I am interested in learning more about how Carleton College has a stressful environment.
Trimester system? Classes move pretty fast.
^^^ That’s the only thing that I could come up with.
The trimesters are only 10 weeks in length, but Carleton students typically take only three full classes each term. The academics are demanding, but stresses are likely due to the expectations the students place on themselves.
Dogs serve as a wonderful – if brief – stress reliever. Bring your dog to share with students when visiting the campus. Our family dog recently provided a welcomed dose of canine therapy to our freshman daughter, as well as to other students who miss the pups they left back at home.
My daughter and at least some of her friends found comps (senior comprehensive projects) to be stressful. She double majored but I think she would have been stressed by only one comps, also.
My son did not find it stressful. He loved it, playing ultimate every quarter.
My D and my S both graduated from Carleton, and I don’t think either one would describe the experience as stressful, though of course there were some stressful moments along the way.
We visited and had the impression as well that there was some stress on campus. Carleton attracts very studious and highly motivated students who work hard in a quarter system that moves fast. I don’t think the stress at Carleton is unhealthy, but it seemed more intellectually intense than some peer schools we visited on the East Coast. This characteristic actually makes the school more attractive to very studious kids, but mine didn’t care for it.
My daughter is playing varsity sports in Carleton and finds the school work medium to medium high demanding but it is manageable if the student manages the time well. She came from an IB school and the workload isn’t too different. But you only take three classes in Carleton compare to 5 or 6 in high school. So, it is not that bad. It may help you to gauge it if you are familiar with IB. She also told me that since the professors are so good there, it makes school easier.
Anyway, she loves it there and is enjoying every minute of it.
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Glad to hear she’s happy, @kchendds !
@Youdon’tsay Thank you! Yes, I have never seen her that happy before. Carleton is the perfect school for her.
I have to ask, @kchendds … Does she think she’ll make straight As? And does she still care? I remember that earlier conversation.
@Youdon’tsay lol she always wants to challenge herself even when other people say it’s not possible. She doesn’t care if she gets straight A’s as long as she knows she has tried her best. And she is on her way to straight A’s if she can bring a B+ to an A in French.
I think there are more stressful colleges than Carleton (UChicago, Swarthmore, Harvey Mudd are a few that come to mind). Carleton is rigorous, but a bit more laid back than those places.
The OP made nearly identical posts about other schools, which seem to make a statement/assumption vs. asking a questions. I think @intparent summed it up well.
^^^ Thanks. That makes sense. I don’t think of it as a stressful place.
Seriously…posters saying Carleton isn’t stressful?!
Man…“back in my day” Carleton students favorite past time was to complain about how stressful life was.
The problem was that there was an expectation that students would go to grad school. There was no professional programs, so grad school was it. I know Carleton has improved the opportunities for students who want to find jobs instead of grad school immediately after graduation though.
It isn’t unstressful – but it is not the most stressful, either.
Not sure how anyone can judge what school rankings are related to stress! College is stressful for most of those who are trying hard to do well.