Gustavus Adolphus College

In high school, I tried a little bit of everything: football, tennis, cross-country, marching band, jazz band, speech, mock trial, you get the picture. I felt most connected to my friends in band, though, spending all four years playing the saxophone. Outside of school, I was involved in church youth groups, and did community service for NHS. In classes like Humanities and AP Lit, I read some really cool books that prefaced my college experience.

Like most Gusties, I wanted a small liberal arts college that was fairly close to home. I had heard Gustavus had strong academic programs, and since it is only an hour away from my house, I figured I’d check it out. After visiting, it immediately became my first choice. The facilities were all really nice, and the environment was friendly and welcoming (not to mention the fact that I had a cute tour guide). Even after checking out a couple of other schools, I knew I’d end up at Gustavus. Another factor that persuaded me was the music program. I wanted to continue playing in band without being a music major. The musical atmosphere at Gustavus seemed motivated but not overly competitive. To be honest, Gustavus was the only school I applied to - I didn’t see the point in applying in schools I didn’t love.

Like most Gusties, I wanted a small liberal arts college that was fairly close to home. I had heard Gustavus had strong academic programs, and since it is only an hour away from my house, I figured I’d check it out. After visiting, it immediately became my first choice. The facilities were all really nice, and the environment was friendly and welcoming (not to mention the fact that I had a cute tour guide). Even after checking out a couple of other schools, I knew I’d end up at Gustavus. Another factor that persuaded me was the music program. I wanted to continue playing in band without being a music major. The musical atmosphere at Gustavus seemed motivated but not overly competitive. To be honest, Gustavus was the only school I applied to - I didn’t see the point in applying in schools I didn’t love.

At the start of my first year, I decided to enroll in Curriculum II which is basically a more structured way of fulfilling general credits. It limits what classes you can take, but you take them all with the same people. The classes have really challenged me and broadened my knowledge of the world. In addition, my strongest friendships have formed out of CII. During freshman year, I lived in substance-free housing, which was really nice because our floor became a close-knit group of guys living in an environment free from tobacco and alcohol. As far as extracurriculars go, I’ve been involved in the band program, playing in the Vasa Wind Orchestra and in a sax quartet. Also, I’ve recently begun writing a column for our school newspaper, The Gustavian Weekly. Another perk of being in Curriculum II is that we take lots of field trips. Towards the beginning of freshman year, we went up to the Twin Cities and visited the Minneapolis Institute of Art and the Walker sculpture garden. It was a really beautiful evening. Later that night, we saw an opera at the Ordway Theatre, which was fantastic.

You can never go wrong with a deli wrap or a steaming plate of pasta. The dessert bars are also extremely delicious - especially the seven-layer bars!

I always see professors in the cafeteria and say hi when I pass them on my way to class. All of the professors I’ve had are very intelligent and personable people. Chaplain Brian Johnson frequently invites people over to his house for food and fellowship. He’s a good cook, too.

My ideal job would be composing music for a living. But since I’m no Beethoven, I’d like to pursue something related to Psychology, maybe doing research, teaching at a university, or doing some kind of counseling.

Obviously, making a college choice is a long and difficult process. Luckily, there are lots of excellent schools here in the Midwest. The key is finding a college with the programs you want and an atmosphere that feels like home. It may seem intimidating to come to a new, strange environment, but trust me, the first month of college is the easiest time in your life to make friends.

The Nobel Conference is always spectacular. Nobel Laureates and world-renowned scientists come from all around the globe to discuss relevant scientific and cultural issues (one perk is that most classes are canceled for two days). Another fun pastime is Midnight Express, which occurs on the night before end-of-the-semester finals. Everyone gathers in the cafeteria for free food and music. It’s a great stress reliever.