Help with decision - Macalester or Carleton? (Pol Sci) - just got off waitlist

winterwren
Fri, 22 May 2020 02:17:18 +0000

Thank you, everyone. This is all helpful…and…he still hasn’t quite decided. We have managed to connect with a Carleton student and a recent Carleton grad for our son to talk with on the phone, which has helped, since he had talked with several Mac families. To address some of your good points: we live in Oregon in a very liberal zone with a lot of politically engaged (and often PC) folks. So on the one hand our son is used to it, on the other hand having some diversity of opinion or at least willingness to look at multiple perspectives with an open mind would be nice. My impression is solidifying that Mac seems to have more of an emphasis on civic engagement and attracts kids that like this, and that is appealing to son. It has a good sense of energy to it. Maybe that is partly some excellent PR work on the part of the admissions office and the staff, but wow, they have done a wonderful job producing great short videos with the faculty and extending a warm and friendly feel during the Covid-19 time period. On the other hand Carleton seems to focus more towards intentionally developing a friendly, fun community of intellectuals and knowledge-seekers… which seems like in a way, this might result in some good willingness to look at different sides of issues and delve underneath things. I agree that the Mac’s location is well-used for internships; Carleton claims to have lots of externship/internship opportunities as well but it’s a little murky to me. In other words, they both seem great in their own ways. I don’t really think he can go wrong. Will see soon what happens…