<p>I realize that I can't stand long harsh winters even though i'm from new york, but apparently MN winters are even worse! I just checked weather.com and its like -5 degrees in MN. They're both good schools and I'm having trouble picking one over the other. Carleton seems harder to get into than Mac...should i just go for the safer one? And mac does have a 99 quality of life rating...</p>
<p>Mac is definitely more diverse than Carleton
Carleton has a better campus though Mac is an a nice neighborhood (the campus itself felt small to me).
I think Carleton is better for sciences.</p>
<p>But since winter is an issue for you, check out the Claremont colleges.</p>
<p>Classes at Mac ended last Thursday (11th) and spring semester doesn't start until 1/26--you can avoid a lot of the most brutal cold of a Minnesota winter if you go to Mac. Carleton is on a trimester system and is off from Thanksgiving until just after New Years--they have both a winter trimester and a spring one that goes into June.
Mac has more emphasis on social sciences (approx 50% of majors), maybe 25% are science majors. Carleton has more emphasis on science (according to admissions 1/3 are science majors, 1/3 social science and 1/3 humanities and fine arts). I have one daughter very happy at Mac (who never even looked at Carleton because she was determined to be in a city and wanted an international focus--the other school she was most interested in was Tufts--but she did ED to Mac) and her slightly more introverted and science-oriented younger sister is applying to both Mac and Carleton. Both schools are excellent--it just depends on the environment that you prefer.</p>
<p>Not gonna lie, living in MPLS suburb, winters are rough. Last year we spent 13 days below zero. But, I love it here, there is no other state like Minnesota, and I think anyone that comes here will just accept the fact that it's cold and you just learn to like where you are. St. Paul is also a great city to be in. I think location may seem like an issue to you now, but you will end up liking it when you come. As for the difference between Carleton and Mac, Carleton is more nationally reknowned, but Mac is also a great school. I'd say apply to both, visit, and decide for yourself.</p>