Gustavus Adolphus College - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

You can’t talk about Gustavus without talking about Mankato. Though the community of St. Peter has fewer than 10,000 residents, Mankato provides a reprieve for Gusties who hail from bigger cities. Only 10 minutes away, you can find your favorites like Starbucks and Target. Students can also slip into town without being branded as a Gustie: because Mankato houses Minnesota State University, Gustavus students can oftentimes find reprieve and not be noticeable in a community where college students don’t stick out nearly as much. Simply put, the four years would simply not be bearable without Mankato’s mid-sized community.

St. Peter itself certainly has local charm: you can walk almost anywhere, there is virtually no crime, the Co-Op is out of this world, and they have a fantastic breakfast joint that all the locals frequent (Ooodles—try the chocolate chip pancakes). The rapport between the College and the community can be strained at times; locals believe that all Gustavus students are spoiled brats and Gustavus students think they own the town. Both are slightly accurate, but there is little effort to break down barriers. The college has been working hard to overcome this by having students take active roles in the community, and a majority of students are eager to contribute. However, the drunken college kids wandering around town at all hours on the weekends do tend to leave a lasting impression on the community. St. Peter is like most small towns with a lack of weekend activities where drunken and disorderly behavior becomes all too common.

Free Profile Tools

Do I Stand A Chance?

Calculate YOUR chances of admission at every school CP covers!

__%

Personality Match

Calculate YOUR personality match with every school CP covers!

__%

What'll It Cost Me?

Estimate your out-of-pocket costs at every school CP covers!

$__,___

Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

The locals can be a little... The locals can be a little ‘redneck-ish’ and unfriendly to the students—especially if they have been drinking. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

The atmosphere is very... The atmosphere is very relationship-oriented. The students form a family-like environment; we are on the top of the hill, and it feel as though you are the rulers of St. Peter. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

While St. Peter itself is a sleepy... While St. Peter itself is a sleepy little town and lacks what most students require in a college town, it does have a sufficient grocery store, pizza place, liquor store, and a few bars within walking distance of the campus. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

St. Peter is a very small town and... St. Peter is a very small town and feels that way. There is Minnesota State University at Mankato, which is 15 or 20 minutes away, and the Twin Cities are an hour away. Both Mankato and Minneapolis provide good escapes from small-town life. My advice to new students at Gustavus is to take in St. Peter and surrounding areas as much as possible. Go explore Seven Mile Park. Visit all areas of town, not just where the party houses are. Try restaurants in Mankato, especially local ones. Above all, go everywhere on campus, explore everything, and meet everyone. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

You can tell it is a small, close... You can tell it is a small, close community. The College and the community at large worked together well, though not as much as they could. There really isn’t much in St. Peter, except a really awesome disc golf course. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Facts

Did You Know?

Five Fun Facts about St. Peter:

• Five of the state’s governors have hailed from St. Peter.
• The main street in St. Peter is wider than normal city streets. It was meant to be the capital city of Minnesota before St. Paul was officially given the title.
• Every fall, the city hosts the Rock Bend Folk Festival, which is a weekend-long event that draws in crowds of people with the wide variety of food, vendors, and of course, music.
• When the town was hit with a devastating F5 tornado in 1998, most of the campus was completely destroyed. Even though the Christ Chapel suffered extensive damage, the eternal candle never went out.
• The St. Peter Regional Treatment Center is the first psychiatric facility of its kind in the state.

Famous People from St. Peter:
Maximilian Dick – Violinist, New York Philharmonic
George Engesser – Circus entertainer, vaudeville
Olive Fremstad – Opera singer, Metropolitan Opera
Gideon Sprague Ives – Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota, 1891–1893
John Albert Johnson – Governor from 1905 to1909
James M. McPherson – Civil War historian and author
Steve Neils – Football player, St. Louis Cardinals

Local Slang:
Pop – What Minnesotans call soda
Hair Binder – Hair tie
Duck, Duck, Gray Duck – You know that childhood game known as “Duck, Duck, Goose?” It’s “Duck, Duck, Gray Duck” in these parts.

Write for Us!

College Prowler is actively seeking talented students to be "Contributing Authors," and assist with updating the College Prowler guide to their school. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain internship experience, be a part of a nationally recognized company, gain tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college. Read more >