Three's a crowd

day_tripper87 · 09-22-2005, 03:40 AM

Hey everyone! This is my first time actually posting, and I get the feeling I'll be posting a lot more. I really love this place because everyone is so helpful and knowledgable; it's just incredible.

So my college counselor was naming some schools for me to add to my likely list, and she said Lewis and Clark, Macalester, and Carleton. I looked up each one in the Fiske Guide but I couldn't really distinguish between them, and I need to choose one -- or maaaaybe two -- from those three to add to my final college list. So what can you tell me about each one? I'm looking to major in poly sci or international relations (something government related), I am really interested/involved in community service, if that helps at all.

Thank you so much in advance!

fantosme · 09-22-2005, 03:53 AM

I know that Carleton is extremely strong in the humanities while Macalester is more oriented towards the social sciences. I don't know anything about the other school.

fantosme · 09-22-2005, 03:54 AM

FYI, the best LAC for government is Claremont McKenna.

coureur · 09-22-2005, 08:12 AM

Another consideration:

Lewis & Clark = a LOT of rain in the winter.
Macalester and Carleton = a lot of snow and Siberian temperatures in the winter.

Which do you prefer?

sixsixty · 09-22-2005, 10:01 AM

Mac has a real international inclination....

ecape · 09-22-2005, 06:07 PM

Carleton is quite strong in the sciences.

thewholeperson · 09-22-2005, 08:00 PM

I think Lewis and Clark is the least competitive because it's a reasonable for me while the others would be reaches

celebrian25 · 09-22-2005, 08:05 PM

Mac is my personal favorite. Fantastic for international relations- both the academics and the fact that they have such an international student body. I also think that Mac has the best location- it's not in some small city where internships might not be as easy to come by.

kc_lady · 09-22-2005, 09:16 PM

I don't really know Lewis and Clark... Macalester and Carleton are both great schools and good for IR/Polysci. The main difference between the two is the location, as celebrian25 alluded. Macalester is in the twin cities (ie, a more urban environment, although there is an actual campus with a neighborhood, not tall buildings, etc) and Carleton is in more of a college, smallish town. I think?

reidm · 09-22-2005, 09:17 PM

Macalester and Carleton have higher academic ratings and are more selective than Lewis & Clark. Strong interests in international relations and community service would give you a lot in common with Macalester students. Carleton has a strong political science department.

What other schools are on your list?

day_tripper87 · 09-23-2005, 11:43 PM

Okay so I'm hearing good things about these schools, and it sounds like Macalester would fit best for me. Reidm asked what other schools I have on my list, and right now I have about 20, but I've got to cut it down and find better matches. My first college counselor left my school over the summer and now I'm starting over with a new counselor, so it's been a bit rough. Here's the list thus far:

Challenges: Stanford, Yale, Brown, Georgetown

50/50: Cornell, Vassar, Tufts

Likely: George Washington University, USC, Occidental, Boston University, Clark University

New additions last week: UCLA, UC Berkeley, Claremont McKenna (or Pomona, I don't know which one to go with yet)

And then I've got the three I mentioned already: Carleton, Macalester, Lewis and Clark. My problem is that I can't decide between a small LAC or a larger university. My other problem is that my favorite colleges are the ones that are hardest to get in. But I know that I would prefer smaller classes than large ones, and a strong government/intl relations program, as well as community service opportunities.

Anyhow, thanks so much for all your help already, and I hope that by sharing my list, you could possibly suggest some more schools that you think would fit for me. I appreciate all your help, this website is really the best.

reidm · 09-28-2005, 01:11 AM

dt - a strong case can be made for each of the schools on your list. If I were to suggest one change it would be Macalester for Vassar. And if you like the less-selective schools on your list I see no point in adding Lewis & Clark.

ecape · 09-28-2005, 03:44 AM

I'll tell you a couple of things I wish I had known about differenes between small LACs and Universities last spring. At Universities where a lot of studying is required, it may be harder to lead a balanced life than at an LAC where friends, activities, and studies are in close proximity. For very top students, universities may offer more resources than LACs. Some professors at universities take the attitude that the purpose of university classes are to sort out the most capable students from the less capable students, whereas LAC profs are more likely to see their job as to teach all the students and bring them up to a good level. The top LACs are more likely to offer classes that help students "learn how to learn/think like an academic," whereas university classes will be more knowledge-based.