Carleton College
Reviews

Really Relaxed

The school just wants you to be safe. Drinking is not a big deal. The only thing the school kinda cracks down on is pot, but even that is rarely something that gets caught. Basically, the rule is don't be an idiot and the school won't interfere.

Fantastic

The education here is phenomenal. Teachers genuinely care about their students and will work with you to get better. There is a lot of work, but everyone is doing it, so it's pretty bearable. There are resources for people with LD/ADHD and there are tons of support centers for any academic problems you may have.

So far, so good

I've only had one term here, and due to having an amazing teacher in high school nobody here measures up yet. But as far as I haven't had professors who blow me away, they are all extremely good at what they do, which is a nice change from high school. They're all dedicated to teaching, accessible and patient with students and they ALL know you by name. Professors here are often on first name terms with students and in terms of teaching quality it doesn't get much better than this. They give a lot of work, and sometimes difficult work, but they're understanding of the fact that sometimes you might not be on top of it all. You can often negotiate with them to reschedule a midterm or an exam, or get extensions for any work you might not have time to do and I got to take 3 assessments outside of class because my prof trusts us not to cheat- hard not to, given the level of personal interaction we have. The TAs regularly hold review sessions (they don't teach, though) and someone is always around to help you in case you get lost. This is what I love about academics here: the college doesn't want to "weed you out". It wants everyone to succeed.

Like Summer Camp Mixed With Amazing Academics

There is always something fun to do when we're not studying.

Pretty Decent

I actually find the food to be pretty good which is a lot better than most college campuses. There are always vegetarian and vegan options and a large variety of other foods. Sure, it gets a little repetitive but anything would after 10 weeks.

Amazing

The academics are great and there are so many strong programs. For such a small school there are a variety of classes offered each term and it's hard to decide what to take. The classes are difficult, but very rewarding.

Amazing Experience So Far

I'm just finishing my first term at Carleton and I have loved everything about it. The classes are amazing, the professors are incredibly helpful and engaged, the student body is so welcoming and friendly, and the campus is gorgeous. I honestly can't think of much I would change.

Wonderful Wonderful Wonderful!

There is a huge variety of topics that you can take classes on. Every academic department is rock-solid and has a lot to offer you. There is an emphasis on learning for its own sake rather than just grades—although grades are certainly important, too. Most professors are great people and great teachers, and they make themselves available to talk to students pretty much all the time. You get to know your professor, and vice-versa. There are tons of resources that students can take advantage of so that they get as much as they can out of their Carleton academic experience. It is a really great academic atmosphere here, and I am honored to be a part of it.

All Kinds of Excellent

The student body is full of the most interesting, fun, intelligent people I've ever met. Everyone has something that they're really passionate about, so the range of clubs and extracurriculars is impressive for such a small school. Carleton has a trimester system, which makes it easy to study abroad for a term and still complete everything you need to graduate on time. One of the school's best features is the Arb, a vast expanse of forest and restored prairie that lets you escape everything and enjoy nature at any time.

Dedicated, Effective Profs

All the profs I've worked with at Carleton, including those not in my major departments, have been very dedicated people who are out to get students to learn, and are always willing to lend a hand in whatever way is necessary to make that learning happen. There are a few who aren't exactly the cream of the crop, but most are among the best educators I've met.

Something for Everyone

Carleton has been upgrading its facilities a lot in the past few years. There is a brand new theater/dance/cinema building with new computer labs, lounges and classrooms as well. There are three different recreation centers on campus, two pools and many playing fields (perfect for lots of frisbee games). Sayles, our campus center, is pretty comfy and serves food until the late hours of the night. The library is top notch, and very cozy in the winter. Almost all of the academic buildings have some sort of lounge and/or computer lab for students to use, so there are lots of places to study. Last but not least, we also have an observatory, the oldest college-run pub in the country and a nice concert hall.

Safe Haven

I have always felt very safe at Carleton. Northfield is not super large, and walking around at night has never made me feel nervous. It is generally safe to leave your backpack in the library for an hour or so while you eat dinner. Coming from a public high school where my locker was broken into several times, I find this amazing. Also, as a person who loses things a lot, I've come to appreciate the fact that the good samaritans that make up most of the student body will help me be reunited with my things. Like any place there are some small mishaps when it comes to security (ie. petty theft, unnecessary fire drills), but I would say that Carleton's campus is above average in terms of safety. Just make sure not to walk around carrying alcohol, that's one thing Security's not too excited about.

Great Rec Center, Library, Student Center, and ARBORETUM

We have beautiful facilities: an amazing rec center with a climbing wall, exercise machines, indoor sports courts, etc. Our library (open until 1 am) is cozy and is organized by noise level so that you can find the perfect study spot. Our student center offers hot food until midnight and is a great study spot, but is pretty drafty in the winter. The best thing about Carleton is the well-maintained arboretum with miles of trails that are amazing for running and skiing.

Cold, Windy, and Sunny

Beautiful fall and spring. Nice winter if you suck it up and stop complaining about the cold. It's quite sunny even in the winter.

Quiet Town, but Super Charming and Welcoming

Northfield offers a small handful of restaurants, an AMAZING coffee shop (and a couple other ones too if you actually need quiet), two excellent pubs, and a Dominoes Pizza open until 2 a.m. It doesn't sound like much, but the atmosphere of the town is so welcoming, happy, and relaxed. And the Jesse James Day festival in September will absolutely win your heart. If you need more and have access to a car, the Twin Cities are 45 minutes away.

An Awesome Place

I have had a great time at Carleton, though this is only my second year. It's tough academically, but when you sign up for a place like this, that is what you should be expecting. There is a lot of fun to be had on the weekend but you do need to plan out time for both social and academic things. I wouldn't want to go anywhere else, this is the college that I knew I belonged to, the community is close and the classes are fascinating.

Housing on Campus

Housing at Carleton really is never that bad. Because students generally live on campus all four years, even the worst dorms are significantly nicer and more spacious than any big university dorms I've visited.

Safety

I have never felt unsafe at Carleton. I've never even felt the need to lock my door-the campus is small enough and I feel like there's a general atmosphere of trust.

Pretty Darn Great.

Carleton is a fantastic place to spend four years. Like any bureaucracy, there are flaws and inefficiencies, and some policies are arguably unjust. But Carleton is a responsive institution, and will try to address and resolve any problems you have. Academics are intense, hours in the libe are long, but generally the love of learning here is palpable. We're quirky and nerdy, and this is our place, and we love it. It's an incredible privilege to spend four years with such amazing students and professors at such an idealistic institution.

Like a Boss

I'm not going to write you an essay about Carleton; I'm not that bored. Grade speaks for itself.

Cold, but Beautiful

It gets cold here, but the 4 seasons are gorgeous.

Great Personalities

Carleton nurtures a distinct type of personality. You'll love it.

What *Doesn't* Set It Apart?

1. Students can go to Dacie Moses House to bake cookies, any time of day, for free. 2. Every term there's a silent dance party in the library: the playlist is distributed ahead of time, and everyone listens to it at the same time with headphones on their mp3 players. In the library. 3. Carleton is extremely challenging academically, but this of course does not set it apart from other schools. What sets it apart is that nobody is trying to do better than everyone else. Each person is trying to learn, work hard, and do their best, without the pressure to compete with others that is so pervasive at many other top schools. 4. Best of all, Carleton has a truly amazing atmosphere that you will never find anywhere else. There's just something literally unique and indescribable about it that I love.

Queer issues great; race, class, trans issues not as much

Carleton tries very hard to foster an acceptance of diversity; every year at freshman orientation there is mandatory diversity programming and there are college offices dedicated to intercultural and international life, and gender & sexuality. The queer community is fairly large, and the campus is very queer-friendly. As a queer woman, I feel perfectly comfortable holding hands with my significant other in public.

That being said, there is not a lot of racial diversity on campus. This means that a lot of people of color feel either ignored or tokenized and tend to hang out together. There are a good number of white allies who really care about issues of race and about confronting their own privilege. The majority, however, see themselves as "accepting" but usually get avoidant or defensive when issues of race come up. It is not likely you will hear blatantly racist remarks, but you will hear things like "that never happens here" or "that's not really an issue at Carleton".

Also, although we have a very vibrant queer community there is no trans community to speak of. There are trans students at Carleton, but they usually keep to themselves. There are lots of trans resources at the Gender and Sexuality Center, and there is usually programming about once a term centered around trans issues. But because of the small number of trans students, I think people often think that trans issues aren't as important. There has been an effort to incorporate asking preferred pronouns in group introductions, but not a lot of people have taken to the idea.

There is a wide range of class diversity among students, but on average carls are fairly wealthy. Because of this there is some unconscious classism that I have experienced. Usually if you point it out, though, people become more aware and change their behavior/assumptions.

Its up to You, What You Want to Do.

To be honest, since Carleton is a small college in a small city there are not many attractive guys or girls. Students have many diverse and varying interests that for the most part make for a good social life. There are parties at one place or another every weekend and even if you are not the partying type, there is always something going on that goes along with your interests whether it be a play, acapella, group event, etc. The problem with relationships in a small college is that usually most students know about it and that sense of privacy is gone and also the choices available for a partner are small. Overall, it is what you make of a relationship, meaning that it is up to you if you want to have one but be mindful of how things might turn out if things don't go well because you WILL be seeing your ex almost everyday.