Carleton College

[Anonymous]

DS is a junior and we are starting to think about colleges to try to visit over the next year, hoping to tie them into vacations and family visits. We will be visiting DH’s family in Chicago over winter break and will check out a couple of Chicago area colleges but someone suggested we try to visit Carleton and Macalaster, too. I don’t know anything about these colleges other than what I have read in Fiske and on dcum, but there seems lots to like based on DS’s interests and preferences (which are admittedly very unformed at this point).

It’s not too far to visit these colleges from Chicago but obviously would be an offshoot, so before I make a plan I want to make sure these could be good fits for DS. Can anyone comment on the culture / vibe / typical students who like these colleges.

DS goes to a suburban MoCo public HS. He’s low key and has a few close friends rather than a big group. He loves vibrant discussions and debates about current events and sports. He is a passionate sports fan and enjoys playing casually but is not an athlete. He leans liberal but is open minded to all viewpoints and doesn’t take an extreme positions in any direction.

I would love to hear perspectives of parents with students at or have gone to these 2 colleges. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Add St Olaf.

They are SLACs but in the midwest.

[Anonymous]

I went to Carleton. Sounds like a good fit. Intellectual and fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Add St Olaf.

They are SLACs but in the midwest.

Op here- Thank you for this addition, will read up on St Olaf I have never heard of it but I grew up in the DC area (still here!) so that probably explains it. I know that Carleton and Macalaster are slac’s, but there are differences among the slac’s I am familiar with (mostly northeast ones) which may make slac A a better fit than slac B for a particular student. So I am hoping to hear specifics about what makes Carleton a good fit for students who like xyz or have abc personality traits, if that makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to Carleton. Sounds like a good fit. Intellectual and fun.

Good to hear, thanks! When did you graduate?

[Anonymous]

I have friends who graduated from Carleton and from St. Olaf, and they are all wonderfully educated in the liberal arts and really smart. St. Olaf is also known for its music program. I think there's a lot to be said for these midwestern SLACs that are a bit off the coastal radar: outstanding education, slightly less intense vibes/admissions craziness, and a chance to get to know a pretty great part of the country. Definitely go take a look!

[Anonymous]

We visited all three this summer. Loved Northfield and both campuses. My DS didn’t like Macalester that much (although my DH and I thought it seemed like a good school) and he really disliked the urban setting (but it’s an attraction to a lot of people, just not for him).

[Anonymous]

Great place! Good friends (scientists) went there - they are very well known for the sciences. Their academic calendar is unique. You need to be ok with long winters.

[Anonymous]

sounds like he’s better suited to University of Michigan. Big school so people find their tribe and it’s not cliquey like high school or small schools and there’s awesome sports and the out-of-state kids at least are very smart. Massive and rabid alumni network.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:sounds like he’s better suited to University of Michigan. Big school so people find their tribe and it’s not cliquey like high school or small schools and there’s awesome sports and the out-of-state kids at least are very smart. Massive and rabid alumni network.

There certainly is a rabid alumni network but based on nothing except OP’s post I would think one of those SLACs is a better fit, unless he really wants the D1 sports scene

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

I am originally from Minnesota. St. Olaf is not blah - it is very highly regarded. I know several successful professionals who went into medical and business professions after attending there. Also, it is test optional which is good for some students.

Carleton is known for a more intense academic environment.

The town of Northfield has several cute restaurants and is about a 45 minute drive from Minneapolis.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

I should say that both schools also produce great humanities grads. I've med grads of both colleges in humanities PhD programs and they were top notch, from both schools.

[Anonymous]

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.