Can you all help us/ my son with this decision? Seeking insights from people familiar with either or both of these schools. Son got into Carleton last week from the waitlist. He had previously decided on Macalester, although he had not formally committed yet. We live on the west coast and due to Covid, we were unable to visit either school. On paper they seem more similar than different. Obviously a visit would help but not possible. Here are some more details:
–We were offered a similar aid package at each school so no big difference there. We have friends with kids at Mac and I think have a pretty good sense of the students (all basically enthusiastic and happy) but we have no Carleton connections to draw on, though our professor friend speaks very highly of it. The location is a factor (there is some appeal to being in the city at Mac, but we have heard Northfield is a great little town too) so not a super strong decision maker there. Originally, our son had a search image of what he wanted from visiting several east coast SLACs that he liked, which would tip us to Carleton, but before he got off the waitlist there, Mac did a great job showing a really engaged bunch of professors and kids, and it grew on us all. I do wonder if the campus is physically very small and also how supportive the community is, although none of the people we know found this to be problematic.
–Son is studious and works hard, loved to explore ideas, I’d say is intellectual but not super-intellectual or to the exclusion of all else . He is somewhat introverted. He really likes political policy work which is sort of his main interest/activity.
–Here are my impressions: We are getting the feeling that the temperament of the schools is a little different. Perhaps Carleton is a bit more academically rigorous, more stressful, faster paced b/c of rigor and trimester system? Perhaps, connected to this, Carleton has an emphasis on this shared experience of learning together and creating intentionally a strong sense of collaborative community together? Maybe Mac is a little less internally-community-focused and a little more outward-looking/activist/driven by the value of engagement in the world a bit more? I don’t know if that’s right and also if it really makes that much of a difference in the student experience - I suspect a motivated kid at either school could find great classes, friends, and experiences like political internships, for example.
–Also if anyone has any specific details on Political Science at these schools that would be great. Both sound like strong programs. I can’t quite divine if there are significant differences. Thank you!