Grinnell vs Macalester.....Plz Help!! or I'll flip a coin.

<p>Will I be more academically challenged at Grinnell? --> important
Will I be more prepared for professional career at Mac?
How different are both school's student bodies?
Is it true that Grinnell will let me try new things more than Mac?
So every LAC is a bubble but is Grinnell more like a bubble than Mac?
I know this is weird but I don't want to be too happy in college, come out of the bubble, and be like "so this is the real world with no sense of community and happiness that we have in college." But maybe being in the bubble first is better. So I don't know. Any comment from alumni would be great. </p>

<p>BTW, I'm an international student so I can't vist. I'm intersted in Math, Physics, Pre-med, Econ, maybe International relations, Film, maybe little bit law, and want support to improve my English. Welcome any comment about those dep.</p>

<p>I live in Saint Paul/know Macs and am considering/have visited Grinnell.</p>

<p>Both schools have several things in common! especially with student body and academics.
I would say that Grinnell has a larger bubble because it's in a hodunk town with nothing to do (the town, not the school).
The campuses are VERY different! Saint Paul is an urban city and is right next to an even larger urban city (Minneapolis). I happen to like Grinnell better because it's in a small town, but probably many students choose Mac over Grinnell because of the city.
Both schools are about the same on diversity/internationals, Mac having a little more because of having more students.
It is MY opinion that Mac is better (but not considerably) at the things you want to study. Especially Econ and IR (Grinnell doesn't have have this). I wouldn't know about Math, physics, and film.</p>

<p>I'd be happy to attempt to answer any more specific questions.</p>

<p>Grinnell...</p>

<p>When I visited Mac...kids looked a little down....not as many greetings. Maybe it was an off-day, but I was supposed to take a second tour, but the person working the desk was pretty rude (it turned out she was a work-study hire). </p>

<p>I loved Macalester's location and liked the classes I sat in on.</p>

<p>As for Grinnell...I loved the inside and outside class interaction, its more intimate feel, more intensely engauged kids, and quirky nature, I liked the location for its more traditional feel.</p>

<p>I'd vote for Grinnell. But, that is just an opinion.
IB</p>

<p>What does IB mean?</p>

<p>Anyway, thanks for both of you!!
Where're you guys going?</p>

<p>Both are great, but I prefer Grinnell.</p>

<p>Noooo WHY WHY
Every people outside CC says go to Mac.
Every people inside CC says go to Grinnell.
I, not able to visit, prefer Grinnell.......online.
But Mac makes more sense.
So does anyone have a coin?</p>

<p>Just kidding. Thank you so much, though, for your replies.
And does anyone else know about their Math, Physics, and Film?
And is Grinnell's academic more challeging or it depends on dep.?</p>

<p>If it's really a question of flipping a coin, I'd pick the school in a more interesting location (Mac) every time. Those cornfields are going to get mighty old in four years.</p>

<p>IB = IsleBoy.</p>

<p>Again...different people have different definitions for what would be more interesting. I usually prefer the more interesting people, and the smaller classes, the better facilities, etc...</p>

<p>I'd choose Grinnell.</p>

<p>ummm actually this question might work better:
If I'm gonna major in math or physics, what school should I go?</p>