Before considering less tangible aspects, I recommend you compare student profiles:
ACT Middle Ranges
Carleton: 31–34
Smith: 30–33
SAT Middle Ranges
Carleton: 1380–1520
Smith: 1330–1500
Percent from top 10% of HS classes
Smith: 75%
Carleton: 70.8%
Chances are that you would fit in at both of these colleges, but overall I’d expect Carleton to be more rigorous based on the figures above (particularly since Carleton indicates higher reporting ratios for standardized scoring).
With respect to opportunities related to the study of economics, while neither of these schools appear to be showstoppers, I’d give the edge to Smith because of the potential for cross-enrollment in economics electives at Amherst College:
Economics Rankings, by Faculty Publishing
- Amherst
- Smith
- Carleton