Both the professors and students at Carleton are amazing. Profs make themselves incredibly available, and I've yet to have a professor who was unwilling to meet individually with his/her students. Not only do profs take an interest in your academics, though. Many of them enjoy getting to know their students outside of their coursework. Many of them are fascinating people who enjoy just kind of chit chatting with students. I have found them to be incredibly social and very supportive of the academic and extracurricular endeavors of their students. The students at Carleton are also incredible supportive of each other, as well. The atmosphere is very non-competitive, and that fosters this no-fail sort of atmosphere.
At a college as academically rigorous as Carleton, it's easy to become overwhelmed, but I am continuously impressed by the academic resources available on campus. There is literally tutoring for everything. The prefect program, which acts as reinforcement of the course material, is amazing too. I have definitely learned more in my first year at Carleton than I did in any single year of high school, and I credit the rigorous but noncompetitive academic atmosphere for that.
Do you enjoy the experience at your school?
I'd say that 90% of the time, I enjoy being at Carleton. The social setting is definitely one that is interesting. There is a lot of social awkwardness, and sometimes that can be a little intense, but I'd say that by the end of my first term, I was completely accustomed to the awkwardness, and I've even come to embrace it. I'd say that the 10% that I'm not enjoying myself is accredited to not enough sleep because of poor time management (something that is easy to fall into given the amount of work/number of extracurricular events on any given night). As long as I'm managing my time effectively, I find my experiences at Carleton pleasurable. Everyone is really nice and very accepting of social/cultural differences, really open to helping their peers, really open to almost anything, really.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
Carleton gives out pretty great financial aid packages, and I'd say I am definitely getting a lot of bang for my buck. The academics are great and pretty challenging, but the amount of support you can get to aid you in your academic growth is incredible. If you want it bad enough at Carleton, between academic support services and professors, you can find a way to get ANYTHING. Also, there are a bunch of study abroad programs that are covered by your tuition, which I think is great.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
I didn't visit campus, but I wouldn't recommend taking that approach. One of the things that's great about Carleton is that there are a lot of misfits who find other misfits to fit in with. . .which is great if you're a bit of a misfit, but I can see how some people wouldn't be happy with the social scene. The campus is gorgeous and definitely worth looking at, and it's probably a good idea to see dorms and things, but I also think it's important to get a sense of the people you'd be going to school with if you went to Carleton (or any school).
Which types of students will excel at your college?
This school is great for quirky, open-minded, intelligent, diligent students who like being outside and who enjoy the feel of a small town. It's also a plus if you enjoy the smell of malt-o-meal and like winter.
Both the professors and students at Carleton are amazing. Profs make themselves incredibly available, and I've yet to have a professor who was unwilling to meet individually with his/her students. Not only do profs take an interest in your academics, though. Many of them enjoy getting to know their students outside of their coursework. Many of them are fascinating people who enjoy just kind of chit chatting with students. I have found them to be incredibly social and very supportive of the academic and extracurricular endeavors of their students. The students at Carleton are also incredible supportive of each other, as well. The atmosphere is very non-competitive, and that fosters this no-fail sort of atmosphere. At a college as academically rigorous as Carleton, it's easy to become overwhelmed, but I am continuously impressed by the academic resources available on campus. There is literally tutoring for everything. The prefect program, which acts as reinforcement of the course material, is amazing too. I have definitely learned more in my first year at Carleton than I did in any single year of high school, and I credit the rigorous but noncompetitive academic atmosphere for that.
I'd say that 90% of the time, I enjoy being at Carleton. The social setting is definitely one that is interesting. There is a lot of social awkwardness, and sometimes that can be a little intense, but I'd say that by the end of my first term, I was completely accustomed to the awkwardness, and I've even come to embrace it. I'd say that the 10% that I'm not enjoying myself is accredited to not enough sleep because of poor time management (something that is easy to fall into given the amount of work/number of extracurricular events on any given night). As long as I'm managing my time effectively, I find my experiences at Carleton pleasurable. Everyone is really nice and very accepting of social/cultural differences, really open to helping their peers, really open to almost anything, really.
Carleton gives out pretty great financial aid packages, and I'd say I am definitely getting a lot of bang for my buck. The academics are great and pretty challenging, but the amount of support you can get to aid you in your academic growth is incredible. If you want it bad enough at Carleton, between academic support services and professors, you can find a way to get ANYTHING. Also, there are a bunch of study abroad programs that are covered by your tuition, which I think is great.
I didn't visit campus, but I wouldn't recommend taking that approach. One of the things that's great about Carleton is that there are a lot of misfits who find other misfits to fit in with. . .which is great if you're a bit of a misfit, but I can see how some people wouldn't be happy with the social scene. The campus is gorgeous and definitely worth looking at, and it's probably a good idea to see dorms and things, but I also think it's important to get a sense of the people you'd be going to school with if you went to Carleton (or any school).
This school is great for quirky, open-minded, intelligent, diligent students who like being outside and who enjoy the feel of a small town. It's also a plus if you enjoy the smell of malt-o-meal and like winter.