Hello! I’ve been recently accepted to both Colby and Macalester and I’m very confused about my choice.
I am looking for a politically active and justice oriented student body because of which I am very drawn to Macalester. Their proximity to the city along with close emphasis on multiculturalism, internationalism, and civic engagement really appeals to me as an international student.
At the same time, Colby has an excellent and very prestigious environmental studies program. I am mostly interested in the humanities and social sciences and I really love what Colby has to offer academically in these fields. I also know they are a school with a large endowment which means access to a lot of resources and opportunities. Yet, I’ve heard the student body is very homogenous, isolated and has an athletics centric culture- something that doesn’t really appeal to me at all.
I know that Mac is a better fit for me but Colby’s excellent academics and resources are making me more drawn towards it. At the back of my mind I’m also considering the fact that Colby is a more selective and higher tier school.
By the way, if you stood on a street corner and asked 100 people about Colby College, if more than three could name the state it is in, I’d be shocked.
Obviously it’s a top institution but it’s not a known school by the masses. Nor is Mac.
In the end, you need to spend four years, day after day after day.
My S is actually at Colby, having faced a somewhat similar decision. But I think this is right — if you really wanted to major in environmental science, or like Colby’s campus or location better, or were planning to use the arts or athletic facilities (varsity or otherwise), then this might be a closer conversation. But it sounds like the only thing really drawing you to Colby is admissions rate. Mac seems like a wonderful fit and is every bit the school Colby is.
FWIW, Colby seems far less homogenous now than it was a decade ago. And S hasn’t felt any real focus on an athletics culture. But it doesn’t have as strong of a social justice vibe as Mac is known for. So I don’t think you’d have any trouble fitting in at Colby. It just isn’t clear why you’d want to.
Regarding environmental studies, while Colby’s program is justifiably recognized for its excellence, note that Macalester’s program has received recognition as well:
I agree with @nyreader that you have an outdated notion of the Colby community. It sounds like you are using that to talk yourself out of it because you really want Mac.
Colby probably can offer you everything you want. But reading your post, it sounds like you love Mac and are now being distracted by this shiny thing called Colby. It’s totally okay to choose Mac!
If you are truly feeling torn, attend the events for admitted students. Two really different places, and one will almost certainly speak to you more strongly.
I am a Mac alum. You are correct in your assessment of Mac as politically active and social justice-oriented and there are many benefits to being situated in the Twin Cities. The sky is the limit in terms of career possibilities graduating with a degree from Mac. My classmates are an extremely impressive bunch who won Rhodes Scholarships, attended Ivy League graduate schools in law, medicine, and academic disciplines, and work as executives at Bain and Google. I implore you not make a decision based on US News rankings or acceptance rate! Mac and Colby are both extremely solid schools and have been for a long long time.
I live in Maine and am very familiar with Colby. I also have a daughter that sounds very much like you and chose to apply to Macalester, so I have become familiar with it also. From what you say, it sounds to me like Macalester is a MUCH better match for you. Much.