Macalester: The Big Picture
The best thing about Macalester in my opinion is variety. Everybody is unique (and since everyone is unique, no one is... but that's an entirely different discussion that I've no doubt had at 2 am in the lounge). People from Mac come from so many diverse backgrounds, but despite the miles between everyone's hometowns, people find so much in common, which is great. I think Macalester can be a good school for anyone. I can't claim that Macalester is "perfect for me," because I honestly believe anyone can have a blast here. Being in the Twin Cities is also a huge advantage. Advantage meaning, you'll be able to have a lot more fun here than some schools in the middle of no where. The food here is great (I know people who gripe about it but I think they have been here so long they've forgotten what high school food was like... ugh). Macalester really has something for everyone, unless you want to go to culinary school or something like that... in which case... I'd say go to culinary school.
Macalester Academic Life
Academics at Macalester are world renowned for how awesome they are. Professors make you think hard, write better, speak better, make connections you never would have made, and laugh even (that's important too!). The workload is deceptively heavy sometimes, but I think it's always worth it. I've learned so much since being here. A weirdly awesome Mac attribute is that often when you get to talking about what you're learning with your friends you'll find the methods of discourse to be similar even though you're taking different classes. You'll have some great conversations at all hours of the day (and not always about school stuff either... this is college, remember, we still laugh at farts).
Macalester's Student Body
Macalester has a great reputation for being an open place to express one's racial, religious, sexual-orientation, or any other identity attribute. I know kids whose parents are so rich they'll pay every cent of that $180,000 or however much the cost will be after 4 years. I also know kids who come from backgrounds where their parents weren't able to pay any of the cost, and the school gives them aid. I know republicans, democrats, anarchists, communists, moderates, socialists, I know Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Athesits, Agnostics, and none of them chastise each other for their views.
Macalester Student Activities + Social Life
Most sports teams here don't get a lot of attention, club sports do, however, as do most of the almost inane number of student organizations on campus. I'm in Macalester Peace and Justice Committee. There are so many student orgs though, something will appeal to you, be it martial arts with weapons or ballroom dance. There are no fraternities and sororities. This is awesome. I don't drink alcohol (I know, *GASP*) or do drugs of any kind and I always have things to do on weekends (besides homework). A huge group of friends of mine (10-15) will often go out to eat on Saturday nights, sampling a different ethnic cuisine every time, and hopefully visiting a part of the city we've never been to before. Of course, if partying is your thing, you'll have plenty of people to do it with. Also, a group of us went streaking across the campus and back in -40 degrees... I got frostbite on my fingers... it was great.
