Written by Tatiana Craine
You'll be hard-pressed to find a student at Macalester who doesn't want to be there. The intimacy of the small Macalester campus gives students a sense of community and support, yet the liberal spirit of the College gives students the space and independence they need to make their own decisions and experiences. The professors and the College staff at Mac are not there to draw conclusions for students or to tell them what to think; rather, they are there to help undergrads make their own choices. If you're interested in getting a fantastic education and meeting some very amiable and interesting individuals along the way, Macalester is the right school for you. If you're looking to join a fraternity and party after all of the major football games, however, most Mac students will agree that you're probably better off somewhere else. Macalester is a very small campus, so whether you like it or not, you're never going to get lost in the crowd here. As soon as you step foot on campus, you become part of a very welcoming community.
Students often praise the sense of balance they get by going to college at Macalester. Most students don't have to spend every weekend cooped up doing homework, yet the workload is challenging enough that students can't afford to make every day a party. Macalester students know how to use their time well, and professors assign projects and papers in advance and don't waste time with busywork. Students also find balance by going to a school that feels like a small village, but is located in the metropolitan Twin Cities area, which offers plenty of work and recreational opportunities. Above all, the variety of intelligent, friendly, and good-natured people whom you find at Macalester is truly one of the most impressive and celebrated aspects that Macalester offers. Students do sometimes grumble about the weather, the food, and the smallness of the campus, but most agree that those complaints are trivial in the grand scheme of things.