Caitlin

That's what our recent retired President (Rob Oden) used to say to the incoming first years every year. It's a bit of a joke around Carleton, but it's also sort of true. Above all Carleton students are known for being "quirky" and "nerdy." What I think this really means is that we are all truly unique individuals, and we all get really excited about the stuff we're into, including academics. One thing I love about Carleton is that everyone gets excited about learning and everyone is really smart and talented in their subject area. Someone who you might expect to be a stereotypical "jock" may talk your ear off about economic theory and a math major might also be a great artist. Everybody has something to offer, and you really can't label someone until you get to know them.

Carleton is basically a bunch of offbeat, intelligent young adults stuck in a cute little college town in the middle of nowhere, Minnesota. This makes for a great college experience, if it's the type of school you're looking for. The student body is around 2,000 students, which I find to be a great size. After one trimester, I recognize most of the people I see walking around and I'm probably acquainted with between 5-10% of them. Northfield is quite small as well, and since St. Olaf College is also there, over half of the Northfield inhabitants are college students. It may not have much of a nightlife, but you can walk just a few minutes off campus to the local coffee shop or the grocery store. This size is definitely not for everyone, especially given Carleton's location, but it does make for a cozy community feel which I love. The school ensures that there is always plenty to do on campus, so there's no need for a city anyway. In fact, there's usually too much to do, and though you might want to go to everything, you'll soon find it's impossible.

The average class size is between 15 and 20 students, so it is very easy to get to know your professors at Carleton. Even the biggest classes only get up to about 60 students so you're never just a number. This allows classes to be more discussion than lecture oriented and gives all students a chance to participate in class. Carleton students are generally active and engaged in the classroom. Professors are also likely to invite students over to their house. This term the professor of my freshman seminar, a class limited to 15 freshmen students meant to introduce first term students to Carleton academics, invited our class over for dessert at his house. We all sat in his living room and discussed how we'd felt about the term. You cannot get an experience like that at a big school.

Carleton has a unique academic schedule that's very different from most schools. It runs on trimesters, running Sept.-Thanksgiving, Jan.-March, and April-June. Students take only three classes each term. Each term only lasts ten weeks, but it covers all the material normally covered in a semester. Thus, Carleton academics run in short intense bursts. It can get pretty stressful, but every time there's a break it's in between terms so it's a real break not extra time to get that big paper done. Also, having three more intense classes instead of four or five easier ones allows students to get more out of each of their classes instead of being spread thin over several subjects.

Even though Carleton is a very intellectual environment where students get excited about learning and are motivated to succeed, it is very noncompetitive. Letter grades are almost never discussed since students focus on doing their individual best rather than competing with each other. When students do discuss their grades, it's in a more general way, such as "Are you satisfied with your grades this term?" instead of "What grades did you get this term?" Everyone just wants to do their personal best, which takes off some of the pressure that is put on students.

An education at Carleton is definitely geared more towards learning for its own sake than getting a job, though that is not to say that Carleton students are not successful after graduation. Help with everything from schoolwork to internships to post-graduation planning is available from multiple sources on campus. If you feel like you are not able to get help, it's probably because you haven't looked.

Carleton has the diversity level of most small liberal arts colleges (mostly white and economically well-off) but most groups are represented at least in some capacity. There are even some Republicans, but the campus in general is very liberal. Of course, the campus is not completely free of racism, homophobia, etc. but it is an accepting environment and students are fairly conscientious. There is definitely social diversity on campus and a range of personal styles, though most Carleton students were not the "popular" kids in high school. As a group, Carleton students are intelligent and studious, but they don't take themselves too seriously. In addition to their studies, they are dedicated to having a good time. On the weekends you'll find most students enjoying themselves and taking a well-earned break from the stress of the week. A great example of this is the night before finals every term. First there is the Late-Night Breakfast, where students are treated to a breakfast around 10pm, served by Carleton staff and administrators. Then there is the Primal Scream, where all the students scream at the same time to release their stress about finals. Finally, students gather in the library with their mp3 players, laptops, and headphones for the Silent Dance Party, where everyone puts on the same playlist at the same time and rocks out--silently. It's all a great way to release stress and have a little fun before one of the most stressful points of the term.

Carleton students are usually pretty involved on campus. Most of them are involved in several activities that demonstrate a wide variety of interests. Some popular activities include all levels of ultimate frisbee (Carleton has teams at all levels from nationally competitive to soft-core intramural), Ebony II (a student-run just-for-fun dance group available to anyone), and KRLX (the Carleton radio station--anyone can make their own weekly show). There are tons of other activities to be involved in from Mustache Club to Scrabble in Interesting Places Club. Plus, if you don't find something you want to do, you can start your own group.

In addition to regular activities, there are always concerts, movies, and other random events happening to entertain you. Of course, there are always parties on the weekends, if that's what you want to do. There are no frats or sororities so there isn't really a social group you have to belong to in order to be in on the social gatherings. One big Carleton tradition is Heaven and Hell, a dance party held in Evans dorm on two levels so one room is "Heaven" and one is "Hell." Everyone dresses up and gets sorted to one or the other, but you can move between the two freely. If you're not into partying, there isn't pressure to participate and there's plenty of other things going on.

It can be inconvenient to get out of Northfield unless you have your own car. There are buses that run a couple times a day but you have to plan ahead of time. Starting this year there is also WeCar, which is a community car you can rent after paying a membership fee, but it's fairly pricey and not usually the most convenient option. Luckily, if you really do need a way to get somewhere, you can usually find someone who's willing to let you borrow their car or drop you off on their way to something else. Plus, you don't usually need to get off-campus... there's so much going on that most people don't have time to think about getting into the cities. There are also activity buses that go a few times a term to plays, movies, and other events happening in the cities, so don't think you'll miss out on those things! It's pretty easy to get your own bus to go to an event, as long as you invite the whole campus. :)

The most common words used to describe Carleton students are "quirky" and "nerdy." Quirky because they are all unique and a bit odd--most people have a special talent or an offbeat hobby. Nerdy because they are not only intelligent, but they enjoy classes and want to discuss academic subjects outside of the classroom. Other less positive stereotypes are that Carleton students are socially awkward and/or not very attractive. These mostly stem from the existence of their "rival" college, St. Olaf College. St. Olaf students are supposedly the dumber, prettier ones and Carleton students are the smarter, but uglier ones.

Personally, when I need to knuckle down and get some real work done, I go to the upper floor of Sayles-Hill, which houses our student center. The snack bar and the bookstore are on the first floor, so it's conveniently placed for getting that cookie or boost of caffeine that can power you through your late-night studying. I also like it because of the background noise, since I'm really bad at keeping quiet in the library. There are a variety of tables, couches, and even foosball if you need a study break, so it's got everything you need when you're in it for the long-haul.

From my experience, the quirkiness and nerdiness is true. Most Carleton students tend to be a bit offbeat in their own special way, and not afraid to show it. It also helps that they don't take themselves too seriously. They also tend to be very intelligent and interested in learning, but not obsessed with studying. Carleton as a whole seems to subscribe to the "work hard, play hard" attitude, and you will find most students having fun on weekends instead of staying cooped up in the library. The ugliness thing is not true, but Carleton students do tend to dress more casually and less fashionably than St. Olaf students.

Fun fact--Northfield is home to the Malt-o-Meal factory, which means that the entire town often smells like sugary cereal, i.e. delicious. I love Carleton and I'm so glad I chose it. I've only been there for one term, but I have already met so many great people and learned a lot too. The small community atmosphere is not for everyone, but if it sounds appealing then Carleton may be for you. There is no substitute for visiting, though, and I definitely recommend seeing it for yourself.

My absolute favorite Carleton tradition is the Silent Dance Party, which happens every term the night before finals. A week or so beforehand, someone makes an hour-long mix and posts it online so everyone can download it to their various devices. Then at 11pm that night everybody makes their way down to the first (and quietest) floor of the library with their devices ready--everything from iPods to laptops. Some people dress up; there's almost always someone in a gorilla costume. There's a collective countdown, and everybody starts the mix at the same time, the starts dancing! The only rule is you have to be silent, and respectful of the people studying instead of dancing. I whole-heartedly recommend participating, but if you don't it's also pretty funny to watch about one hundred students dancing to silence (you can also look up videos on youtube). The mob makes its way through the library and around a few buildings on campus before finally ending where they started at midnight. Most of the participants can't dance, but everyone gets really into it and it's totally ridiculous--the perfect way to blow off some steam before finals.