<p>My D and I visited Carleton last May and she and her mother will be visiting for an O/N next week. Northfield is a college town with St. Olaf and Carleton, both campus were quite nice (different and individual) and the town is pleasant.</p>
<p>I know the guidebook you referenced, have a copy, use it only to generate questions and to compare with my D and mine impressions.</p>
<p>I have visited too many college/university campus’ to count (my D is our 6th child off to college), and I can confidently state that Carleton’s campus is far from the worst, not the best, but very nice, compact and most importantly, the faculty and staff and students seem motivated, aware and alive.</p>
<p>Guidebooks IMO are just that Guides to assist, not the final word. Nothing can take the place of personal visits to establish how YOU feel about a college. IMO, the selection of a college for you or your child is vastly too important to allow some unknown author(s) decide for you.</p>