Friendliness/Courtesy of Students: 5 - Excellent Friendliness/Courtesy of Staff: 5 - Excellent Appearance of Campus: 4 - Very Good Building/Facilities Maintenance/Cleanliness: 5 - Excellent Dormitories: 5 - Excellent -
There are a variety of housing options available - old dorms with character, newer dorms, townhouses, living in town. I haven't heard any complaints about any of them - all of the rooms appear to provide ample space.
Security/Safety: 4 - Very Good Overall Campus Impression: 5 - Excellent
Off-Campus:
Area Immediately Around Campus: 5 - Excellent -
Carleton is on the edge of downtown Northfield - easy walking to shops, restaurants. Nice residential area next to Carleton.
City/Town/Community: 4 - Very Good -
It's a small town, so dining options are limited. But there are good coffee houses and shopping available for a town this size.
Campus Visit Notes for Carleton College:
Visit Description:
Carleton students love to learn. They also love to have a good time. The result is a strong academic community which is supportive and non-competitive. The classes are challenging and usually discussion-based; my daughter sat in on three and even enjoyed the class in a topic which would not generally interest her. There are a lot of interesting traditions at Carleton - baking cookies at the Dacie Moses house, searching for the Schiller bust, etc. - that give Carleton that "quirky" feeling. The only drawback I have found is the trimester schedule - classes start mid-September, release at Thanksgiving, return in early January for two terms and end in early June. If you are doing a non-Carleton sponsored study abroad program, then it is easier to do it in the fall rather than in the spring (where you would miss two terms). On the other hand, it means that you only take 3 courses a term. Cars are not generally allowed (exceptions are made), but there is shuttle transportation to Target, St. Olaf, the airport, and Mall of America.
If you are curious, passionate about learning, and a bit iconoclastic, Carleton is for you. When my daughter attended Accepted Student Days, she came back saying, "I could work to fit in at any college; Carleton fits me as I am."
