<p>...........go</p>
<p>macalester cold.</p>
<p>If you're interested in music - even if you're not interested in becoming a musician - then Oberlin is one of the best places to go to college. I don't know much about the Macalester music program, but I can pretty safely say it doesn't compare.</p>
<p>My impression of Macalester, in general, is that it's a more traditional kind of school. This is obviously a generalization, but I think Oberlin has a lot more "individualistic" types, whatever that means. Really, though, there are lots of different types of people at every school.</p>
<p>If you're looking for a stellar internationally-oriented program, I don't think you can really beat Macalester.</p>
<p>In terms of location, Macalester is urban, but very cold and midwest. Being from New York, I'm much less interested in Minnesota than I am Ohio, because I think its just a very different kind of mindset from that of easterners. Oberlin is kind of remote, but it's not too far from Cleveland and it has an incredibly vibrant campus life.</p>
<p>Academically, they're both great schools. My advice is visit both of them and whichever you get a better vibe from is probably the right one for you.</p>