An Important Decision: Why I Chose Carleton

Decisions, decisions…

To all the high school seniors currently stressed by the seemingly gargantuan decision lying ahead of you, I feel your pain. I was in your position last year, too—and trust me when I say it gets better. But deciding what to do with the next four years of your life by the time May rolls around is daunting. So, if Carleton is one of your options, I’d like to take the time to talk about my decision to (hopefully) make the choice a little easier.

I have to admit: I wasn’t totally sure what I wanted to do when I applied to college. I knew I liked creative pursuits (and I was pretty sure I wouldn’t major in math), but otherwise, I was completely undecided. That’s why I applied mostly to small liberal arts schools. I felt like I would have the best opportunities for exploration at a place where I wouldn’t need to apply to any specific program, and could take my first year to really figure out what I wanted to do.

This is something that I’m definitely thankful for. Even as a first-year, I’ve changed so much since high school. I’ve learned a lot more about who I am and what I want out of life. Who knew I’d be considering a major in Philosophy? My high school never even offered a philosophy course! If you are someone who feels that they don’t have everything figured out yet, Carleton has been a great opportunity to try new things—even if you decide not to pursue them further.

The other thing that I knew I wanted was a smaller school. I hesitate to call myself an “introvert” or “extrovert”, but I certainly feel more comfortable in an environment where I can really get to know the people around me (as well as my professors). It’s certainly not for everyone: if you want constant excitement and extreme independence, the tight-knit community might seem limiting. But to me, it’s perfect for making you feel at home.

Now, the elephant in the room: the weather. Let’s cut right to the chase. Minnesota is cold. It’s the simple truth. Some dark, blustery February days made me want to curl up in bed and hibernate until buds sprung from the trees. Luckily, the solution to this is also a simple one. Wear lots of layers. If your coat is thick enough, if your gloves are warm enough, there is fundamentally nothing stopping you from feeling nice and toasty in the -30 degree windchill. Plus, you automatically have authority over any conversation about the weather. “Oh, it snowed a bunch in New York last weekend? Hah! Try living in the Midwest. You don’t know the meaning of cold.”

If you’re like me, you’re someone who appreciates a small community and opportunities for academic exploration. Carleton has certainly satisfied these desires for me: and if you can brave the weather, I’m sure it will for you as well.

Inigo (he/him/his) is trying very hard to turn interests in subjects like film, english, and psychology into a manageable course load. Originally from Somerville, Massachusetts, he can often be found running in the Cowling Arboretum (and getting passed by everyone on the cross country team) or rock climbing at the bouldering cave in the evening. He loves Carleton’s walkability: it didn’t even matter that he forgot to bring his bike to campus. He considers bad horror movies to be the ultimate form of entertainment.