Beloit vs Macalester vs Carelton

[Anonymous]

My child visited Mac and Carleton last spring and walked away feeling like Carleton was too remote but seemed much stronger academically.

The Macalester presentation and panel both leaned hard on the *lack* of academic rigor, which felt weird for a presentation happening with parents in the room. It seems lovely, and I know some really happy graduates, but for the price tag I would like my child to learn something. If I just wanted them to make friendships in a global environment, they could stay here in DC and go to Montgomery College.

[Anonymous]

All the Carleton grads I’ve met (5-10) seemed unusually fond of their alma mater. It’s probably not for those wanting to school in an urban setting, but I don’t recall an actual alum describing it to me as remote. It’s a shorter drive time wise from Northfield to Minneapolis than maybe half the people I know commute to work throughout the country. In fact I think I heard many (half?) their profs live in Minneapolis or St Paul.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are actually pretty different from one another, starting with selectivity. Carleton has an admission rate of about 20% while Beloit is closer to 70%. Macalester is at about 35%. The SAT scores vary proportionally, with Carleton the highest and Beloit about 100+ points lower per section. This may not be important to your kid but you should be aware of the differences.

Macalester is obviously the most urban, being in St Paul. It is also known for its international focus. Carleton is in a small town about 35 miles south of the twin cities. I don't know as much about Beloit, although the kids I knew who went there when I was in college were weird, and the kids I know who go there now are not mainstream. Carleton definitely attracts smart but independent/quirky kids. Macalester is more mainstream.

The kids I know at both Carleton and Macalester today love it. I really liked Carleton, although I do not fit the quirky mold.

Interesting takes on the schools in your penultimate paragraph. Had a good friend who attended Beloit in the '80s and the exact opposite of what you are describing. In fact, two of the service academies were interested in her, but she went the LAC route.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would luv luv for my DD to go to Carleton, but she doesn't have the grades or the $..lol.. My good friend is from up in that area and attended St. Olaf, and speaks highly of it.

They have a FB page, like it and look around. Can he throw a Frisbee..lol

One of my DCs is not at Carleton, but is in the frisbee corridor there. Great sport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never heard of any of these. Your kid will be fine.

that really says a lot more about you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child visited Mac and Carleton last spring and walked away feeling like Carleton was too remote but seemed much stronger academically.

The Macalester presentation and panel both leaned hard on the *lack* of academic rigor, which felt weird for a presentation happening with parents in the room. It seems lovely, and I know some really happy graduates, but for the price tag I would like my child to learn something. If I just wanted them to make friendships in a global environment, they could stay here in DC and go to Montgomery College.

+1! We toured Macalester and the tour guide made a point of saying if you were up until midnight doing homework you should talk to your professor about it because you really should not have to work that hard! Total turn off for all of us; not only because my kid wants to learn, but also does not want to be surrounded by slackers.

[Anonymous]

We visited Mac, Carleton and St Olaf. FEIW my super nerdy very bookish daughter thought that the kids at Carleton were super odd and awkward. As did I. Just, off. If the tour fixes the school picks out to be extroverted and talk up the school don’t seem to know how to interact as humans, that’s a turnoff. We loved St Olaf. Its is beautiful. The buildings and campus are so picturesque. Carleton are more institutional. st Olaf campus is up on a hill and a farther walk into Northfield, while Carleton is walkable within town. Not that I’d call Northfield a town. It is TINY. Cute, but really limited and isolated. We loved Mac - walkable to things in St Paul, great neighborhood, great campus facilities.

[Anonymous]

If you look at Carleton, you might also like Grinnell, similar vibe but more resources and less of a grind. Definitely visit. All theses schools are small with distinct personalities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We visited Mac, Carleton and St Olaf. FEIW my super nerdy very bookish daughter thought that the kids at Carleton were super odd and awkward. As did I. Just, off. If the tour fixes the school picks out to be extroverted and talk up the school don’t seem to know how to interact as humans, that’s a turnoff. We loved St Olaf. Its is beautiful. The buildings and campus are so picturesque. Carleton are more institutional. st Olaf campus is up on a hill and a farther walk into Northfield, while Carleton is walkable within town. Not that I’d call Northfield a town. It is TINY. Cute, but really limited and isolated. We loved Mac - walkable to things in St Paul, great neighborhood, great campus facilities.

Not our take at all. We found all the Carleton kids we met to be unusually kind and warm, with prospective parents and students alike.

[Anonymous]

I have a Junior at St. Olaf who loves it. It's VERY rigorous - a lot of homework (though choosing to do a language Major, a Minor and a Concentration is part of that.)
Music courses and clubs are professional caliber. There's a reason PBS airs the St. Olaf Christmas show every year.
Tons of merit awards available - has a healthy endowment.
Younger sib has visited and it's the short list for them because the sciences are also excellent.

Kids go to "the Cities" for concerts and enough local kids have cars that Northfield isn't all that "isolated". It also has the best cafe I've been to in years - Goodbye Blue Monday. Still think about those scones.

Housing has been an issue, though, as St. O is growing into a "mid-sized" school.
And being up that Hill is COLD. Buying a real Arctic parka required.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We visited Mac, Carleton and St Olaf. FEIW my super nerdy very bookish daughter thought that the kids at Carleton were super odd and awkward. As did I. Just, off. If the tour fixes the school picks out to be extroverted and talk up the school don’t seem to know how to interact as humans, that’s a turnoff. We loved St Olaf. Its is beautiful. The buildings and campus are so picturesque. Carleton are more institutional. st Olaf campus is up on a hill and a farther walk into Northfield, while Carleton is walkable within town. Not that I’d call Northfield a town. It is TINY. Cute, but really limited and isolated. We loved Mac - walkable to things in St Paul, great neighborhood, great campus facilities.

Interesting take are Carleton. The kids we know who were there are anything but odd and awkward.

[Anonymous]

Beloit doesn't seem like it belongs. I'd imagine Carleton is the reach and Macalester right behind that with Beloit as a real safety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never heard of any of these. Your kid will be fine.

Have you looked in your kid's college email spam folder? All three are relentless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Beloit has the most creative and liberal students of this group; Macalester the most political and internationally-minded; Carleton the most traditional, academic high achievers. Beloit tends to admit students with unrealized potential and its admission rate is higher than Mac's or Carleton's, but it does wonders with its students. All three schools produce students who go on to become intellectual leaders and high-achieving adults. Beloit has strong programs in anthropology and museum studies, and a very strong creative writing program.

Beloit the city has improved dramatically and has a great farmer's market, some decent restaurants, and a nice riverfront. Mac's atmosphere's can't be beat. Carleton is in the ideal small college town.

Is Beloit crazy woke, or could a more conservative student attend and not feel out of place?

What is "crazy woke"? People usually describe woke as being aware of the needs of others. Not sure how putting crazy before that makes sense unless you are a heartless Trump supporter. Most academic institutions will be tough for people like that who prefer a fact-free lifestyle.