Oberlin and Macalester

<p>My NYC daughter is trying to choose between Oberlin and Macalester. She doesn't know what she wants to study, but may be leaning toward psychology, math, or early childhood education (I know neither college has an early childhood ed dept). Any thoughts on distinguishing these two great schools?</p>

<p>Well, if she wants to remain in an urban environment, Mac is the place. Oberlin has the conservatory and all of the concerts that come with it. Otherwise they are very similar.</p>

<p>I visited Oberlin before I found out I got into Mac ED. I liked Oberlin but not nearly as much as MAC. Oberlin is very isolated- little to no town. The college is interesting and eclectic but the town is conservative, minimal, and boring. Mac offers the same academic environment plus the added culture of a city. But I am going so I may be bias.</p>

<p>The availability of St. Paul and Minneapolis has really invigorated my daughter's experience at Mac. She's taken an evening class with a Star Tribune editor, goes to 18 + up nights at MN clubs, gets away for a day to the Walker, and has gotten standby seats for Prairie Home Companion. We have visited Oberlin, and it's a marvelous school, but like Carleton, it's out there in the cornfields. Mac's size provides a cozy home in a great metropolitan area.</p>

<p>My son had a choice between the two and loved both but chose Oberlin because it has a larger student body. He's totally happy there and has no regrets. Mac definitely has a more urban feel and is very much incorporated into St. Paul, but otherwise, both schools seem similar in a lot of ways and attract the same "type" of kids. I do think Oberlin has more NYC-area kids than Mac, though, if that's a consideration -- either pro or con. Good luck. She's got good choices and really can't go wrong.</p>

<p>One other consideration your daughter may want to take into account: Oberlin has coops, which are really neat for kids who chose that options.</p>

<p>For my son, it's the International flavor of Mac , in addition to urban location, that sets it apart. Oberlin is amazing too though.</p>

<p>re: "international flavor", my daughter was quite surprised to find out that this did not necessarily translate to abundance of foreign language offerings. She found that to pursue her not-terribly exotic language of choice beyond the intro levels she would have had to take courses at U Minnesota. So suggest this is something to check, if important.</p>

<p>More generally, as she has progressed and her interests have become more defined and specific she has found that breadth of course offerings in her major are actually important. This might be something to consider, as school sizes become smaller. You might want to look at actual # of upper-level courses offered each semester in specific areas of interest.</p>

<p>You want to increase the odds that if down the road you become interested in specific sub-area x, there might be faculty there who share an interest in that specific sub-field and offer courses in it.</p>

<p>BTW, to do this check you can't just look at the catalog, which may list every course they've ever offered, you have to look at the courses actually being given in a particular semester, via the registrar's office.</p>

<p>Excellent point by monydad. It seems to us (with two kids in college and a third going this fall) that an LACs effort to provide a broad and enticing array of majors can lead to a loss of depth. While a university might have more offerings, though, it can be more difficult to get into the course you want. Cross registration can help - so can study abroad - but it is indeed a good idea to check whether some majors are only top-lined. On the other hand, independent study can be arranged fairly easily, especially once one is "known" to a department. And it's a lot easier to be known at a smaller school.</p>

<p>I echo dgobblelew. My San Francisco daughter was totally intrigued by the many of the rural LAC's on paper, but once she actually visited schools like Grinnell and Carleton, she realized that she'd be much happier in a city setting. She's loved her first year at Mac in part because she's been able to take advantage of the things the twin cities have to offer.</p>

<p>It's hard to find a more "international flavor" than you'll find in places like NYC or SF, but she's happy to be in classes with people from all over the world - it reminds her a bit of home. She is, however, very much looking forward to her study abroad experience.</p>

<p>I agree with KensingtonMom. For anyone considering the isolated LAC's -- Grinnell, Carleton, Oberlin . . . , you MUST go and visit. The small town atmosphere will immediately hit you -- like a strong wind. You will either love it or hate it. Middle impressions are few and rare. So, to compare Oberlin (a school I love and was one of the hippest in the 1960's and 1970's) you must go there and let that "strong wind" effect touch your daughter. I am sure that she will make her decision within minutes of being there.</p>

<p>BTW: I did that trip decades ago and loved Oberline, Grinnell and Carleton.</p>