Inside Conversation

M. Cassatt, "The Conversation"

At yesterday's Admitted Student Day, in the session on the four Conversations programs, a prospective student said: "The student I stayed with last night told me that AmCon is the B-team to The Great Conversation."

My reply, "The Great Conversation does tend to promote a sort of arrogance.  In AmCon we are more interested in democracy."  Then a few more remarks about varying topics and approaches and how those are valued.  Finally, which ever program a person is in, it will take your whole brain and lots of time. Karen als spoke up to emphasize that if a student has been admitted to St. Olaf, odds are that that student could do the work in any one of these four programs.

Later I wished that I had thought to offer an analogy to music organzations.   Is being in the band more or less serious than being in orchestra or a choir?  And isn't it the case that what each choir sings is a significant factor in each one's reputation, since all three of the upper-class choirs are excellent in quality?