<p>Right now I’m deciding between Carleton and Occidental. Carleton seems to be better academically, but Occidental is in LA with all of its resources and has beautiful, warm weather. Any input? It’s difficult to decide.</p>
<p>Can’t deny LA has a lot to offer weather-wise and entertainment-wise. But some of this comes at a cost. The advantage to any campus-centered school like Carleton, removed from an urban environment, is the higher level of bonding that usually takes place between students there. If you look at any measure of student satisfaction, e.g. alumni giving, freshman retention, 6 year graduation rates, Carleton posts numbers that are pretty through the roof (and significantly higher than Oxy’s). Not to mention broomball, hockey, and skating on the Bald Spot all winter long - pretty sure not an option in socal :)</p>
<p>[Alumni’s</a> Top 10 Most Loved Schools - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2011/09/15/alumnis-top-10-most-loved-schools]Alumni’s”>http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2011/09/15/alumnis-top-10-most-loved-schools)</p>