Anonymous wrote:We liked Macalester and DS applied EA, but a question we had and that we were going to need to consider is whether there is any room for, or tolerance of, differing points of view there. DS is liberal and very politically engaged, but he is interested in a classical liberal arts environment and has no interest in going to a college where there is a political orthodoxy or monoculture, which seems like it might be the case at Mac to an extreme degree.

DS was accepted to his ED school (hooray!) so this is now not a question we are going to consider, but I figured I would offer it here in case it might benefit others who are looking at the school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mac is another school in addition to Chicago & Penn that we dismissed because of its proximity to senseless violent crimes. Before the snark descends, my kid is very happy and safe at another outstanding institution.

Sooooooooooooooo White ….

Anonymous wrote:Mac is another school in addition to Chicago & Penn that we dismissed because of its proximity to senseless violent crimes. Before the snark descends, my kid is very happy and safe at another outstanding institution.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Very disappointed that DC ended up not applying to Mac. Loved everyone we met, the campus, the environs. I had to accept that I was projecting too much of myself into the decision.

We loved Mac when we visited this summer too--best student tour guide of all we had, great location, and the nicest admin staff. And, for kids who want to be in a city, they really stress how Mac incorporates the twin cities into college life.

Anonymous wrote:

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

Good to hear, thanks! When did you graduate?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Very disappointed that DC ended up not applying to Mac. Loved everyone we met, the campus, the environs. I had to accept that I was projecting too much of myself into the decision.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

I'm from MN and know both Carleton and Mac very well--maybe Carleton is more "elite" in terms of acceptance rate, but the caliber of students at Mac are top notch. People I know in the midwest recruit heavily from both schools and think of Mac as being the same way that people in DC think of east coast SLACs like Haverford/Swarthmore/Bates/Bowdoin. For some reason, Mac hasn't gotten the attention on the east coast (though it's very popular on the West Coast).

Anonymous wrote:

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 wrote:

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 wrote: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.