<p>Child's choice is narrowing to Dickinson or Macalester. A well rounded, hard working, good student, but one who has neither a burning "passion" for a particular major, nor a specific career goal, probably cannot go wrong at either place.<br>
But does anyone have experience with both colleges, and some useful thoughts? Please don't tell us the obvious, like Macalester is in a city and Dickinson is not. More relevant are things the distinguish the student experience -- quality of professors, contact with professors, support for a student who may consider multiple majors, are there dominant cultures on campus (jocks, intellectuals, hipsters, whatever.)
Your thoughts are most welcome.</p>
<p>Both great choices. I’d say Macalester has a more sophisticated vibe thanks to its emphasis on international studies and strong presence of foreign students. A girl I know is a freshman there. She loves it and her family has been very pleased with the nurturing, supportive environment and quality of the education she is receiving. i think it is a very accepting, tolerant culture not dominated by any one social group, but there are plenty of artsy, offbeat kids there.</p>
<p>Don’t have any firsthand knowledge about Dickinson but I have heard positive things. If you are from NJ this might be a good opportunity to let your child expand his/her horizons and try living in the midwest for a few years.</p>
<p>We used to live about 6 blocks from Mac (now we live about 20 miles away). D2, high school senior, was accepted to Mac for Fall 2013. Not likely to attend due to some other fantastic choices, but we really, really like Mac. And D1 graduated from Dickinson last year. So… I feel like we have some perspective. Here are a few observations:</p>
<p>International Focus - Both are actually quite strong in this. Excellent study abroad (more options/more flexibility that almost any other LACs we visited, and we visited a lot!). Both also have a lot of international students. But I would say Mac has an edge in this area because they really focus on it particularly strongly – it is one of the most defining things about Mac. If your son has an interest in this, he will enjoy that part of Mac’s culture.</p>
<p>Partying - Dickinson has a reputation for more of a party school, and I will say that you will find more “lax bro” types there. But by no means exclusively, and my D1 (who says she had about 1 drink per month in college, and I believe her) had no problems at all developing a busy social life that did not revolve around partying. One of her best friends from high school attended Mac, and my D says they partied HARD in the off campus housing where her friend lived for the last two years. I don’t generally think of Mac as having that reputation, but my D says they are actually pretty comparable with Dickinson. So… a toss up between the two on that (which may surprise some people).</p>
<p>Academics - I think Mac gets a slight nod on this, although Dickinson is just fine. My D1 graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Dickinson and got a great job, and had excellent internship opportunities as well. Her close friends from college mostly have jobs, although one is waitering (but she says he has not looked hard), and one is doing an unpaid internship (but in a very competitive industry where pretty much nobody gets a job right out of school no matter where they go). I do think if you son wants to live on the east coast, the alumni network from Dickinson is pretty strong there. So depending on his goals, that is a consideration.</p>
<p>Weather - Maybe surprising to come people, but I call it a draw. It rains a LOT at Dickinson. Minnesota has snow and a long winter, but so does PA these days. And D1 said it rains a lot more in Carlisle than here at home.</p>
<p>Stuff To Do Around Campus - I give Mac the edge here. It is right on Grand Avenue, and an easy bus ride to downtown of either city (although in fact the most hopping area of St. Paul is also on Grand Ave, several blocks to the east of the campus). And Jamba Juice is right across the street. 
Yes, Dickinson isn’t too far from DC and other east coast cities. But D only went maybe once a year to those other cities while at Dickinson. The Twin Cities has some great museums, theaters, restaurants, and outdoor spaces.</p>
<p>Jocks - If your son is very athletic, Dickinson might be a better choice. Just more of an athletic vibe among quite a few of the students. Again… my D was NOT an athlete, and did not hang out much with them, but there is a healthy population of them at Dickinson. </p>
<p>Politics - Both lean left, as most liberal arts colleges do. I would say Mac leans harder, though. Certainly there are conservative students at both schools, and I think they are treated respectfully as a minority as long as they are also respectful of other views. But Mac just has a bit more of a liberal lean. </p>
<p>I think your questions about quality of profs, availability of profs, and support for multiple majors are really all very good and pretty much equal between the two. So it comes down to some of the softer stuff.</p>
<p>Wow, are you ever the perfect person to respond. thanks for the good feedback. Where will D2 go?</p>
<p>Njfamily, she hasn’t decided for sure yet. I think her final contenders are U of Chicago, Swarthmore, and Harvey Mudd. She will be going to accepted students days for all three of those in the next 10 days or so. Then probably flipping a coin. :)</p>
<p>Wonderful choices! We have a sentimental spot for Swarthmore based on a family member’s experience. Couldn’t have been a more supportive environment for a student with multiple interests, and it lived up to the billing of lots of individualized attention and contact with professors, although they certainly work hard.<br>
But they also work hard at the others, maybe without quite as much fun around the hard work (although I know HM the least.) If D2 is happy to be in a suburban setting rather than a city, Swat is gorgeous with good access to Philadelphia. Does she have a particular area of interest that distinguishes one from another?</p>
<p>Njfamily, she wants to study Physics and also hopes to take a lot of art classes. We just got back from U of Chicago’s accepted student days – they put on quite a show, and are clearly “her tribe”. But we will see, as I think Swat & Mudd has equally bright and committed students. On to Mudd tomorrow, and Swat at the end of next week. It is anyone’s ball game at the moment!</p>