Based on the students in the PhD program I attended and the percentage of grads who go on to get PhDs, Carleton is the strongest academically. All the grads I know are kind of quirky, think outside the box sorts of people.

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.

Went to Mac in the 90s, so not sure if this is relevant. Carleton is much more intellectual and harder than Mac. Mac, at the time (maybe has since changed) was easy to coast through if that's what you wanted, but also had pockets of really smart kids and great programs and opportunities. But not the uniform academic culture that I think the truly elite SLACs have, like Carleton and Swarthmore, etc. On the other hand, Mac is laid back and unpretentious, and gives more access to things to do in the city. It also has a real commitment to public service and internationalism, beyond the lip service some schools might give. Mac also has a somewhat entrepeneurial spirit, which is nice. The lack of obsession with academics gives a bit more breathing space, I think.

Anonymous wrote:All of the LACs mentioned in this thread are good. Beloit has a good writing program. Lawrence is strong in music and sciences. Macalester is strong in global issues.

+1 I know multiple students who went on to competitive writing masters programs from Beloit. This is in the past 5 years of graduating classes.

~Beloit pp

Macalester feels suburban, even though it is in St. Paul. It doesn't feel east/west coast dense urban.

All of the LACs mentioned in this thread are good. Beloit has a good writing program. Lawrence is strong in music and sciences. Macalester is strong in global issues.

Anonymous wrote:Did you feel stuck in the middle of nowhere at Carelton? What us the area like? I'm just wondering if a kid from DC would like it or feel isolated.

I am from here and had no trouble spending 4 years in Northfield. It's a cute town and Minneapolis isn't that far. I like winter sports so the cold didn't bother me. Students weren't allowed to have cars in my day but there was a regular bus to the cities. Like most SLACs the campus is pretty self contained. It's closer to civilization than places like Williams, Bowdoin, Middlebury, Colgate, etc.

Beloit PP here. I am from a large east coast city and still loved it. It was a huge change, but the community there is very strong and there are lots of different activities and groups to find your place. It is small though-- about 1300, at least when I was there, which was significantly smaller than my HS.

Beloit grad here. I loved it. There is a strong international focus (lots of study abroad programs as well as international students). Some fantastic professors. Anything in particular your child is interested in?

Did you feel stuck in the middle of nowhere at Carelton? What us the area like? I'm just wondering if a kid from DC would like it or feel isolated.

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.

Wow thanks! We will. Beloit and Macalester both had good reps when I was looking at colleges back in the late 80s but I don't have a great sense of them now. Those other recs are really helpful.

Look at Knox College and St. Olaf's and Kalamazoo, too.

They are all good schools. The city of Beloit is not very nice though. A good LAC in Wisconsin would be Lawrence University. The Appleton area is nice.

I think my DD could be really happy at one of these schools in the upper Midwest. He actually loves the cold and snow. Any opinions on the current reputations of these schools?