<p>Saint Paul is cold. But, Mac students come prepared; my daughter reserves her big down parka for days she considers really cold. Mac students get most of January off. The campus is small, and Saint Paul doesn’t get as much snow as lots of other places in the US. That doesn’t mean it isn’t cold, it is, but it tends to be sunny. Cold is part of the Minnesota identity. Last year the weather was unusually warm, and lots of people weren’t happy about it. People there just get on with it. I don’t think the cold stops students at Mac from having a good time.</p>
<p>Thanks for your responses! They are appreciated. There are a lot of factors that my daughter considers about each college. All colleges have their pros and cons. One has to weigh them carefully. Of course, it will come down to who accepts her and the cost. Trying to narrow down her list and plan visits. A college that has an extremely cold environment will have some affect on her life there. However, that is only one factor. I think it was helpful to know that while it may be cold, it does not get a lot of snow and is more sunny. Every college on her list has some negative thing about it. I think Macalester will stay on her list for now and we will probably visit in the Spring.</p>
<p>Just wanted to add that my daughter isn’t particularly hearty, nor or her friends. But she studies at coffee shops in the neighborhood and typically goes out to dinner with friends at least one night on weekends. Sometimes she goes to house parties either in the Mac neighborhood or near the University of Minn. Frankly, I lose count of all the things she does - she isn’t staying home. Mac flooded an area of campus this winter for an ice skating rink, which is something students requested. Next weekend there’s a joint trip for Carleton and Mac students to a night walk/run over a frozen bay in Wisconsin which is lit by candles. Odd as it may sound, apparently it’s a blast with food and a place to stay. All of this is happening when the temperature is below 32 degrees. So the message is that Mac students aren’t prisoners of the weather.</p>
<p>Do you have to do an interview for Macalester?</p>
<p>It’s not required, but you can schedule one with them. </p>
<p>Sent from my SGH-I897 using CC</p>
<p>I’d like to add my thanks to those who have posted so much valuable info here. I did spend some time at Mac with my daughter, and we were both charmed by our visit and by the students and staff there. Before our visit, it was the uniqueness of a high quality LAC of Mac’s size located in a safe yet urban environment that intrigued us. However, spending some time on campus and getting a “feel” for the place is what sealed the deal for her. Though not always possible, school visits are extremely helpful in this regard. </p>
<p>However, it’s also valuable to get the inside scoop from veteran parents. I think much of what has been conveyed in this thread will prove helpful to parents AND students who are considering Mac (it was for me!)</p>
<p>Fwiw, we live in a very sunny climate (though it does get cold in winter and even snows 3-4 times a year) and I also wondered whether freezing MN winters would be a factor in dd’s opinion of Mac, but she shrugged it off–just not a huge consideration for her at this point though of course it can be for some kids. The only thing I’ve noticed in terms of weather and her attitude about a school is that all other things being equal she’ll give a few bonus points for balmy climates, but not enough to sway her decision away from a great school that seems like a good fit.</p>
<p>For what it is worth… my D and I visisted last spring in early April. It was a delightful day on campus. I snoozed (literally) in the sun in a garden full of red tulips while D attended a class. We strolled the campus with a Jamba juice after her class and enjoyed the nice day, and took pictures of each other and the flowers in the tulip garden with our phones. Yes, winter is cold here. But autumn is beautiful along Summit Avenue, and those nice spring days are also wonderful.</p>