Hi everybody! I’m new, but I’ve been reading the forums for the last month or so. I applied in early December and found out on Monday I was admitted! I have a 26 ACT, 3.5 GPA(School doesn’t weight GPA or rank), and play football, apart of the newspaper staff, etc.
However, I didn’t get into my #1 choice of Carlson but got into CFANS. Can anyone speak as to how good CFANS and if it is worth trying to transfer into Carlson later?
Below is a profile of the students in the different departments. You have a better chance of being a top student in CFANS than in Carlson, so if you are planning to get a graduate degree later, then you might want to stay in CFANS to have a shot at a high GPA. Are you interested in the agricultural industry at all, and the application of economics and business to that field, or do you mostly prefer a different industry? There will be very different cultures as CFANS is on St. Paul campus and Carlson is on West Campus, with different types of students, professors, clubs and interests. I would suggest trying out the program in CFANS and deciding over time whether to transfer or not. You might want to try to get in the dorm – Territorial – that many Carlson students live in Freshman year to compare what those students are like and get to know what they are studying and how it’s going for them. Also check out student clubs related to both departments and compare them.
Just a note: CBS = College of Biological Sciences, not Carlson Business School. Carlson’s full name is Carlson School of Management, abbrieviated CSOM.
If I went to CFANS, I’d be interested in majoring in Environmental Engineering/Management. Which I guess is somewhat related to business. How different are the St. Paul and Minneapolis campuses?
Very different. Minneapolis is where most everything goes on. All the parties, bars, Greeks, museums, athletics, etc. are on the Minneapolis campus. It’s also near downtown Minneapolis- a quick train, bus or bike ride to lots of other activities, either downtown or via transit to most anywhere else in the Cities.
The St.Paul campus is much quieter, nestled right in a residential area of St.Paul. There is shuttle service to the Minneapolis campus, this is infrequent during evenings, weekends and holidays. As for public transportation, there is no light rail, and only a few bus lines that go nearby. Getting to other locations in the Cities often requires a long ride to either of the downtowns, and then transferring there.
If you’re looking for a quiet, secluded experience of college, St.Paul campus does have some advantages- such as its own rec center (which is rarely as crowded as the one in Minneapolis), its own student union (with a bowling alley and theater).
But if you’re new to the Cities, I definitely recommend housing on the Minneapolis campus for your freshman year. Many of your required classes will be on the Minneapolis campus anyway, and you’ll have more of the college experience outside of classtime.