Carleton College Top Questions

Carleton is a fantastic school, with fantastic students and great faculty. It's not a east coast private school though and its not a big state school, nor is it a trade school or a vocationally minded place, so the students who come here are pretty self-selecting and also very self motivated.

Most people at home have never heard of Carleton. (On the other hand, most people at Carleton have never heard of my hometown.) When I talk with people who do know something about my school, they are usually ego-boostingly impressed. I love the challenging academics and the student body that is dedicated to learning but, for the most part, noncompetitive and fairly laid-back about grades. But Carleton isn't perfect. Winter term is incredibly cold, gray, and eventually depressing. The food is terrible--but we're changing food providers next year, so hopefully that will improve.

The food is terrible. The living options are not too good. The town of Northfield is boring and has not one good restaurant.

I love Carleton. It's a small school in a small town, but that's never bothered me - it was what I wanted, and I'm from Portland, OR, which isn't a small city by any means. Plus, the twin cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul) are 30 minutes away by car, but the school has plenty going on to keep you busy and happy. When people ask me if I like Carleton, I can honestly tell them that there's no school in the nation that I would be happier and better challenged at than at Carleton.

Carleton has the most lax drinking policy of any school I've ever been to. Alcohol is acceptable anywhere, anytime, and for anyone. The only thing is the college is really small, so you'll know 90{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of people at the parties, but, hey, that's better than knowing no one.

The people here are great and fun. The school a little too small, but cozy. I would add a thousand or 2 thousand students. Many people have not heard of the school. The town is small, but nice. School pride is not so much, our teams are not very good save a few.

I really like the size of Carleton. Sometimes it seems too small because if you don't have a car it's hard to escape, but most of the time the need to escape doesn't come up. Besides that, I'm perfectly happy with the size. Either people know Carleton and know that it's a really good academic school or they have never heard of it. People from mid-West know it, most others don't. I spend most of my time on campus at the campus center - Sayles - studying in the libe or at local coffee shops on the main street of Northfield.

Carleton is a great size, but generally that is in academic terms. In classes you are glad to get to know your classmates and professors but when you go out you rarely meet new people once you become an upperclassman. Of a small population an even smaller population goes out on campus. Also there are not many things to do off campus, instead most parties and activities are hosted on campus. It's not just a small school, it's a small town.

The best thing about Carleton is that no matter how unique you are, you can always find people who share your interests or passions. Getting to know great friends here is one of the best experiences one can have. One thing I'd change (if I could) would be to have the student body get a little more confident! However, in the recent years, many people, including me, have noticed that the incoming classes are getting much more normal. Also, there's not much school spirit in terms of varsity sports. I came from a huge high school where that was a big part of life, and I miss that here. I have a lot of friends who are athletes, but there isn't the same excitement here about sports as other places. The most frequent complaint is that there is too much work. Carleton is very academically rigorous and new students have to be ready for a big change in work load compared with high school. At times, it does seem that professors forget that we have other classes and pile on the work. But we all get through it together.

For the most part, the Carleton professors I've encountered have been intelligent, accessible and engaged. The classes themselves have been interesting. I feel that the change from need-blind to need-aware enrollment reflects a campus-wide feeling that national rankings take precedent over making sure the Carleton student body reflects diversity of life experience. There was a fairly big controversy over that shift. Students got pretty upset. The RAD (Recognition and Affirmation of Differences) distribution requires students to take one class that covers any non-white, non-heterosexual cultural issue. It doesn't really cover anything about how differences affect who has power, or the real world in general. I like Carleton's size - a small campus makes it easier to find small classes, and get to know people. It can feel a little claustrophobic, but generally I think the size is a plus.

Although most people will ask you where Carleton is, the ones who do know about it will rant and rave. Carleton is the "Harvard of the Midwest," meaning it is achedemically challenging. But it doesn't have the pressure that usually surrounds a strong school. At Carleton, people sport the Carleton sweatshirt, or no sweatshirt at all. Everyone is glad to be here because it is a self selecting school.

Size is just right. Not much of a town so nearly all of one's time is spent on campus.

Some of the most charming aspects of Carleton are the quirks and idiosyncrasies present on campus and in the student body. The hunt to capture the bust of Schiller, late-night breakfast before finals, and class outside when the weather is beautiful are a few perks of the generally laid back attitude on campus.

Carleton is a smaller school, and when you are on campus, there is a distinctly Carleton bubble. I generally like the size, but sometimes feel a bit boxed in by the limited number of people at the school. If you tell someone you go to Carleton, you'll get one of two reactions. Either "Where's Carleton?" or "Wow, you must be smart!" Northfield is definitely a college town, with St. Olaf right across the river. School pride varies per person. People either love it here or hate it. Or love-hate. Most people have a love-hate relationship with the school, but overall I think people who are accepted like the school for the academics.

The campus is beautiful all year round. If you like the snow this is a great place. It's nice to have a small college, you get to know everyone around you. The town itself is nice. Small but it has good bookstores and coffee shops a grocery store nearby.

The best thing about Carleton is that it has a lot of really interesting people. The school is small enough that one can see their friends regularly in the cafeteria or between classes, but big enough that one can always meet new people. Most people hang out in dorm rooms here, socializing or partying, although sometimes we go down to students' apartments or townhouses. Other than that, Northfield is pretty boring and doesn't have much to offer.

Carleton is a great place. The students have a lot of freedom to create activities and organizations, and many do, so if you are really passionate about something, you know the group on campus is the same way. If there isn't a group on campus, you can create one!

Carleton students are quirky -- everyone will describe it that way, and it's true. We aren't just unafraid to be off-beat, we actively enjoy being a bit silly. Students here are smart and hard-working, but also quite low-key -- it's a lot less of a pressure-cooker than many other elite colleges. Arrogance is highly frowned upon here. Northfield is a nice enough town, though a bit small. The student body is small and intimate, the campus is large and inviting, and there is a lot of breadth in course offerings. Obviously, this being small-town Minnesota, it isn't the most diverse environment, but on-campus at least there is a pretty strong commitment to fostering an open, inclusive, and diverse climate.

Carleton is full of smart people who really are into studying. In high school you would look at the "dumb blonds" or the "stupid jocks". But at Carleton you can't make any assumptions, because that girl who wears mini-skirts and spend two hours doing her hair and makeup in the morning just spent six months living with a tribe in Africa, teaching children English, and doing HIV/AIDS research. Carleton is too small, and too rural, but that's what makes it Carleton. It wouldn't have the same intimate community if we had the option to leave campus... Northfield is a two college town, and is a "college town" in that there are many young people around, and everyone in the town works for either Carleton or St. Olaf. Despite this, there isn't really too much to do in Northfield other than grab some coffee at Blue Monday's or some EXCELLENT Indian food at Chapati's. Everyone at Carleton loves to complain about it - but everyone complains with a twinkle in their eye, because we all know that this is the best place in the world and we love it here.

Best thing about Carleton: the atmosphere of fun. Size: just right. How do they react: if they know what Carleton is, they're usually impressed; otherwise, they're confused. Where do I spend time: usually Sayles-Hill Campus Center, playing arcade games or ordering from the Snack Bar. College town: yes.