Carleton Mathematics Major

Carleton students are the smartest of the quirkiest. They're the ones who were smart in high school, maybe too smart, and didn't feel like the east coast schools were the place for them. They love their work, but they also love life; and are able to achieve a balance between both. They're driven, but not to insanity. Aside from this though, there really is no stereotype. There are people who are 'jocks', and people who are 'nerds'; the only difference is that there aren't really boundaries, or expectations. A jock very well could live in sci-fi house, and a nerd could be captain of the baseball team.

For the most part, I feel this portrayal is accurate. The school is challenging, and I feel that sometimes there is pressure to never leave the library. Groups don't interact quite as well as the administration would have us believe they do, but that's not to say they don't interact; they do. Overcoming roles that have been built throughout one's life is hard. Carleton helps break these boundaries down, but absolute success I feel is impossible. The students are quirky, and intelligent, for sure. Some did want to go to an ivy, but there's no one I know who is resentful about not. Most feel Carleton was the best decision of their lives.

Carleton is an amazing school. From my experience of talking with friends and others in colleges across the country, I feel it's one of the best undergraduate experiences in the country. You can do anything you want, and be anyone you want. We're all family to a reasonable extent. That is true. The school is about taking everything in moderation, including moderation. You'll find a liberal student body, but also a vocal conservative presence that creates great dialog. You'll find atheists and believers; nudist and puritans; jocks and geeks. Everyone can find happiness here. Everyone.
Carleton's relationship with the world around it is an interesting one. When someone hears you go to Carleton, one of two answers is assured:
1. That's a fantastic school. Do you like. My *blank* went there, and is in grad school at *blank*. She credits Carleton with a lot.
OR
2. Carleton. Hmmm; that in Minnesota, right? It's cold there, you know.
People apparently assume that you aren't aware that Minnesota is cold in the winter.
The town of Northfield treats the college in a similar manner. Some of the town's people really like the school, some of them are ambivalent, or unaware. So it goes.
Our administration is fantastic. Ridiculously so. Rob Oden, the current president is an amazingly charismatic, insanely intelligent man who with the rest of the administration is leading Carleton in the 21st century with ambitious plans to renovate Carleton's arts, as well as a plan to increase our endowment about 60%. His goal is to leave Carleton with fully endowed financial aid, a sub 10:1 student to faculty ratio and an arts program to rival any other small liberal arts college. It's ambitious, but it's Rob Oden. I have no doubt that it will happen.

The academics are far and away the best thing about Carleton. Not to down play anything else at the school; everything is great. It's simply that the academics are so, so good. Any professor you have for a class will make a concerted effort to learn your name in the first week; some even learn every name in each of their classes before the term begins. Beyond that, every professor is ridiculously accessible. Most professors are available for advice probably ten hours a week, or more. And not just academic advice-anything. They're not just teachers, they're life mentors, and they're great. Classes focus on creative thinking-it's not simply about learning the facts, it's about sitting in small groups and discussing how the facts can be used in a novel way. Math classes, usually were participation and fun go to die, are instead lively, fun discussions. In all classes professors want to students to take a proactive part of their education, and try to make learning the names of the 20 amino acids or all the kings of England enjoyable-however impossible that may sound, it can (and does) happen. The faculty are also incredibly diverse. Some are academics, and want nothing more than for all of their students to go to grad school for degrees in 13th century Chinese literature or algebraic topology; others though encourage you to explore your options, see what's beyond academia, and live. The only warning I would give is this: the education in the majority of the departments is very classical. It's a liberal arts school, and so one doesn't come here to specialize. One comes to explore and get a very, very strong foundation in a wide variety of disciplines. The faculty are knowledgeable about modern advancements in their fields (and are often active researchers or authors), but they'll still insist on teaching you the basics through and through. Not to say there's no chance in learning about more recent advancements, it's just that it will be done through independant readings, research with faculty, and senior seminars; all of which are readily available for anyone who wants to find it. Whatever you want to do with your life, I believe Carleton's academics can and will deliver, if you're willing to put in the time and effort.

From my experience, Carleton's student body is everything. There is no group that is missing entirely; just those who need to be a bit more vocal. (For the most part, these groups are the most vocal, so it's evens out.) I don't think any student would feel out of place here; as long as he or she was willing to explore the community. There are student who wear button up shirts and ties to class, and students who wear old jeans and a "Geology Rocks!" T-Shirt to class. Some students talk about having trust funds, others about working 20 hours a week to pay their tuition. What's most amazing to me is that these students, all of them interact. Their is not a group of 'preps' who only see preps and only date preps and only take classes with preps, or any other groups of this sort. There are just people; people who are multi-faceted and proud.
An anecdote about Carleton students:
When I first got to Carleton, I ran across a number of people who I really felt didn't 'belong'; that is to say they appeared to be much different than myself. But as I got to know them, I realized that along with being amazing people, they were like me. This didn't just happen once or twice. It happened all the time. Eventually I realized that everyone at Carleton is special, and everyone here is similar. We aren't all the same, but we're able to eat a meal with each other, if we wanted. I've never met a Carleton student who didn't completely bowl me off my feet in some way, and I don't think I ever will.

Carleton social life, like it's student body, is diverse. There are those who do party every weekend, but if you don't want to party, there's so much to do, every night.

If I'm awake late at night on a Tuesday, there are three things that I'm probably doing:
1. Finishing a problem set due in 6 hours.
2. Blowing off the problem set to talk about the relationship between Spinoza's God and the natural world.
3. Blowing off Spinoza to trying to decide who the best Super Smash Brothers character is while eating a waffle at Sweet Lou's Waffle Bar. I get the Jesse James, with chocolate and raspberries, and go with Ness.

Couples that form are usually long term, but if you want to find flings, they're to be found. The only scene I'm not aware is the traditional "do you want to go on a date" scene. People usually date people they've known for a while; couples that weren't friends before hand, or at least good acquaintances, are rare.

Carleton is an amazing school. Whatever you want to be, or whoever you want to become, you can do it here. I say this with confidence and fully aware of the great, wonderful diversity of all people. Come. You are all welcome. You will all find friends and challenges that will make you a better person, and help you learn to know yourself. You will savor every moment of Carleton, and look forward to every new term.