<p>I'm trying to decide between Macalester and Carleton. So far, I've heard or read that:
1. Mac is a more lively, social college experience because of its proximity to downtown Minneapolis and St.Paul//Carleton is pretty isolated.
2. Carleton has more academic prestige and national recognition.
3. Mac prides itself on a strong focus on international aspects of programs
4. Carleton students are more introverted/Mac's students are more outgoing and the atmosphere is friendlier.</p>
<p>I haven't received a finaid offer from Mac but Carleton gave me a great package so round 1 definitely seems to be in Carleton's corner. I'm more curious about questions 2 and 4! If anyone could help me out before my deposit is due, it would be grrrrreat! Thanks!</p>
<p>My daughter thought she wanted a big city school. She visited and did overnights at both Macalester and Carleton, and to her surprise, she vastly preferred Carleton. She’s a very happy sophomore there as we speak.</p>
<p>I’m really surprised by numbers 1 and 4. Not at all surprised that you heard Macalester was lively, social, friendly, and outgoing, but that you read that Carleton students weren’t. I think the most common portrayal of Carleton students are students who love learning (of the “nerdy persuasion”) but are relatively laidback, noncompetitive, and community-oriented. </p>
<p>I think one of the reasons I preferred Carleton to Macalester when I was deciding on colleges was actually because Macalester had such direct proximity to exciting city stuff. Carleton’s relatively isolated location seemed to create much more sense of a residential community and there seemed to be more student-to-student activities and interactions, rather than between student-to-city interaction.</p>
<p>But both are unequivocally terrific schools. Just depends on what type of person you are.</p>
<ol>
<li> I suppose you could argue Carleton students are more creative and ingenious in their social experiences because they aren’t in the middle of a major city.</li>
<li> I agree, but Macalester is also well-respected.</li>
<li> Considering the very high percentage of students who study abroad at Carleton and the number of students who go on to join the Peace Corps, etc., I think Carleton does a good job of making students internationally knowledgeable.</li>
<li> Daughter thought Carleton students were much more easy-going and relaxed than Macalester.</li>
</ol>
<p>I think of Mac students as more introverted than Carleton students, actually. I didn’t take away nearly as strong a sense of community there as at Carleton owing to the city campus. Mac students are kind of an odd mix of geeky hipsters and uber-driven international students. Carleton is a bit more schlubby, relaxed, and fun-loving. I also much prefer Carleton’s open green campus plus Arb to Mac’s blocks in St. Paul. You should visit both if possible and make these calls yourself, though.</p>