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.

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.

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.

Yeah, I think's about an 8 hour drive.

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.

Check Michigan Residential College

One of our kids went to Carleton. Absolutely thrived and the school could not have been a better fit. It's tough and intense but not overly competitive. Warm and friendly. Kid was turned off by the vibe at east coast LACs Williams and Amherst. Many turn down ivies for Carleton. Kid even loved the food! Things to watch out for: It's small, Northfield is tiny (but proximate to twin cities) and the winters are brutal (which kid liked).

Anonymous wrote:It’s not that far to drive MSP to Chicago. I’d just do an open jaw plane ticket with one way car rental if affordable so you only have to go one way.

+1 This makes a lot of sense.

Madison/Macalister/Carleton & St Olaf is a great trip because you’ll see all very different schools. So helpful to narrow down preferences. Northfield is a lovely town. We like the Fairfield Marriott and the Ole Store for a nice meal. Make tour, hotel and car reservations early, lots of people traveling these days.

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.

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!

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.

Both are excellent schools, and without knowing much about your son’s interests, sound like a good fit for his personality. Each school has a different ‘feel’ - Mac is a little more mainstream, Carleton is very elite (not elitist, though), and St Olaf is filled with nice (often musical), friendly people.

I live in Chicago and went to college in the general region, and I would also say add St Olaf, Lawrence, and Beloit. The latter two might be safeties but those are good to have anyway and both schools are definitely in the same mold. If you’re driving from Chicago to Minneapolis via Madison, Beloit is literally on the way; Lawrence isn’t but I don’t think it would be a terrible detour… maybe a few hours in total.

It’s not that far to drive MSP to Chicago. I’d just do an open jaw plane ticket with one way car rental if affordable so you only have to go one way.

OP, Madison to Minneapolis is about 4-4 ½ hours. Not bad at all. If you have a little more time, you can drive along the road that follows the Mississippi along the WI-MN border from LaCrosse north. It's gorgeous.

You might want to look at Lawrence if you’re in Wisconsin but I agree that Chicago to MN is not a short trip. You’d be better off flying to MN separately.

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.