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

57special
Wed, 20 May 2020 21:25:30 +0000

Mac is known for it’s Political Science and International Relations. An all round vg+ school situated in between the downtowns of MPLS/St. Paul. A benign, urban residential setting, with nary a high rise in sight. Easy to get to from the airport, and easy access to either downtown. There are at least 4 other colleges within a couple of mi. and the U of MN isn’t far either, so your student can avail themselves of events there, as well as in the city. Known for it’s PC’ness, but in a Minnesota Nice way. Decent, but not awe inspiring campus. Approx. 58-60% female, which was a turnoff for my 2018.

Carleton is located in a rural town that it shares with St. Olaf, another LAC. Low key charming. Suburbs of MPLS are about a 15 minute car ride away. Very nice, large’ish campus with rolling hills and ponds. Very smart, but friendly students. IMO, they have something special going on there. My 2018 was very tempted to go there, even though he wanted to go to a big school(which he finally did…he couldn’t see going to a college with a smaller enrollment than his HS). They attempt to keep the gender ratio balanced. To me, Carleton is about as good as it gets. Very bright but down to earth, and lacking in the student/athlete and class divide that you might find in some of the other top LAC’s. They are definitely left of Center, for the most part, but politics isn’t front and center the way it might be at a place like Swarthmore.

If your son thinks he would be fine with the semi-rural setting of Carleton then I wouldn’t hesitate to go there. It is highly regarded. If he wants the city and all that it offers, then Mac is a fine choice for a LAC.