Deciding on Carleton

With college decision season approaching, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on why I chose Carleton three years ago, and discuss how my experience here reflects my expectations from when I was a high school student!

Location was a key factor in my decision to come to Carleton. I knew I wanted to be at school somewhere in the Midwest. Partially because I am from Wisconsin and wanted to be within driving distance of home, but also because it was important to me to have four seasons. The trimester system makes the seasons feel super distinct: it feels like life gets a full reset every few months. Also, on my tour, I already found the campus charming. Once I got here, however, I fell in love with it even more. 

Obviously, Carleton has a lot to offer in terms of academics. But there were a few aspects of the academic system that really set it apart in my deliberations. First, Carleton consistently ranks number one in undergraduate teaching for liberal arts colleges, which has definitely been reflected in my experiences with professors here. Not only are profs consistently knowledgeable, engaging, and passionate, but they genuinely care about their students and want to help them succeed. Along with great faculty, there is also a huge amount of wiggle room to explore different departments—and not just as a freshman. I am a junior English major, and in my next term, two out of my three classes will be in the Philosophy Department. This is purely because the courses interested me and there was room in my schedule. Students don’t declare majors until their sophomore spring. Until then, you can just work on ticking off the broad graduation requirements and have some fun. 

The energy of the community is also a huge factor in choosing a school. I had done my research on a fair amount of small liberal arts colleges, but none that I could find seemed as open, non-competitive and bright as the Carleton community. People here are always willing to help each other, and usually are down for anything. There is always something new and weird going on. One of my favorite things to do at Carleton is see my friends perform. This term, I have seen a Carleton improv show, a play, and the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Another reason I came to Carleton was because of Northfield. I knew I didn’t want to go to a school in the city. Due to this, I toured a lot of small liberal arts colleges in the middle of nowhere, and was a little scared by the prospect of being surrounded by an ocean of cornfields for four years. Northfield has plenty of corn, but it has so much else to offer that I don’t feel isolated. It’s a charming town with a vibrant community. Obviously, it doesn’t have everything. But for concerts, theatre, and variety, the Twin Cities is only forty-five minutes away.

Deciding on Carleton was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! I really believe that many different kinds of people can find their place here, and get a lot out of what this school has to offer. However, it isn’t for everyone. If you’re deciding on a school right now, make sure you know what you want out of a college experience, and spend some time envisioning what you want your life to look like for the next four years. In other words, read more blogs :).

Jess (he/him) is a junior English major and Creative Writing minor from Milwaukee, WI. He works for Admissions and Off-Campus Studies, blogging up a storm. On campus, he can be found on the Bald Spot with a book, next to the CD player in the Record Libe, or along the trails of the Arb on a late night run. He is a big fan of Carleton’s spring term and dining hall vegetarian sausage. As far as Northfield coffee shops go, he remains loyal to Goodbye Blue Monday.