<p>Hi, I am pretty sure that I will be applying this fall, but I'm afraid that Carl. is in the middle of nowhere!! Can someone verify this for me? Does the campus feel too isolated? Is the small student population too suffocating? Or is it enjoyable?</p>
<p>bored, remember in the little town of Northfield you have St. Olaf also. That's a lot of students in a little place. I'm betting that they can find some fun.;)</p>
<p>Ok, I'm a freshman at Carleton and after returning just a few hours ago from a canoeing trip in northeastern Iowa, I can safely say that Carleton is NOT in the middle of nowhere. Actually, it's pleasantly located just outside the urban/suburban sprawl of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. The Cities are only 35 miles away - I'd hardly call that the middle of nowhere. Think of all the colleges in upstate New York or Vermont or New Hampshire that people go wild over (Cornell, Colgate, Middleburry, Dartmouth, etc.). They don't even have major cities near them! So while Carleton is in a sort of rural area but in a small-to-medium-sized town, it is at least near a fairly major metropolitan area.</p>
<p>I have a freshman at Carleton. When he was putting his list together he was leaning towards something urban or suburban, but after visiting Carleton that is where he chose to be. They have regularly scheduled buses into Minneapolis if you want to do things in a city, but he's been very busy just with the things that are available at the school. </p>
<p>I always ask students that want to be in a big city because they want things to do...what is it in the big city that you will be doing that your campus will lack? And will you have the funds or time to do this? How often will you be in the city doing said activities? Would being able to get to a city on occasion be enough?</p>
<p>The more rural colleges have a lot of arts/music/activities on campus that are free or of nominal charge. A free movie on campus is easier on the college budget than a ten dollar flick in the city. At Carleton, for example, you can watch their comedy troupe, go to a variety of concerts (I believe the Decemberists were just there), go canoeing like in the above post, take in a lecture----there is a lot going on. Go to the website and look at the events schedule.</p>
<p>As for the smaller student population, my son sees it as a plus. He has really been able to get involved in his activities as a freshman--actually had a piece published for example--instead of sitting on the sidelines. It's a personal decision. He came from a very large high school that did not have enough space for everyone that wanted to compete/join to do so. He prefers a smaller campus where you can participate.</p>
<p>That being said, what do you consider "large" or "small"? Do you consider large 20,000+ or 10,000+? or 55,000+ like here at UT! :) Because Northfield does have two small colleges (St. Olaf's/Carleton) there are quite a few students there.</p>
<p>These are just some of the questions you should apply to all the schools on your list as you try to find the several where you would be most happiest.</p>
<p>Lunified: fireflyscout was inquiring about the sailing club because the links were down. Could you go to that thread (it's here in the Carleton forum) and explain more about canoeing?</p>
<p>Texastaximom: I don't know what forum you are talking about, but whatever. Sailing and canoeing are two different things. I'm not sure what the deal is with sailing here, but in terms of boating stuff, there's crew (I know a few people doing that, but it's very female-dominated for some reason) and then there's CANOE. You can go to the CANOE site here: <a href="http://orgs.carleton.edu/canoe/%5B/url%5D">http://orgs.carleton.edu/canoe/</a></p>
<p>The pictures I took on the canoe trip I just got back from are in the Photo Gallery section (link is on the left side of the page) under "Canoeing the Upper Iowa river, Fall 2005". Yeah, I know. I'm an awesome photographer. Just kidding.</p>
<p>Lunified: it's here...<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=106492%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=106492</a></p>
<p>I know that sailing and canoeing are very different, but since the one link is dead I thought maybe someone doing a watersport might be able to provide some information. I think the prospective student is looking at ways they might become involved at Carleton.</p>
<p>Oh...wow! Those really are good pictures! It look like you guys had a great time...although isn't standing up in a canoe kind of risky? :p</p>
<p>i want to apply to carleton as a transfer, but of course have to take into account that it's nearly 15 hours from my home. so, does anyone know if there is there easy access to an airport?</p>
<p>My son has had no trouble communting from the Minneapolis airport. You can get a cheap shuttle from campus. We live in TX....a good 1,500 miles.</p>
<p>Northwest Airlines hubs at the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport. It is a gigantic airport (lots of places to eat/shop/wait) where NWA has direct flights to tons of US cities. Door to door from airport to Carleton is a quick 40 minutes. The Carleton bus to the airport is $15/one-way. My soph D has had no problems traveling to and fro between WA State and MN.</p>
<p>Hi Texastaximom: Hope you all are enjoying this nice long 6 week break!</p>
<p>Hey Maizey!</p>
<p>I think son brought the MN cold with him! He's already missing Carleton.</p>