What makes Macalester unique?

<p>I left my interview and school visit several months ago questioning whether or not I would apply. I decided on yes but I am still wondering how Mac is unique from other LACs. Please don't just say something off of the website but what makes the school unique for you? Are the people that attend unique? Crazy events? Interesting professors? The more specific the better! Convince me that Macalester is awesome.</p>

<p>Macalester shares a lot in common with other academically rigorous LACs, so understand that differences between them probably boil down to cultural dynamics. Not sure that convincing you that Mac is awesome is going to appeal to many students - not because they don’t love their school, but because that’s not their style. The students tend to be passionate about something. What has most impressed me is that Mac students really take it to heart that they can and should make a positive impact on the world. But they do have fun. Mac cheers at soccer games are epic - such as fans spontaneously reenacting scenes from Braveheart (the Scots!).</p>

<p>This is from a post I responded to awhile ago:</p>

<p>Just got home from visiting our daughter - a sophomore at Mac. I can’t knowledgeably talk about either Grinnell or Kenyon.</p>

<p>But here are some highlights about Mac. Mac, as an institutions really follows its mission. It has been focused on international engagement for generations - and it shows. Just last week, the school held its annual international roundtable. This weekend, students were still talking about the dynamic speakers who came to campus. The school’s international focus is something that is constantly renewed and updated. Students have an opportunity to really delve into aspects of international affairs from all angles - economic assistance, world health, food scarcity, political - you name it.</p>

<p>Not only are professors available and engaged in teaching undergrads in small classes, but, as a small school in a large metropolitan area, internships and research opportunities are near at hand - in non-profits, with professors and with corporations. Even professors at the University of Minn. have been known to work with Mac students.</p>

<p>Although Mac is in St. Paul, it does have a campus. The neighborhood is safe and fun. There are lots of restaurants and shops, and the Mississippi river and it’s surrounding park are about a mile walk or bike ride away. Public transit lets students move around the cities easily; a car is not necessary. The airport is about 15 minutes away by cab, and (for the more adventurous) is accessible through public transportation. While there are lots of attractions in the cities, Mac is a residential college with lots of activities onsite. It really offers the best of both worlds - a small inviting and engaged campus in a thriving, and pretty safe urban environment. It is very unusual for small LACs. Very few are in cities. The campus, immediate neighborhood and the Twin Cities are a big draw for a lot of students.</p>

<p>This post doesn’t really help me out. First of all, it’s from a parent. Second of all, I basically know all this info.</p>

<p>“Macalester shares a lot in common with other academically rigorous LACs, so understand that differences between them probably boil down to cultural dynamics.” Yeah that’s what I’m asking for!</p>

<p>Thirdplanet, when people go to the trouble to post in response to your question, you can at least be respectful toward the time they took to try to help you out. I am a parent who lived in the Mac neighborhood for years, and I am on campus fairly frequently at events. I also have a kid who has applied there this year. There is no reason a parent can’t give you at least some advice that could be helpful… so take it easy on thatsall.</p>

<p>I can tell you that I have attended a few interesting events on the Mac campus. Al Franken spoke there a while ago, and I attended that. I went to a presentation by the brother of the Unabomber a few years ago (his brother turned him in… it was a very interesting talk about his experience and also about the death penalty). There is a Scottish Fair on the Mac campus every year that I have been to a couple of times. </p>

<p>But fundamentailly Thatsall got it right. What is most unique about Mac is the international component and the urban, yet safe setting. There is a reason that the website talks about this stuff, that is what makes them different.</p>

<p>I have known high school students who have attended Mac, and I also know some adult grads in the Twin Cities. Most of the students I know who went there have been very happy. One transferred (but she was more of a “big college” type kid, and her boyfriend went away to a college – she transferred to be with him). All of the Mac kids and grads I know are quite smart and interesting people.</p>

<p>But fundamentally you have to decide if that is enough info to apply. And if you get in and are not sure, go back for accepted students day. Stay overnight, spend more time on campus. That is the only way you will know for sure.</p>

<p>In the event my daughter is accepted to Macalester I hope you did not apply, decide not to attend, or earn a denial. You need the most arrogant, self-important school you can find, where you will “fit in.”</p>

<p>“Convince me that Macalester is awesome.” Are you kidding me?</p>

<p>I didn’t mind the OP’s first post and question. It was the rude treatment of the person who tried to answer the question that bothered me. The OP didn’t come back, so I guess Mac isn’t awesome enough for them…</p>

<p>I wonder if the anonymity of online forums breeds and feeds bad Manners. If the person desiring unique information about Macalester’s awesomeness is unsatisfied with the response of a well intentioned informant, he should simply say ‘thanks’ and look elsewhere for evidence of awesomeness instead of taking a dismissive tone. Nothing is served by rudeness. Besides, ‘awesome’ is such a cliche these days that its use speaks volumes about the shallowness of its user. Macalester will suffer no loss from your opinion of it.</p>

<p>I responded to the original post more for others who may be looking for information about Macalester than for the OP. Really, if the OP still couldn’t decide what was “awesome” or unique about Mac after visiting, nothing anyone says is going to make a difference. As I said, I didn’t think any student would want to respond, because the tone of her question was somewhat disrespectful and demeaning - prove that your school is awesome. Really? If she couldn’t figure out what is special about Mac after visiting, then what did she do when she was there. When I visit, I’m always impressed. Did she walk down Grand Ave., or go to the new art building, or explore the Twin Cities, or bike to the Mississippi, or engage in a discussion, or visit the veggie coop, or sit in on a class or anything? As many of you parents out there know, we parents have learned something from visiting countless schools, attending numerous college events and listening to the stories of our children (and their friends) who attend these schools. We can answer basic questions about the schools we’ve come to know. However, many high school students think we don’t know anything. So be it. And may the OP change her attitude or wind up somewhere else.</p>

<p>And thanks for the support.</p>

<p>“Convince me that Macalester is awesome.” I guess sarcasm doesn’t translate well over the internet.</p>

<p>“If she couldn’t figure out what is special about Mac after visiting, then what did she do when she was there.”
I haven’t visited Mac. When I said school visit, I mean a rep visited my HS.</p>

<p>I was most offended by post #3, not the original post. Very very rude.</p>

<p>I am wondering…how did the interview go for you? I am not sure if you mean to come across this way but you come across very poorly. Going forward, as you grow up, this is something you should work on improving!</p>

<p>There has been alot of very good information about MAC posted here. My son applied and was accepted but decided not to attend. He visited as a guest of a athletic coach. He loved the time he spent on his overnight visit - the area was cool, the guys he spent time with were interesting and friendly. What we all thought was unique about MAC was the location - a campus within an urban area. For a LAC that is unique! The reason he decide to to go to MAC had to do with the area of the country - we are on the east coast and, in the end, the distance from home was the deciding factor.</p>

<p>“The reason he decide to to go to MAC had to do with the area of the country - we are on the east coast and, in the end, the distance from home was the deciding factor”</p>

<p>Sorry, I hit the post button too quickly. </p>

<p>The reason he decided NOT to go to MAC had to do with the area of the country…</p>

<p>For a variety of reasons, Macalester keeps rising to the top of the list of target schools for our DS. We live on the East Coast as well, so I’m wondering if anyone can comment on what it’s like traveling back and forth from home to school. Are most kids flying in and out or are parents driving them back and forth? Are buses or trains an option?</p>

<p>We actually live in suburban Philadelphia, literally halfway between Haverford and Swarthmore Colleges (so close to PHL), and feel pretty strongly that a good LAC will be the best fit for him. We visited Swarthmore recently and he really liked it, but without any hooks, he really doesn’t have a chance at gaining at admission to either school. </p>

<p>His college counselor actually suggested Macalester too, in addition to Connecticut, Colby, Bates, Oberlin and Trinity, but DS would really like to be close to or in a city. He’s likely going to be a math major, but he loves theater too (and I’d love for him to give linguistics a try).</p>

<p>Also, can anyone comment on FA awards for students who apply ED? Is it not worth the risk if a student really requires aid or can we count on Mac to reliably meet our family’s unmet need?</p>

<p>Many thanks!</p>

<p>Lucie the Lakie we live in Suburban Phila. as well. Travel to and from St. Paul is easy by plane. Our daughter is fine with getting to and from the airport by taxi since the airport is a quick 15 minute or so drive from campus. Any other form of transportation is not really an option unless you or your son have a lot of time. She drove home for winter break - it took 4 days of driving since they had to stop for a third night when they got caught up in a snow storm (in PA). Traveling by plane can be expensive, but if tickets are purchased in advance, It’s not too bad. Packing, of course, needs to be better organized when you can’t stuff things in a car. We did send two big boxes out ahead of time freshman year, and the school lets kid’s that live far away store some stuff over the summer. Also, you can buy bedding etc. in St. Paul. The school has buses going to Target etc. just for that purpose. Since there are lots of international students from warm climates, the school gives tutorials on what to buy for the cold weather, too. In addition, our daughter has found that friends that live locally are more than willing to store her bike and other stuff that doesn’t fit in the space the school gives her.</p>

<p>thatsall, many thanks for that information. Very helpful!</p>

<p>And to answer the OP, what makes Macalester stand out for our family is that it is an excellent, coed LAC located in or near a fabulous city. Very few options for the student who feels a LAC is the best fit and wants to be near a thriving metropolis for whatever reason. Aside from Macalester and Reed (if only Barnard were coed!), we haven’t found any.</p>

<p>I’ll provide a reply, if you care to hear it from an adult whose child is a very happy student at Mac.
Mac is a very individualistic and independent-minded kind of environment. It’s not a rah-rah yippee frat environment, but rather a very intelligent, smart and global environment. The students are very academic, worldly and civic-minded. It has a large “hipster” population (indie, too). It has its fair share of trusafarians, too, but most students are very modest and down to earth. It is not preppy like many other smaller LACs, but not as arty/radical as Oberlin either. Has a balance to it. Athletes are not super heroes, but the soccer teams (M&Ws) are excellent and pull in the larger crowds. However, if you are looking for a cheerleader/football type of college experience, you won’t find it here. Students study their butts off, but also have a great time with their friends. It has a very active social scene with many activities on campus all weekend, but many kids simply hang out with their friends in the dorms, or out in the surrounding neighborhood. Professors are excellent and extremely engaged with their students. The President is an awesome guy who has a very realistic and balanced view about higher ed – and relates to both the students and administration alike. You won’t find this successful blend at every college, mind you. Also, Mac is usually on the list of the most liberal, most socially aware and/or global colleges. (Check Princeton Review) First two years you must live on campus, which creates a very tight-knit college community. The college is in the most beautiful part of St. Paul, surrounded by century old gorgeous homes. St. Paul is the safest city in the US, and Mac/Groveland is the safest neighborhood in St. Paul. Students come here for the academics, the global citizenship pull and the location (smaller size in the middle of a very cool city(ies). It is a tolerant environment, too, which means kids are very comfortable expressing who and what they are.</p>

<p>Enough of a description, I hope.</p>

<p>Thanks to the parents who’ve provided info about Mac on this thread. I can imagine OP thinking “that’s all on the website and in the promotional materials,” but what I’m getting from these posts is that Mac is everything it says it is. That’s no small thing.</p>

<p>Proudmama, your description of the student population is particularly helpful, and I like the idea of a school where students do turn out for football matches, but it’s the other kind of football. </p>

<p>Discussion of transportation, shipping, and storage options for East Coast students was very helpful too. I really hope this school turns out to be an option for my daughter. She was not able to visit campus or any regional event, and we’ve been advised that this may be construed as lack of interest in the school.</p>

<p>My daughter and I have been looking at Macalester. Her concern is the cold. She likes what she knows about it so far, and we have yet to visit, but can anyone give me some insight on how students there cope with the cold weather? How bad is it? I guess what I want to understand is does it affect the way they feel about being there. Is it something like, everything is great, if only it wasn’t so cold? I already kind of feel this is a dumb sort of question, but I would really like any feedback. Thanks!</p>

<p>Boston is cold as well.</p>

<p>Chicago is also cold.</p>

<p>But would you take a pass on Harvard or University of Chicago, merely because it is cold.</p>

<p>I don’t think cold weather should be a factor in what school to apply to.</p>

<p>I lived in Boston and did not have to plug in a block heater to keep my car from freezing. I did medical training at Harvard, but opted not to apply to a theoretically superior program at the Mayo in part due to weather. Why shouldn’t weather be a consideration like other “superficial” features: quality of sports teams, attractiveness of the dining halls, or the availability of a ballroom dance club? You are only in class 15 hrs a week. The other 153 you are dealing with the weather, et al. My son is glad to go to school in Worcester, MA, where a blizzard is expected tomorrow, as he was tired of the heat in his native Texas. To each his/her own.</p>