<p>Ok, now I know there have already been a lot of these BUT most of them seem to focus on specific concerns/academics. </p>
<p>I have a day left to decide between Mac and Grinnell, and I was all set to choose Grinnell, but now I'm not sure at all.</p>
<p>My worry is that (and this is going to sound stupid) Grinnell students are a little TOO nerdy/unconcerned with clothes/wholesome for me. I really really liked Wesleyan and Oberlin (AHEM didn't get in though) more than Carleton for this reason . I'm not totally into the super edgy alterna-hipster activist vibe either, but I don't want to feel like I'm surrounded by only the kinds of kids grandmas and teachers would love. You know what I mean? Grinnell people sound really nice and smart, but I sort of want something edgier, a little more hip.</p>
<p>So my question is, in terms of that, which campus is more suited to my needs? And because I think this is a good indicator of that, which campus has a "better" drug scene? </p>
<p>THANK YOU for your help, I'm freaking out over here.</p>
<p>I visited both Grinnell and Macalester, although Iām just a prospie so my impressions are based on my short personal experiences. (I loved Wesleyan too! Didnāt get in either though.) I think Macalester would be the āhipperā school, especially as itās urban as opposed to rural. Grinnell is really in the middle of nowhere, while the Twin cities seem quite easy to get around. Personally, I fell in love with Grinnellās laid-back vibe, but I didnāt visit Macalester under the same conditions so itās a bit hard to tell. (I went to Grinnellās overnight admitted studentsā program, and visited Macalester on my own on a weekend.)</p>
<p>Have you gotten the chance to visit either? It seems like the best way to tell.</p>
<p>Good luck with the decision!</p>
<p>If you read the Grinnell forum, you know Iām an unabashed fan. But I also think that if you want ready access to an urban environment, you will be happier at Macalester. Itās not so much which is āhipperā: Both schools have their edgier sub-groups, and the student vibe at Grinnell is well known as āindividualisticā and āquirkyā rather than ākids grandmas and teachers would love.ā Rather, Grinnell is more inwardly focused because itās all about the students and the campus. There isnāt anything else less than 45 minutes away. Macalester has the potential to be more externally focused for those students who think a LAC might be too small or too limited. So go with your gut-both great schools.</p>
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<p>Thanks Mās Mom and teamodnar-
I went with Grinnell! Just made the deposit. After a closer look, Mac sounds like it can feel a bit cramped, and even though the city is a plus, I think I could kind of dig the whole middle of nowhere thing.</p>
<p>Yesterday I talked to someone I know whoās going (I was so shocked/excited to find out, I had no idea!) and she said she visited and the students were all really cool and chill (and yeah, sorta dorky, but not in a teacherās pet way) and NOW Iām super pumped for Grinnell. Yay!</p>
<p>Congrats on making your decision! Grinnell is such a great school and I probably would have chosen to go there if the financial aid had worked out better.</p>