Hi everyone so like the title says, I’m trying to decide between Michigan & Carleton. Both of the schools are gonna end up being the same price for me so please don’t factor tuition into the equation. I think I’m leaning towards Michigan because I’d like a bigger school & Ann Arbor is great but everyone I’ve talked to from Carleton has been so nice. I think my biggest reservation about Carleton is it’s tiny enrollment (2000 students) & it’s lack of a huge party scene because I definitely am into that type of thing. Are these big enough reasons to pick Michigan? Please let me know your thoughts/any insights! Thanks!
Tough decision. Carleton is an exceptional college… certainly equal to Michigan, albeit in a completely different way. What is your intended major at both schools?
Going to a school for the party scene is not a great reason to pick a school. Maybe I am too old and don’t know what you are saying?
My daughter went to a school around 2,000 and now is transferring to a school of about 1,300 as a junior. She is making her own major and working one on one with 3 professors and loves this type of learning. They are also leaders in their fields. She also prefers small classes of like 10-15 students.
Evidently there are pro and cons of both but she really doesn’t like large universities.
Remember that St. Olaf is in the same little town of Northfield, so that’s close to 3,000 more students in close proximity.
Both great schools, but completely different. Should be an easy choice. Sounds like you want the big school experience at Michigan. FWIW, S1 had a choice between Carleton and a larger school similar to Michigan, and he “went big”, also. Partying was not the reason, but a sense of adventure and getting out of his comfort zone was.
Carleton is a terrific school, though.
Both are great schools (although Michigan has more objective name recognition by far). What do you want to study and what are your career aspirations? That could definitely change things.