So I have to choose 2 reach schools out of these four, but I’m not sure which ones to choose.
I want to study political science and government as well as history. I’m from L.A. so I’d like to have a laidback vibe at the campus as well as it be pretty.
All of these schools are reaches, but based on what I want, which would fit me most?
I have a 3.67 gpa and 1310 Sat (again, these are all reach schools)
Macalester is in a state capital which might be good for your interests.
I agree with @CheddarcheeseMN about Macalester being good for your interests. The campus is tiny, however; it’s not ugly but I don’t think it’s as pretty as Carleton.
Macalester is definitely one of the most urban top-quality LACs. It has a big international vibe, and I know it accepts a lot of United World College (UWC) international students. Hamilton has a very beautiful, country club-esque campus. We were impressed. I know it’s good for political science; don’t know about the history department. Colgate is also beautiful, with a stunning view of the surrounding mountains through the glass walls in the library. It’s a little bigger. What I most remember is that it’s on top of a hill. Both Hamilton and Colgate are in small towns and very cold and snowy. Of course, all of these schools are going to be very cold if you are coming from LA.
I might suggest William and Mary, which is great for your interests. The history department is strong (school is adjacent to Colonial Williamsburg after all), and in terms of political science Robert Gates, James Comey, Jen Psaki, Serge Kovaleski (New York Times), and Jon Stewart all attended. Weather is nice; campus is beautiful… It would also be a reach, but you’d be a serious candidate. Maybe also the University of Richmond. Beautiful campus; hot city (RVA); great weather; a little less competitive than most of the rest (just a little); southern preppy vibe (positive or negative?). Good luck!
Hamilton: Government program distinguished from those of many peers through a term-length D.C. program. Offers dazzling beauty on an accessible, appealing scale. Overlooks a valley and the village of Clinton, though the campus itself is not generally hilly. Receives winter snow suitable for the adventurous.
Colgate: Hillside campus also notably beautiful. Academics strong in your areas of interest. The village of Hamilton has been noted by Forbes for its friendliness. Of your choices, however, perhaps the least laid-back.
Macalester: Tends to enroll a lot of international students, enhancing the diversity of the campus. Strong in political science. Likely to meet your laid-back criterion. Would seem to be your least difficult admit.
Carleton: An excellent school. Generally meets your criteria, but perhaps does not distinguish itself in particular for the study of government the way either of the East Coast schools or Mac might. Colder (but less snowy) in winter than the NY schools by ~7 degrees.
Overall: Hamilton and Macalester.
Good luck.
Mac’s setting alone would differentiate it from the others. “Pleasant midwest urban” would describe it. All the others are pretty rural.
Also a 10-15 Min drive to the MPLS airport, which makes travel easy.
I love Carleton, but I would agree that Mac might be the better fit for you of the two MN schools.
You are going to have a hard time getting into Carleton with your stats. Go for Mac.
@littylamp, Colgate has excellent political science and history departments The * Princeton Review* includes Colgate in their list of “Great Schools to Study History”
Colgate is well known for its renown Washington, D.C., Study Group.
http://www.colgate.edu/academics/off-campus-study/study-groups/washington-dc
Carleton and Macalester also have excellent political science departments. Both are listed by the Princeton Review as “Great Schools For Political Science/Government Majors.”
Macalester is your easiest admit. You should consider including it as one of your two choices. Have you visited any of the colleges? Hamilton and Colgate are very rural. Colgate less so. Colgate is located in Hamilton, which is fun little town. It does get confusing with Hamilton College being located in Clinton 
https://www.google.com/search?q=Hamilton+ny&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwikl-jYwNPWAhVCYiYKHTJMANMQ_AUIDCgD&biw=844&bih=344
That Colgate is in Hamilton and Hamilton is in Clinton thing is a little confusing.
Both Hamilton and Colgate tend to appear on “most beautiful” college lists:
https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/the-25-most-beautiful-college-campuses-in-america
https://www.bestdegreeprograms.org/best-beautiful-small-college-campuses-america
Carleton and Hamilton will be hardest to get into with those stats, then Colgate, then Mac - IMHO
Since you are inviting opinions, my two cents is Macalaster. Never having been there but knowing the other schools (two of which are on my son’s list) and underscoring that all four are great schools – it sounds like you are asking for the best “fit,” which I would say is Macalaster.
@littylamp, Hamilton Is beautiful, but you may want to consider the location of your choices as well.
Source. * Princeton Review*
You should definitely consider Hamilton’s location in that it’s the only LAC I’m familiar with that’s beautifully country-side by campus appearance, but which offers hourly shuttle service to a nearby suburban area through campus run transportation:
https://www.hamilton.edu/campuslife/transportation/the-jitney
The small city of Utica is also easily accessible:
https://www.hamilton.edu/campuslife/transportation/utica-jitney-service
Hamilton and Colgate are both on beautiful campuses in rural upstate NY. They are only 20 miles apart. I would say Hamilton is actually a little less isolated because it is relatively closer to a major highway. You would likely fly out of Syracuse to get to and from LA. Colgate is slightly larger at around 2,900 undergrads vs 1,900, although by no means does it make Colgate a large institution. All 4 schools will be cold. Are you ready for that?
The shuttle is all well and good if one is willing to spend > 1 hr travelling round trip.
Yeah, every other Saturday for only 4 hours. Yipeee No loss.
https://www.hamilton.edu/campuslife/transportation/utica-jitney-service
Re reply #15:
I think Utica is open every day.
Macalester for sure.
After that, perhaps Hamilton would fit your criteria best?
Here’s a thought to consider about rural colleges of the caliber of Colgate and most likely Hamilton, too.
Yes, they are in rural central NY state, and are less than a 30 minute drive apart. Their campuses are gorgeous and the villages that serve them are charming. Nope, no clubbing or shopping as high schoolers might know from suburban and city lifestyles.
I know Colgate very well and it’s a vibrant place with lots of smart and engaged students who are always busy. Doing what? It’s their coursework primarily and clubs, sports and forms of socializing on this safe and facilities-rich campus. Students actually make it so and seldom road trip elsewhere on weekends. Which makes everything else possible with a smart Colgate administration, faculty and staff. And there is a lot of alumni involvement on campus with those constituents and, of course, students.
I hope you visit Hamilton and Colgate to evaluate how they deliver what makes them so popular as proper residential
colleges. One particular and recent Colgate I recommend you explore, and as described at colgate.edu, is the Commons system for all freshmen and sophomores. That should help. And bear in mind that Syracuse airport is one hour away and that the Colgate student travel agency organizes bus transport to major northeastern cities alongside
what the commercial bus companies offer from the Colgate Student Union building. So you can get where you may want to travel should private car transport not suit.
Go ‘gate!
I’d regard some of the posts on this thread with respect to Hamilton College’s rural location with skepticism. Newsweek, for instance, includes Hamilton in a suburban category:
http://www.newsweek.com/25-most-desirable-suburban-schools-71867
Those who know Hamilton well know that during the short ten mile drive from the small city of Utica to the campus itself you will pass a more-or-less contiguous linkage of amenities and services. This may not lead to a typical East Coast bedroom community in Clinton – but you might not want typical, either.
If you do care to consider Hamilton’s rural aspects as the positive feature they can be for certain students, then Hamilton might be the best school in the country by this standard:
https://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/find-colleges/articles/college-comparisons/best-rural-colleges/