What my daughter, Maddy, loves about Carleton is that even during the application process, the material and information that she received from the school gave her a sense that it was a place where she could belong and that they would “get” her.
She wanted a school that was challenging but not competitive. Meaning that she would be stretched and challenged but also supported. Supported by not only the school but also her fellow students and that’s exactly what she found when she arrived at Carleton.
I don’t know how they do it, but Carleton does a phenomenal job matching first year students with roommates. From move in day to today (she’s now a sophomore), Maddy and her roommate are good buddies and have lots in common. They have similar habits, taste in music and sense of humor. They are tight friends and I suspect that they will be for the rest of their lives.
She also found the larger Carleton student community to be welcoming and accepting. She played soccer in high school but wasn’t interested in doing that in college, so she tried out for one of the Ultimate Frisbee teams and an Acapella group. Even though she had no experience in either, the groups were accepting and supportive of her trying something new. I give credit to the upperclassmen who know how hard it is to find a sense of place as a Freshman and go out of their way to help the first years fit in.
Maddy is also very happy with the variety of classes and paths available to her at Carleton. While she just declared as a Computer Science major (a very strong program at Carleton), and she’s had the opportunity to gain a very broad base in other disciplines which helped her really hone in on what she wanted to major in when the time came.
Through the school she’s also found other opportunities outside of Carleton. She’s doing a research grant this summer at the University of Minnesota and is going to spend the Fall term next year studying abroad in Portugal. There are lots of opportunities at Carleton to take advantage of.
Maddy has found her home and “people” at Carleton. From the initial application process to now, the school and student body just “gets” her.
P.S. The thing I don’t like about the school is sometimes she’s too busy to call us. I seriously doubt that she’d take the time to read this but if she does, Maddy call your parents 🙂
– Scott Brown P’26 (Bainbridge Island, WA)
Questions and Comments
I concur with everything expressed above! My boys (one an alum -Physics and one a sophomore -Computer Science (and Physics pending)) very much appreciate the rigorous yet collaborative environment at Carleton. They both attended a very competitive high school and were ready for the warmth, intelligence, humility and wonderful sense of humor the Carleton student body possesses. Further they absolutely love their professors. There is a reason Carleton is known for its undergraduate teaching. The profs are very dedicated, and clearly love teaching as evidenced by their passion, and availability to students in office hours and beyond. Our older son is still in close contact with some of his profs two years after he graduated. Needless to say, we are thrilled that both of our boys chose Carleton!
When I chatted with my son about what he most loves about Carleton, he laughed and said “the variety of French fries offered.” Kidding aside, Isaac would emphatically say it is the quality of the professors and the engagement of his classmates. His college search two years ago was about “fit” and would a future college be a place that learning was authentically valued and encouraged. As parents, we can wholeheartedly say that Isaac found that at Carleton.
The structure of the classrooms encourage community through thoughtful group work and true dialogue. For many students, group projects in high school could be a bit hit or miss. At Carleton, the norm is quite the opposite. Students want to be contributing group members and enjoy the group work! The professors also encourage community amongst students of all types. Introverts and extroverts both thrive in Carleton classroom discussions and have a voice.
And finally, Isaac hates being hot! Minnesota has four distinct seasons that each bring their own form of fun to campus. According to Isaac, Minnesota weather is perfect! We just wish he would wear his coat a bit more 😊.
Hello, I agree with all of the above but want to reiterate the strength of the faculty. I am consistently impressed by the ease with which my sophomore is able to meet with his teachers. They always make time for their students, they go above and beyond to answer questions and explain material. The students are their top priority and they make sure the students feel welcomed and encouraged to engage with them inside and outside the classroom. They are true mentors.
The faculty at Carleton are part of such a caring community and a large part of what makes Carleton so special. Everyone is on a first name basis at Carleton and I think one of the most lasting relationships my daughter will take with her as she graduates this year are the close relationships she has made with her professors. In addition to being easily accessible during office hours, many professors go out of their way to reach out to students on a personal level. My daughter just recently received an email from one of her professors requesting that she and another student in the class become study buddies because the other student had needed to miss some class. Professors care about student success and make efforts to help them when needed. My daughter has worked as a TA so gotten to know her lab professors on a professional level. She house sits, and dogs sits for professors all the time too. She will leave Carleton knowing them as professors, mentors, and friends.
What our sons love most about Carleton are the professors and the campus.
I've posted before about the phenomenal professors, but they really do live up to the sky-high expectations set by being selected for best undergraduate teaching 13 years straight, per US News. The classroom part of teaching is of course amazing, but what happens outside of class and sometimes even after graduation is even more impressive. Interested in working with a professor over an academic term or summer on a research project? In our experience a student pretty much just needs to ask! Such accessibility is key to developing the skills and passion to go deep academically, identify lasting interests, and earn meaningful letters of recommendation. The relationships formed continue after graduation, when students can and do seek out advice. Incidentally, the appreciation goes both ways: I'm told the faculty cite the genuinely curious, hard-working, and courteous students as a top reason for wanting to teach at Carleton.
The campus is a nature lover's paradise. There are many beautiful colleges, but few have an arboretum on campus, lakes with waterfalls, islands, a meditation garden, or 15 miles of trails, let alone all of them! The fall months are full of gorgeous red and amber, the winters are sparkling white (minimal brown snow here!), and the springs turn a festive green in time for outdoor celebrations like Sproncert. Carleton's scenery is more than a pleasant bonus. The splendor can relax when stressed or invigorate when seeking inspiration.
There are many other things one or both of them have cited (the trimester system and the extra class per year for exploration it affords, the charm of Northfield, dining options, proximity to Minneapolis, and the 6-7 weeks of winter break all come to mind). But the professors and campus top the list!