Carleton College

[Anonymous]

We just visited Macalaster and Carleton. Same size schools but really different locations and vibe. Both really nice, everyone was very friendly. My son liked both alot but was hesitant about the Carleton location, which he thought was a bit isolated. He liked Macalaster being in closer proximity to alot of things but was attracted to some of the intensity of Carleton more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here who went Carleton. Amazing academics but without the competitive east coast vibe we have here. Quirky and smart people. Not a big banker wanna be crowd. More non profit types. Loved it and loved MN for four years, though now that I’m a full adult, I think it’s too cold!

This fits with the one Carleton grad I know.

Agree, except as to the non profit types. They’re there, to be sure, but Carleton is also the biggest producer of PhD students in the US, and many also go on to law, medical and other professional schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks to all from OP. Lots to digest, most positive!

We do have Michigan and Wisconsin on the consideration list (and agree that MN is not a quick jaunt from Chicago - one thought is to stop in Madison to break the drive and see the Uni - regardless it is still much closer than a separate visit from DC!). DS seems to prefer the idea of smaller colleges but he is keeping an open mind, he is just starting to think about all of this.

Thanks again.

Might as well get all these visits over with on one trip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No commentary on the schools, but the trip from Chicago to Minneapolis isn’t just a side jaunt. It is a bit of a haul.

+1. It's a 6.5hr drive. Possibly 7+ hours with stops in between. In comparison, the drive from NYC to DC is 4 hours.

without traffic.

[Anonymous]

Another happy Carleton alum. My only caution is visiting during winter break. It will just be an empty campus and might be kind of bleak in late December. Because of the schedule, the students are off from Thanksgiving to early January. If you are really interested I might look for another time to visit so you get a better feel for the school. Probably true for all of the schools, but visiting in Chicago when you are already there is different than driving to MN to see empty campuses. Do schools even do tours in late December?

[Anonymous]

The obvious major difference between Carleton and Macalester is the setting. Carleton is rural, Macalester is not. The second is academic reputation. Carleton is elite, Macalester is not. If my kid got into both and had to pay full price, I'd push Carleton pretty hard.

I had a kid look at both schools along with Grinnell. DC liked all three quite a bit, but had Carleton at the bottom of the three. Basically, DC felt that the students there, for want of a better phrase, were trying too hard to be cool. In the end, DC struck Macalester from the list and and applied to Carleton and Grinnell. Got into both, but Grinnell offered substantial merit aid. Since DC liked Grinnell much better anyway, the decision to go there was easy.

[Anonymous]

If you're interested in those you also might like Lawrence. Lawrence really surprised us. It was fantastic for what our kid wanted it also gives merit aid and is not very selective. (Selectivity seems to determine popularity, rather than the other way around, unfortunately.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're interested in those you also might like Lawrence. Lawrence really surprised us. It was fantastic for what our kid wanted it also gives merit aid and is not very selective. (Selectivity seems to determine popularity, rather than the other way around, unfortunately.)

We visited all of these schools this summer and were most disappointed with Lawrence. Does your DC go there? Or did you just visit?

[Anonymous]

I don't know what it is, but Carleton seems like a hot school at the moment. We know a lot of kids from the NY/PA area who are there or going there. I didn't know anyone growing up who went there, though it's always had a good reputation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know what it is, but Carleton seems like a hot school at the moment. We know a lot of kids from the NY/PA area who are there or going there. I didn't know anyone growing up who went there, though it's always had a good reputation.

I hate posts like this. They contribute nothing and aren't in sync with reality. Carleton has been a top 10 liberal arts college for a generation or more. It's "hot at the moment" just because you now know people there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know what it is, but Carleton seems like a hot school at the moment. We know a lot of kids from the NY/PA area who are there or going there. I didn't know anyone growing up who went there, though it's always had a good reputation.

I hate posts like this. They contribute nothing and aren't in sync with reality. Carleton has been a top 10 liberal arts college for a generation or more. It's "hot at the moment" just because you now know people there.

I had a good friend in high school 30 years ago who only applied to Carelton and our in-town state flagship. He was well qualified but didn’t get in. It was a top school and competitive admissions even back then. He did well though elsewhere and is now a professor at Williams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're interested in those you also might like Lawrence. Lawrence really surprised us. It was fantastic for what our kid wanted it also gives merit aid and is not very selective. (Selectivity seems to determine popularity, rather than the other way around, unfortunately.)

Sorry to bump and hijack but I would love to hear personal experience with Lawrence if that PP happens to see this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The urban/ rural environment is a key distinction between St Paul and Northfield. I went to Macalester decades ago and LOVED IT. attracts people interested in international issues.

+1
Always shocked that Mac doesn't get more love here--it's an amazing school (I was disappointed when my DC who got in decided to go elsewhere). Really smart (but nice, not uber competetive) kids, great city, and international vibe. We liked Carleton when we visited too, it just felt too remote. Mac seems to be somewhat unique in it's central urban location for a SLAC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP my neice graduated from Carleton two years ago.

Excellent experience. She's a quiet kid and kind of quirky but super smart. The kids she met were very nice and pleasant.

St Olaf not in the same category as Carleton. Carleton is pre med.and more science oriented, even with being a SLAC. St Olaf more music oriented rest of the programs are blah.

Lots of us Carleton grads on here. It’s a fantastic place. I tried to persuade my DD to go there, but she ended up choosing Rice (which she loved). Carleton is a top tier SLAC but with a more laid-back vibe than peer schools in the NE like the NESCACs. It’s great for intellectually curious kids who want a respite from the striver culture we have around here.

I have to stick up for St. Olaf though. They have several good departments in addition to their music programs. They are known as a feeder school to math PhD programs. You should absolutely visit both if you get to Northfield. They are only a couple miles apart.

St Olaf grad here. I would agree with this response. Carleton is a stronger school overall but St Olaf has it strengths....music, math, pre-med. I would not describe St Olaf as "music oriented" - the music program is solid and a draw for many students but plenty of students (myself included) had nothing to do with music programs. Still, given the choice, I would pick Carleton and recommend it to OP's son - especially if interested in jobs outside of MN and upper Midwest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC is currently at Carleton and loves it. The academics are hard, and the trimester system (3 ten week terms) means the pace of work is fast. The professors are great (they consistently get top ranks for teaching) and DC gets a lot of personal attention. There are a variety of students but I think it’s fair to say that this is a great place for students who have random interests to find people who are interested in hearing about those interests. It’s not a big party school, but lots of socializing, often in smaller groups. I feel like it’s a very kind community, and the kids are supportive and not competitive. My DC jokes that it’s full of a lot of quirky, awkward kids but they aren’t unpleasant or antisocial. I feel like my DC has actually become way more confident and social there because they have been validated by peers and faculty and less afraid of being judged. It’s cold. The Arb is a great asset for outdoors activities. It’s pretty balanced by gender, and definitely skews politically liberal but overall the students are pretty respectful of opposing views. The school is financially well resourced. I was impressed with how they have navigated Covid. I’m sure there are areas for improvement but so far it’s been a great experience for my DC.

This has been my DC’s experience also. I have been impressed by DC’s access to professors. They seem to go out of their way to make themselves available to students and get to know them. The trimester system is something to consider. The pace of the semester is very fast and intense.