<p>Dear beloved CC,
i am desperate to compare these two schools. i know they are somewhat relatively obscure LACs, but can anyone help me? </p>
<p>While Wesleyan seems avant-garde artsy, alternative, and hip,
Carleton seems just laid-back, easygoing, accepting, Midwestern nice with a quirky sense of humor. To me, Wesleyan also seems more prestigious, just because it's not in the middle of nowhere midwest like Carleton, but Carleton seems much more academic-focused. </p>
<p>I'm trying to weigh my chances for either school for Early Decision. Ultimately, I will lean towards whichever is easier. Would you say that's a bad thing to do?</p>
<p>You could always just wait and apply to both regular decision. The adcoms might even make the decision for you and if they don't, I'm sure you'll see everything in a new light by then.</p>
<p>they're both very good schools, but if you're not sure than you probably shouldn't do ED since it's binding.</p>
<p>I think carleton is somewhat less selective, but not by a huge amount.</p>
<p>Minneapolis isn't exactly in the middle of nowhere.</p>
<p>^ Carleton isn't in Minneapolis. It's about 40 minutes south. Not as remote as, say, Grinnell, but it's definitely small-town Midwest, with probably only occasional visits to the Twin Cities for most students.</p>
<p>These are both great schools, but if anything I'd say Carleton is slightly more prestigious and slightly more selective (not that either of those should matter all that much in your search). Carleton's acceptance rate is fractionally higher--32% in 2007 v. 28% for Wes; but Carleton students' stats are a bit stronger, 1330-1490 middle 50% SATs v. 1290-1480 for Wes; 78% in top 10% of HS class for Carleton v. 68% for Wes. Consequently US News (for what it's worth) ranks Carleton the #5 LAC (and 13th most selective) v. #11 for Wes (15th most selective).</p>
<p>But none of that matters, really, when you're considering schools of this caliber. Apply to both, visit both. If you're accepted to both, go the the one that feels like the best fit for you--not for US News.</p>
<p>All the caveats about them both being excellent apply here.</p>
<p>I think of the typical Carleton students as being a bit more mainstream than the typical Wesleyan student. Note, I'm not calling Carleton students mainsteam in comparison to the nation's schools or even to LACs generally. Just in direct comparison to Wesleyan (avant-garde/artsy) which I think you've captured in your question.</p>
<p>I also think as Carleton as a tad bit more intellectual. But, you are right Carleton is about an hour from Minneapolis.</p>
<p>I'm guessing that Fiske and Barron's still give both schools 5 stars....</p>
<p>BTW, have you investigated Haverford? I think, in many ways, it is like a blend of the two and it is just a 10-15 minutes from a major city (Philadelphia). I guess it's personality is probably a bit closer to Carleton in the quirky, nice, laid-back category, but plenty of alts, and super intellectual...</p>
<p>Ultimately, I would apply to the school that you most want to be at and envision yourself fitting in best. In my opinion and in my expereince, In the real world (including grad school admissions), the prestige differences between Amherst, Bowdoin, Carleton, Haverford, Pomona, Swarthmore, Williams, Wellesley, and Wesleyan (IMHO, the Big 9 of LACs) are negligble to nonexistent.</p>
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Carleton isn't in Minneapolis. It's about 40 minutes south.
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<p>Kind of like how Wesleyan is around 30 minutes south from Hartford.</p>
<p>My point wasn't that Carleton is in a bustling metropolis. It's not. But people are way too coast-centric on these boards.</p>