Carleton College (CC)

Curiosity thrives at Carleton College, beginning with Argument and Inquiry seminars, where first-years learn how to think critically, research, and truly understand the meaning of a liberal-arts education and the pursuit of knowledge. The "challenging" academics and "collaborative" community underlie a reputation for being "highly rigorous without ... cutthroat competition." The curriculum adheres to a "fairly fast-paced" trimester calendar of 10-week classes, giving students the opportunity to select 12 different classes and build out a course of diverse, interdisciplinary study, a Carleton hallmark. Though this "is a rigorous school," support for students can be found in every corner, from advising and tutoring, to graduate school preparation, to each other: "Students help each other out a lot, too (even if it is just emotional support)," says one.

As for the faculty, they are as "friendly, accessible, supportive, and enthusiastic about teaching," and students "have no qualms about dropping in on office hours to chat." Students are also encouraged to collaborate on research with professors, and to pursue learning outside of traditional formats via the Off-Campus Studies office and Center for Community and Civic Engagement. For this group of "laid-back, outdoorsy students with a passion for learning and for developing strong community," the rewards of the work they put into learning are "worth every ounce of effort," both in terms of experience gained and community created: "I wanted to be at a place where I was challenged. I wanted to be surrounded by people who were smarter than me but also wanted to see me succeed," says one satisfied student.

"The best part about [Carls] is that they all keep really open minds." Perhaps that's because students come from all over, often outside Minnesota, which mixes a lot of different viewpoints in with the school's intellectual rigor and Minnesota Nice. Students are also described as being "very welcoming" and "extremely kind" and a fount of "meaningful conversations." Of course, students describe themselves as "on the whole, pretty liberal," as well as "politically and environmentally aware" and "highly interested in activism on the whole." They're also the type of people who prioritize classwork to the point where many "spend the majority of the weekend studying," though that same student adds that they somehow "still find time for socializing and spending time on extracurriculars." That's for the best, as "there are so many clubs and organizations to get involved in, and so many people doing really interesting things outside of any structured class or club, that it is incredibly hard to not get involved in something or other."

Carleton is located in the small Minnesota town of Northfield, and almost all 2,000 students live on campus, creating a cozy community of "Carls." Intramural sports are "freakishly popular," including college favorites like ultimate Frisbee or broomball, and there are more than 200 clubs and organizations to join, such as the West Coast Swing Club or the stand-up comedy troupe. Students also marvel at the Arboretum, "an 800-acre forest where students go for runs, go snowshoeing, or have campfires" and which sometimes acts as an outdoor classroom. While partying is possible ("the drinking policy throughout Northfield is strict, but...it's relaxed here at Carleton," says a student), students say that "there are just as many opportunities for substance-free activities. Even at parties, there is no pressure to drink." On weekends, the most important thing that Carls do is give their brains a break from the academic obligations of the week, however that may be. One student offers their possible solutions: "I often find myself attending a concert at the Cave, the student pub; going to a show one of my friends wrote at the Little Nourse Theater; taking a quick trip to the cities for Mall of America or an uptown excursion; or, most likely, having a surprisingly engaging and deep intellectual discussion with some friends at a party on a Friday night."