Wesleyan vs. Carleton vs. Macalester

College Search & Selection
1

Up until this weekend (when I toured Carleton and Macalester), I had been almost sure I wanted to apply ED to Wesleyan. However, after seeing how incredibly strong the communities at Carleton and Macalester are, I started to second guess. Everyone seemed incredibly friendly and close knit, both among students and in student-professor interactions.

Still, Wesleyan felt very right when I toured, and I love the artsy and unique vibes it has. What are people’s opinions between these schools? Would I find a deep sense of community at Wesleyan? Is there a “right” choice?

2

There are no bad choices, here. Wesleyan is the outlier as the only eastern LAC among the three. It really depends on how important its strengths are to you. With many alumni in the arts and entertainment, it is that rare example of a small college “powerhouse” within a particular American industry. Macalester is the only one located within a true metropolitan center. And, Carleton is widely respected for its strength in Math and future STEM PhDs. It’s possibl you just have a preference for mid-western hospitality!