Macalester College

Overall ExperienceWhat's This?

Most students at Macalester find their experience near-perfect, though the sentiment varies at times. Sure, there are lots of stressful periods during school, but there are just as many irreplaceable and amazing memories, too. Everyone is encouraged by other students and faculty members to explore the zenith of their potential while attending school. This support network creates an amazingly tight-knit community in which students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Macalester doesn’t offer the rowdiness and chaos that big university party scenes do, nor does it offer the anonymity of sitting in the back of a 200-person lecture hall. Yet, it's the College's modest atmosphere that's exactly the type of environment that Macalester students thrive in. Small class sizes offer students the intimate individual attention they need to excel in their chosen courses, and a party scene that flares up mostly on the weekends makes going out a special occasion that students appreciate more. Students are accountable for quality work, which ultimately leads to a better understanding of their chosen major and foundation for the world ahead. Professors' willingness and desire to offer their students the best classes and resources available are unparalleled. The friendships and relationships that students form with other students and faculty turn out to be priceless. You meet someone from a country halfway around the world and bond with them like you’ve known them forever. Over four years, this is indispensable to students’ well-being during school and their preparation for social life outside of the “Macalester Bubble.”

Macalester Student Reviews