<p>D2 is considering applying to Carleton next year. Likes the town, loves the campus and it appears to be a very good fit academically. She is very athletic but isn't artsy or quirky but rather a little quiet and more like the all American girl next door. Would she fit in here??? What is "the real feel" around campus???</p>
<p>Carlmom...thanks...your pm box is full!</p>
<p>carlmom, i would also like any information that you have. thanks!</p>
<p>I would also appreciate any info from someone who knows the school on a personal level. Thanks a bunch!</p>
<p>I am interested in any info as well!</p>
<p>I can post as the mom of a Carl freshman, with only as much insight as that gives me. ;)</p>
<p>One thing I've noticed while visiting and from my son's experience is that there isn't a specific Carleton "type." I saw all sorts of kids there, from athletes to gamers to girls who don't leave the dorm without make-up to girls who wouldn't know what to do with a mascara wand if they owned one. There are theatre enthusiasts and computer geeks and everything in between.</p>
<p>I think one reason for this range in interests and lifestyles is that Carls have a genuine respect for each others' choices, whether they have to do with academics or drinking.</p>
<p>Another common thread I see is a sense of humor. Carls are seriously curious people, but they don't take themselves too seriously. This is the only school where I saw a "sense of humor" mentioned in their recruiting materials, so you know it's a campus-wide condition.</p>
<p>I've been impressed with how the Carleton faculty and administration balance being caring and (very) available to students with not coddling them. The professors are involved and caring but can also be tough and academically demanding.</p>
<p>Carls are good and curious students but they also seem to be able to balance the academic demands with fun. My son participated in some sort of “Assassins” game first term. He had great stories about being ambushed in the cafeteria and just what “weapons” ( a nerf gun, a ruler knife) were allowed. </p>
<p>These are some of the things I’ve noticed and heard from my son. Hope this helps!</p>
<p>limner--You are so articulate! I couldn't have said it better myself. (You should take up writing as a profession!)</p>
<p>Hindoo: Yeah, my husband keeps saying the same thing. ;)</p>
<p>I agree with Limner! Also, Carleton has a high rate of involvement in intramurals, with ultimate being the most seriously pursued sport.</p>
<p>I would concur with most of that statement. I would say for the most part the concern at Carleton shouldn't be "will people accept me?" It should be, "would I be happy at a place where many people will not be like me?" Are there kids at Carleton that are not particularly "quirky," and are just good old "All American kids"? Sure! Are they accepted and liked? Yep! But if you are one of those kids and you'd maybe rather be with mostly people who are similar in that way, Carleton might not be the best choice.</p>
<p>Can you be happy at Carleton and be "normal"? Yes. As long as you can picture yourself happy with a group of friends that might include many people who aren't. I had a friend at Carleton who was a very typical guy. He shopped at the GAP, he played sports in high school, he used gel in his hair, and he loved Carleton. His best friend there was a third culture kid, typically wore mocassins, grew weird facial hair, and moved to Africa after graduation.</p>
<p>NorthMinnesota</p>
<p>Fireflyscout brings up sports in response to your question about your “athletic” daughter. Looking at Carleton athletics, you may find the best window onto the "real feel" around campus:</p>
<p>*Close to two-thirds of Carls participated in at least one varsity sport in high school.
*Up to 30% of the total student body goes on to participate in one of the 19 Varsity sports while an additional large group joins up with one of the 25 Club teams available.<br>
*Virtually everyone participates in Intramurals.</p>
<p>While many of the Varsity and Club players could conceivably be labeled “jocks,” if so, they certainly carry none of the negative baggage that often accompanies the label. With little aggressive recruiting going on, these tend to be academically accomplished kids, drawn to Carleton because they relish the opportunity to continue participating in sports on an intercollegiate level without sacrificing quality education. These are not future Vikings wide receivers (with the very rare exception, sorry guys) and they know it. So, yea, it’s all about “the love of the game.” </p>
<p>In fact, on this campus what dominates is not even a Varsity sport – it’s two Club teams. Although not NCAA sanctioned, Ultimate Frisbee is, as you probably know, still hugely popular around the country. Carleton’s men’s and women’s squads (Cut and Syzygy) have a national championship to their credit and are consistently top 10 ranked despite David/Goliath match-ups against schools like Berkeley, Stanford and Wisconsin.
CUT:</a> Carleton Ultimate Team
[url=<a href="http://syzygyultimate.org/%5DSYZYGY%5B/url">http://syzygyultimate.org/]SYZYGY[/url</a>]</p>
<p>My argument here is that mainstream kids dominate the student body. But this is a broadly defined mainstream. Kids here are not cut from one cloth. There are many that are highly individualistic and not afraid to assert that individuality. One would have a lot of trouble finding a school of this academic caliber where self-expression is so uniformly tolerated and encouraged. This is rightly (and proudly) one of Carleton’s trademarks. An “American girl next door” would have a great time here, even one always perfectly positioned on the 50 yard line. So long as she can respect the Carl choosing to watch the game from the top of the flagpole.</p>
<p>Best of luck to your daughter.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for all the replies! Great things to consider 1190!!! She was more concerned that others would feel that she was the "odd man out" since she isn't "quirky or artsy". :) My question about the real feel was more about acceptance and it appears that is indeed the case!!! That makes me happy! I loved hearing the humor assessment, too! Although quiet, she has a great sense of humor!;)</p>