So I’m thinking of applying to Carleton, but I wanted to ask what the general atmosphere/community is like. How competitive are the students there? Also, is the school generally cliquey/elitist?
I know that everyone’s experience is different, but I want to get a general feel for the place. I’m definitely applying to St. Olaf, the neighboring school, if that makes any difference.
I would apply to both. The students at Carleton are generally collaborative and not cliquey or elitist. They take their studies seriously, but don’t take themselves too seriously.
In terms of survey-based information, Carleton, along with St. Olaf, appears in this Princeton Review list of schools with the “friendliest students”: Friendliest Students | The Princeton Review.
My S24 was seriously considering Carleton–one of his final two after visiting twice (pre and post offer).
Our impression of the student culture at Carleton was extremely positive. Niceness, inclusivity, and humor all seem to be strongly encouraged. They have all sorts of quirky traditions designed to help build community ties. They attract a lot of academicky kids who seem much more collaborative/supportive, indeed sometimes described as laid back, than competitive.
I guess the one thing I would note that is not at all unique to Carleton but from what I have heard not absent from Carleton either–in a “national” college where most people know few if any other students when they arrive, people tend to first make friends through activities. And so the people who quickly find friends through activities can sometimes seem like they are apart from the people who do not quickly do that, which can be seen as a form of cliques.
Ultimately I think most people both find one or more common interest groups like that of their own, and also develop some friendships across different groups. And again, none of this is remotely specific to Carleton, I think it happens at most “national” colleges. But maybe worth being aware of.
Curious why you are applying to Olaf. Its a good school and my kid is also applying, but I don’t see a connection between Carleton and Olaf (besides the town). Grinnell and Mac seem like closer matches to Carleton if you are looking mid-west. Is Northfield a particular draw for you?
I mentioned St. Olaf because I figured it might give people a better idea of what kind of school I’m looking for : )
Thank you so much! I’m definitely aware of the social divide, so to speak, between active and relatively inactive students and it’s a reason I really want to join clubs.
Obviously not answering for the OP, but St Olaf is often recommended around here to kids who want a really academically strong LAC, that in fact appeals to academicky kids, but that is not quite as hard of admit as a college like Carleton, and also offers merit.
Not that this is definitive, but I always like to look at this PhD Feeder study, and in this case particularly the per capita list on the right side:
You’ve got Carleton at #6, which is no surprise, and then Grinnell at #11 and Macalester at #27. But St Olaf is #34, which is still quite good.
So obviously there are distinctions as well, but in my mind this is one commonality between all these colleges, which are at somewhat different points on the admissions competitiveness scale.
Incidentally, there are some others Midwest LACs mixed in there I would tend to mention as well, including Earlham at #13, Oberlin at #20, Kalamazoo at #29, and Kenyon at #42. But of course these colleges all have somewhat different sizes, settings, vibes, areas of relative academic strength, and so on. But off hand, I do not find it surprising both Carleton and St Olaf could end up on a given kid’s list (or indeed various combinations of these).
My daughter applied ED1 to Carleton although seriously considered ED at Grinnell. She also applied EA to Mac, but did not like St. Olaf. I think she loved the “vibes” at the first three and felt like the diversity and courses weren’t as strong at St. Olaf. She wants to study CS and her tour guide at St. Olaf was a CS major but not happy with the department. I think that’s what soured her. Everything I have heard and read about St. Olaf make it sound great. I’m a little bummed she’s not applying but really hoping she gets into Carleton ED, making it all a mute point! 
Good luck to your daughter! I hope she gets in : ) From what I understand, St. Olaf has a pretty low caliber CS program compared to areas like bio and performing arts, which they excel at. So I don’t blame her for being soured on it lol.
From what I’ve seen of its faculty and curriculum, Carleton offers a very strong CS program.
My daughter (a few years ago) visited Grinnell, Mac, St. Olaf, and Carleton (+a couple of other LACs). Loved the first three but not Carleton. It really depends.
Just wanted to +1 this. I’m a Carleton grad (absolutely loved it, my Carleton people are still some of my closest friends), but my S25 is applying to St. Olaf & not Carleton. He loved Carleton, but the NPC shows that it would be too expensive for us. St. Olaf gives great merit aid & absolutely has some of the ‘academicky’ vibe of Carleton (and is easier to access by plane than Grinnell). The St. Olaf interviewer asked my kid how he’d gotten interested in Olaf (we’re in a faraway state); when my kid explained that his parents went to Carleton, the interviewer chuckled & said there are dozens of Carleton grads’ children at Olaf.
For us, too, the cost consideration played a role in removing Carleton off the list, but she already wasn’t thrilled about it. I know it’s an excellent school but our visit wasn’t that great and the guide didn’t sound enthusiastic about the school. My daughter was also looking for a balance between strong academics and a creative vibe, and that visit didn’t give us much of the latter. But it could have been just the guide.
Yep totally get that. I have toured all 4 schools and my kids have applied to all four. I was just wondering if there was something specific about Northfield that attracted the OP. And if not…whether they were also looking at places like Mac and Grinnell.
I’m a St. Olaf parent. There are a lot of Carleton alums with kids at St. Olaf. They are both great LACs with significant strengths. This deciding factor for many is cost. Carleton does not give merit and COA is $86,478. St Olaf’s full COA is $73,390 and they offer up to $36k in academic merit aid, plus arts scholarships. If you are an upper middle class family, you fall in the donut hole of no/minimal aid at Carleton. Ultimately $350,000 isn’t doable for a lot of people and St. Olaf is a financial fit for many.
I’m sad PP didn’t enjoy their college experience. The Carls I’ve met have almost always had glowing things to say, particularly about how welcoming, friendly, and collaborative they found the community. I’ve often heard how there’s no appreciable athlete/non-athlete divide, how students regularly become close to those with different interests and backgrounds, and how impressively approachable and helpful faculty are. I will add that its retention rate is currently tied for 7th amongst LACs and its giving rate (often considered a reflection of alumni satisfaction) is 3rd for LACs and 6th over all colleges. Regarding diversity, it’s ranked 27th amongst LACs. (For what it’s worth, it’s about 50% white compared to the general population’s ~60%.) Princeton Review’s annual survey of friendliest students placed Carleton 18th. I realize none of that will change PP’s impressions, but perhaps those less familiar with the school might benefit from such macro measures.
https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges/campus-ethnic-diversity
https://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings/?rankings=friendliest-students
You can believe general publicized stats or you can believe someone who actually spent years there, your choice.
I’ve known many who spent time there, hence my comment about their glowing opinions. When anecdotes diverge, sometimes “general publicized stats” and survey results can help.
You clearly did not have a good experience there, and nobody is denying your experience. But your experience is not universal, and many people love Carleton and find a welcoming community. My D has found it to be a warm, collaborative community with exceptional professors.
It is good that you were able to transfer out if it was not for you. There is no college that is perfect for everyone. But no need to grind your axe just because you didn’t like it.