Carleton College Reviews

"Attending Carleton College was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Prepare to be surrounded by people who will both challenge you and support you as you become the best person you have ever been. Professors will amaze you not only by their knowledge of their discipline, but also by their interest in you personally. Youll get to know all of them by their first name as they meet with you in office hours and even invite you over to their houses. Youll receive deeply insightful criticism in addition to support and encouragement. I still keep in touch with some of them even years after college. The students youll surround yourself with are some of the best quality people youll ever meet. Theyll astound you with their intellect and their extracurricular interests, but theyll also be so kind to you. As a result of both the people youre with, and the many opportunities available, youll discover new things you never thought youd be passionate about. At Carleton, I went from someone who barely worked out ever to a marathon runner and martial artist. I became invested in social justice and got fascinated by the Arabic language. I picked up vegan baking and contact improvisation.Youll discover just how many beautiful things there are in this world, while at the same time, discovering a new dedication to improving it. Despite my love for this school, Ill do my best to keep this review in check. Carleton is of course a small liberal arts college, and some people might prefer the greater anonymity or more numerous course offerings at a larger university. I can also see someone attending a larger university if they know that it has an outstanding department in one thing or another that Carleton doesnt have. Carleton does have a liberal arts focus, which is great if your goal is to become a smarter, better you. But if you honestly would just rather have a direct path to a certain career like architecture of pharmacy, then I could understand you choosing to go somewhere else too. That being said, Carleton grads can compete with the best of the best in those fields too-thats how amazing a strong liberal arts base is. Some might find Carleton to be a bit remote, but thats just part of the school. I really enjoyed it, even as someone from Chicago who identifies as a city person.There really is a lot to like about Carleton. But theres also a lot to like about so many other institutions out there. Check us out, but in the end go to where you feel most at home!Read Less"

"Carleton College is a small liberal arts school located in Northfield, MN. Carleton offers students to explore and challenge their learning experience by encouraging all students to engage in multiple disciplines outside of their Major. While studying economics I was also able to take classes in media production and anthropology and sociology. This experience was able to teach me a diverse set of skills and allow me to think critically about scenarios related or not to my studies. Being a small school in a small town also created a better sense of community for students. Carleton College is a great school with much to offer in academics and community.Read Less"

"Carleton was a fantastic place to get an undergraduate degree. The small class sizes, the flexibility of the majors, and outstanding faculty encouraged me to pursue graduate school. I am now a professor at a liberal arts school as a result."

"Wonderful liberal arts education with great professors."

"College is an amazing time of growth and learning. I would not be the person I am today if I had not had the experiences and struggles which challenged me in college. I can think of no better college for an intellectually curious person than Carleton College."

"The Carleton community is so warm and inclusive--and it definitely doesn't disappear when you graduate. I have continued to find wonderful friends in various cities from Carleton since graduating, including people I never met during undergrad."

"Carleton is a great school for those looking for a small-school environment. You won't be just a number, like you might be at some state schools. Overall, the professors are high quality and all of the professors I had have been easy to contact or meet with. Housing is also pretty decent, obviously some situations are better than others, but don't come here if you plan on living off campus - you don't have the option until senior year, and even then it's only a small percentage (which the administration has been aiming to cut entirely). The administration has for the most part done a good job, though they leave much to be desired with regards to communicating with students and taking student opinions into account. Despite these shortcomings, the students and classes are amazing enough to make up for the occasional frustrations. You will be challenged, you'll have to work hard, but so will everyone around you, which makes for quite the bonding experience. If I went back four years and got to pick a college again, I'd still pick Carleton.Read Less"

"I loved Carleton. It was very challenging, yet supportive. It was fun to learn and grow there."

"I loved Carleton. I can't wait to go back for my 5 year reunion next summer. I made a lot of friends there that are still some of my best friends, and I met my now husband there. The people, students and teachers, at Carleton are wonderful and make it a unique place."

"I was a first generation college student and didn't know how to take advantage of the resources of my college. Additionally, coming from a low socio-economic background was challenging with all the children of affluent people; they were all taking unpaid internships in D.C. while I worked during school and full-time during breaks. I would also have preferred to attend an institution with a much higher LGBT population. But Carleton is great, even if it is in the Midwest."