<p>I know it's too late now to do anything, but sometimes i wish i had given my college options more thought. i procrastinated making a decision until the last minute. i visited carleton, loved it, and then decided there that i wanted to spend the next four years of my life there. but now i feel like maybe i should've researched my other schools more. wesleyan keeps nagging on the back of my mind, for an example. i still feel like i don't know enough about carleton. it sort of saddens me that no one outside of minnesota really knows about it. but hopefully the class of 2009 are a great bunch and i'll have no regrets.</p>
<p>There are many people outside of Minnesota who know about Carleton! The problem is that most people are completely unfamiliar with liberal arts colleges. For instance, if you were to mention Wesleyan to random people around the country, you would either get blank stares or people thinking you were talking about Texas Wesleyan, Nebraska Wesleyan, or (insert name of state) Wesleyan. </p>
<p>You're suffering from a bit of buyer's remorse mixed with what-if-itis. It's pretty common after decisions have been made. Relax. Carleton is outstanding, you'll get a great education, and the students are happy.</p>
<p>I was just randomly searching through CC today and found this post. No, I'm not going to Carleton (I'll be at Bowdoin) but I can assure you that you are going to an incredibly well-respected and prestigious college. I'm from Maryland (and have the same problem when trying to explain why I chose Bowdoin to people) and I can attest to the fact that most people don't really know very much about liberal arts colleges in general. Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore, Carleton, Haverford, Pomona--people "in the know" know that these are great, but they're so small (and don't have big sports teams) that most people haven't ever heard of them. Yeah, it's not a whole lot of fun having to explain that you ARE going to a really good school (been doing it since may, right?) but people who really know about colleges know that you are going to a tough school with an excellent reputation.</p>
<p>Reminds me of Al Franken's Harvard commencement speech a few years ago:</p>
<p>"[M]ost of you will be going out into the real world of law school, med school, or investment banking, and you will meet graduates from other colleges who had slightly better educations. Schools like Amherst, Haverford, Wesleyan, Ohio Wesleyan, and pretty much all the other Wesleyans." </p>
<p>I don't know much about Wesleyan, but the people on this board are correct in saying that you'll get a great education. Although I only spent my freshman and sophomore years at Carleton, I really appreciated the small classes and the personal interaction with professors. You get the sense that the professors really care about each and every student. Moreover, people from Carleton regularly get into very prestigious graduate programs. I also liked that academics were not the sole focus of the school. Of course there are kids that study all the time, but the vast majority have a very balanced perception of academics and fun that I find refreshing.</p>
<p>Not to worry fluffy...once you start attending you can educate the people in your area on Carleton! My son is coming from Texas. As far as Texas is concerned there are these schools: UT, TT and A & M...and "all the other Wesleyans" LOL. If I had a nickle for the blank look when my son says he's going to Carleton, I wouldn't need financial aid.</p>
<p>As a rising sophomore at Carleton, I had some doubts in the past too. I would think that maybe I should have researched other schools more, that I shouldve gone to the east coast, etc. But in the end, Carleton always wins me over. I admit that I get very defensive about Carleton, can be biased easily, and get offended if someone makes an unpleasant remarkbut thats because I love it so much. Like quite a few other schools, Carleton has to be one of the most underrated schools in the nation, and I think the location has a lot to do with it. Granted, Minnesota is a wonderful state, but it is not the most coveted state to go to college among students across the country. Nonetheless, folks who look beyond that and instead take in the beautiful campus, the wonderful faculty and staff, and the excellent education Carleton offers appreciate it for what it truly is. </p>
<p>Not to make this too long, but its all right to feel as though you do not enough. Im sure that you need everything you need to know in terms of applying and such, but I didnt grasp what Carleton is all about until I regularly took classes, became acquainted with the professors, and met fabulous people. This summer I am working in the admissions office giving tours and such, and although I do my best, I wish I could just let people see what I see for a moment. Carleton is the best thing that has happened to me so far, and I am confident that the class of 2009 will not let you down. Have you been on Caucus? If not, make sure you do and get to know some students before coming.</p>
<p>My S is at Pomona and NOONE has ever heard of that either. Interestingly enough the D of Pomona's president chose Carelton over Harvard even though her dad graduated from Harvard. That says a lot obout your college I think!</p>