building, which of course Kayla has no interest in and would never take classes in. But we heard all about how it is "green" and got a big award for it and has natural sunlight in every room in the building. It was the only building on campus that was new and modern, and it was beautiful, with awesome views of the town. We then went to the music building, where Kayla would spend 99% of her time and it was horrible. No natural sunlight in that building, just dark halls and big wooden doors that we couldn't open. We walked through that building really fast, the one place she really wanted to see and it was the quickest tour we had.
After the tour, which neither of us were impressed with, we went to the admissions office. This was the first time that the admissions officer talked to just Kayla, I was asked to wait in the lobby while they talked. I found that rather strange since the parents often have questions about admissions and I know Kayla will be asking for help with the admissions process from me. Another set of parents were also waiting in the lobby with me and they too thought it was a little strange that the parents couldn't talk to the admissions counselor. St. Olaf policy I guess!
After admissions we went to talk to the music department admissions counselor (I got to go along with this one) and while she had a lot of good information, it just wasn't impressive at all. The clarinet professor wasn't available as he is touring Taiwan right now, but the music lady did tell us what the admissions requirements for the music department were. She printed out the music that would be required for auditions and Kayla almost laughed...it was so easy she could have played it in 5th grade!
So all in all, neither of us thought much of St. Olaf. I asked Kayla her opinion before I told her mine, but through the whole morning it was pretty obvious to me how she felt about the place! The tour guide was bad, but that wasn't the fault of the college and really had no determination on how we felt. The buildings were old and stuffy (no air conditioning in them) and dark. The campus was spread out and hard to get around. The music department was more focused on vocal than instrumental, which is great, but not for Kayla. St. Olaf just wasn't what we thought it would be.
As I was vacuuming the living room today it suddenly occurred to me that the only sound I was hearing was the vacuum. Used to be when I vacuumed I could hear "stuff" being sucked up, but not anymore. Then I realized that the reason I used to hear it was because I used to have little feet dragging sandbox sand, yard dirt and driveway rocks into the house and the rug collected it all, along with the occasional Barbie shoe or Lego. Now my rug stays cleaner (somewhat!) so the vacuuming is quieter. Not sure which way is better...
In just a few weeks I will be 528 months old...or 44 years. I don't feel that age. Brian is almost 22 and I feel like I am that age too. 44 really isn't old, it is only middle age. But for some reason I don't feel like that much of a grown-up.
Rain. Rain. Rain. Seems to be the only thing that Mother Nature knows how to do lately. Fields are okay, ours anyway. Several places around the area have been replanted with beans, and those replanted beans are now once again under water. Spend money for seed, plant, get drowned out. Repeat. Not good.
