That is a good summary, anxious dad. Read all the reviews here, too. They are pretty good and some themes emerge.
I have a child there who is very happy. I admit I was surprised he chose Carleton because I didn’t think he would like the remoteness and relative quietness of the campus. (His other top choices were in lively, urban areas and he attended a high school that was much larger than Carleton.)
What he likes: the physical beauty of the campus, the arboretum (he was won over by the very remoteness and naturalness I thought he wouldn’t like), the strong sense of community, the niceness and collaborativeness, not having to declare a major. The academics are tough. He has had to raise his game for sure. However, he also seems to feel safe and free to take those academic risks. He is taking challenging classes and isn’t afraid to do so. He enjoys being surrounded by smart kids in an environment in which everyone supports one another. I can point to the math help center. He is good at math, but there were some holes in his high school background. He took advantage of this resource, sometimes to get help, sometimes to offer it.
What I like: that he is happy! Also, that he seems to be stretching himself and growing both socially and academically. I like that he is taking tough classes, that he isn’t afraid to (not fail) make a B or C. I like that he has made so many friends. He didn’t know a soul when he arrived and he is not terribly outgoing. We have lived in the same place for years, so he hasn’t had to make friends in a long time. Now he is so busy! I probably should say that is one of the things he likes best, that he has met so many cool people. He complains there aren’t enough hours in the day to do all he wants to do. (in a good way)
He isn’t that quirky himself, but the rest of the family is. I think of him as the popular kid. He probably feels right at home!