Carleton College Top Questions

Carleton's LGBT population is very small, but the environment is very accepting and there are a lot of resouces and support for people who are coming out or having trouble. The majority Carleton student is wealthier, white and from the mid-West. But if you reach out then you find the international students, the students from varying socio-economic backgrounds, and you can have a very diverse group of friends.

People at Carleton are generally upper-middle class white people from the Midwest or coasts. There is little more to say about that topic.

This campus is mostly white, however there are a ton of international students that come here, which makes the atmosphere really diverse. We have a large LGBT community, which is extremely supportive. It is definitely OK to be gay here. This campus is pretty liberal. I think at last count there were about 10 members of the Carleton Conservatives. But no matter what you believe, you will not feel out of place here. It is a very accepting environment. I would say many students are from wealthy families, mainly because the school is SO expensive to attend and Carleton would run out of money if it supplied too much financial aid. That being said, there is a very good organization here for students with low income backgrounds.

Carleton's predominately white and pretty segregated. I've heard people of color say the dynamic makes them feel uncomfortable. From conversations with classmates, I get the feeling that a lot of the Carleton student body is economically privileged and doesn't have a lot of knowledge of other people's situations. They're often liberal and approve of social programs, but they're pretty condescending about people who are less educated or people who actually deal with the social problems that arise. I think Carleton could do more to help its students learn more about social justice issues (because, no matter what side you take, the issues exist) because they might not necessarily have come in contact with them. Students aren't that politically aware or active, except the carleton democrats who are SCARILY on top of things. My freshman year, 5 Carldems asked me to register to vote in one day.

There are a range of students here. The common carl sports jeans and a Carleton hoodie on a daily basis. But everyone interacts and people who dress to different stereotypes still end up being best friends. Everyone is here to learn, but they keep their grades and boasts to themselves. Carleton is definitely left on the political spectrum, although people with differing beliefs of all kinds are respected here.

Very leftist campus/

Carleton's student body has one of the most unique fashion identities I have encountered. There are students who clearly have no concern for what is on their body, some who have an effortlessly eclectic look, those who look polished at all times, and others who experiment with patterns, colors, and whatever else one could do with clothing. There are several students who wear mismatched clothing as a practical solution to varied problems, and those who make statements. It is entertaining to follow the fashion evolution of students in each group and to discover aspects of their personalities.

Carleton is overall a very liberal school, and while there are people from all financial backgrounds, the super-high price of tuition results in an interesting mix. Politics on campus range from super-active to apathetic. The one thing about the student body at Carleton that is unique is that there are no definite groups. Everything is permeable, and everyone is open to being friends with anyone.

As I said before, the stereotypes are true for alot of people but in my opinion that just makes the campus more interesting. You get a wider range of people attracted to the school. You also miss a lot of jackases that you might normally find at a more well known school.

The student body is generally upper/middle class, left-wing politically (although not very politically active), and quite accepting. The large majority of the campus is white/caucasian, and some people are bothered by this, and there seems to be little discrimination, however students of color generally tend to group together. People are also very accepting of LGBT issues on campus, but there is not much of an LGBT community. Financially, most students' families are well off, and students of poorer backgrounds can feel left out if their friends are going to Europe for vacation or don't need to work. However, nobody is so insensitive as to flout their wealth, and there are plenty of people who don't go to Majorca every summer.

Carleton is very diverse, and it's a great place to expand you horizons and meet new people with very different personalities and interests.

Again -- quirky is the defining characteristic. We do silly things. Chasing madly after a bust of Schiller is silly. Streaking in a Minnesota winter is silly. Playing "assassins" at 3:00 AM in the campus center is silly. It's just how we roll. A very stiff or preppy kid might have trouble adjusting. Then again, Carleton might do him more good than anyone else. The campus leans strongly left, but that's mediated by the fact that it's pretty low key. There aren't political protests or anything like that -- just a quiet but pervasive liberal mentality.

Carleton students are incredibly open and accepting of every kind of person. There is someone for everyone at Carleton. Students generally find a comfort zone and stick to it - but everyone is welcome everywhere. If you hear about an activity or party across campus, you can always go. Because even if you don't know anyone there (which would be very strange since we are a pretty small population), you will be welcomed. The campus seems pretty "upper/middle class white", but there is both racial and economic diversity present. Carleton is also very active in conversations dealing with its homogeneity, and its desire to expand the typical "Carleton Student". Students are also very liberal. I don't think I know a single conservative...

Carleton has to be the most liberal and all-accepting college in the country. All races, religions, sexualities, social groups, etc. are accepted and made to feel at home.

As I said before, the environment around campus is very accepting, and I've seen no discrimination against any particular groups. Jocks, geeks, and popular kids all have a place here, along with everyone in between. Kids from all economic backgrounds are present, and being on a financial aid plan is not looked down upon at all.

Carleton has a very open, somewhat diverse student body. I think there's room for everyone at Carleton, it might just take time to find your niche. I was a bit disappointed by a few things diversity-wise: a good chunk of students are from Minnesota, my state, and I was hoping to meet more people from outside the midwest. Also, there are more students with upper-class incomes than I had expected. On the other hand, I was very excited to meet lots of international students. Students tend to be politically aware, but not always active, and those who are active tend to be toward the left. Because Carleton is a liberal arts school, most students aren't directly career oriented. Those who want to go to med school or law school tend to be thinking ahead, but people here do things because they enjoy them, not because they're trying to get ahead.

Carleton's student body is a collection of people from all over the country and the world. Coming here I knew nobody, and there were only a few other people in my class from my state, much less city. As a result, there is very much a chance for students to learn about other people's backgrounds, upbringings and values. Sometimes its hard to adapt, but there are always people around to help. Carleton students vary from professional, to casual, to just rolled out of bed, to haven't changed. It can be hard for some to find a place, but if any effort is presented, most students find a comfortable home here and lots of friends. Politically? Largely liberal, but conservatives speak up too. Active? It fluctuates - usually depending on what week of term it is, and what is going on. Purpose? Most students here, largely, feel that they are working towards making an impact in the world.

Carleton is not very diverse, and this is one of the biggest problems I see with it. Most people are white, raised Christian, generally economically well-off, and think of themselves as liberally-minded because they vote Democrat. I think that anyone that does not fit into this category will probably struggle in one way or another at Carleton, if only for the reason that there's probably an insensitivity towards their identity in any kind of a meaningful way. What I mean by that is, there are a lot of groups on campus to make sure this doesn't happen, but sitting around and talking about the issue is very different than putting it into action. For example, we talk about racism all the time here, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist and in fact, isn't quite prominent.

Carleton's student body is quite egalitarian, without much sense of social rank or hierarchy. There is no Greek system, which I think helps. In terms of friend groups, there are still underlying divisions that seem based on race and socioeconomic class.

Everyone dresses relatively similar but if you dressed differently it wouldn't be a big deal-everything is relaxed. The students are from all over. You can find any kind of students just look around. I have never heard a student talk about how much they'll earn in the future.