Macalester College Top Questions

What is your overall opinion of this school?

Derek

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Derek

Macalester classes are characterized by their small sizes, most are about a dozen students. WIth about 1950 students total, there is a strong sense of community as you may easily recognize nearly everybody on campus. Although you do lose anonymity, I believe the small size and the requirement to live on campus for two years establishes a strong school identity. When people hear that you go to Macalester, if they've heard of it, they know it is a very left leaning top tier school, far more than most institutions. Although students may have minor complaints, the administration really takes out grievancs to heart, which I believe is reflected by the schools retention rate of about 97{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}.

Jared

The best thing about Mac is the class sizes are almost all under 20-25 students. You really get to know your professors, whom actually take an interest in your learning progression. Also students are always having intellectual discussions outside of class, which is a huge plus! 2000 undergrads is a good number in that you see familiar faces all the time, yet can still meet new people every day. When people hear I'm going to Macalester it's usually, "Oh that must be expensive" or "I've never heard of it." Little do they know about the massive financial aid students here get. Mac is sort of a hidden gem in the twin cities in the shadow of the U of M and St Thomas. Kind of why I love it. School pride is kind of lacking, but everyone here is here because they want to be here. You won't find many apathetic students. Students here have strong stances on issues, yet are open minded. We may not have massive crowds for the football games, but hey, its a LAC and that's expected.

Charlie

MAC is an excellent school, situated on a beautiful campus, in a SAFE residential neighborhood, in the Twin Cities. The school is a good size for a liberal arts college. There is a lot of school pride, everyone is proud to be here. The most frequent student complaints are the res life staff (NOT RES LIFE ITSELF), and the administrative decisions financially.

Kevin

Macalester is a small liberal arts school in St. Paul, Minnesota. It is chock full of smart people from around the world, and as a result the campus is pretty much friendly to everything. There is a suprising diversity on campus given the small amount of kids there, and everyone seems to find a group that they can belong in. As such, the school has a very high quality of life. There is not a lot of school pride about Macalester's athletics, somthing that many would like to change but find it tough with so many international kids and ones who just plain don't care about sports.

Alex

Macalester is an awesome school academic wise. The classes are small and student-professor accessibility and relationship are second to none. It is an extremely liberal environment and this may come as a shock to some at first. The population is not too small and not too large. It is a very king and friendly community. When I tell people here at home that I go to Macalester, they ask where is that....when i say in Minnesota, they repeat "Where is that?"...lol. The Twin Cities area is awesome and has alot of activities. Macalester is a really really good school.

Alessandra

The location of the school is probably on of Macalester's greatest attributes. Situated in a beautiful old neighborhood in Saint Paul there is great access to public transportation into the downtowns of the Twin Cities and other interesting areas. It is also right along Grand Ave which has a number of great resturuants and coffee shops. As far as school pride their is very little and not a great sense of place like on other liberal arts campuses. The administration is very proud of its internationalism and their are a lot of international students and that is great and a really interesting element of the school but it often appears to be its major selling point and a recruiting tool.

Terry

Small, but a feeling of home. If you can find your right niche, you'll be fine.

Royce

The best thing about Mac is how much it makes you think. Having taken classes at large universities numerous times, I can tell you straight up that there I usually end up memorizing facts and theories and hardly put myself into any of my work; it's different at Mac. You learn to really think, about everything, and you carry those lessons inside and out beyond our little bubble - your whole perspective of the world changes. It's hard sometimes, but I've never regretted it once. While the school is wonderful the way it is, many of us, myself included, wish the school were bigger. It's just tiny. It feels huge when you get here, but that changes rather quickly. But it wouldn't be Mac if it had 10,000 students I suppose. If not larger, I wish we had more venues by which to interact with student from the many other schools in the area - I especially wish freshmen and sophomores had this, as they live on campus. Most people honestly just don't even know what Mac is. Which used to irritate me, but really, it's their loss - having been around a top ten school most of my life and switching to this environment, I know for a fact that Mac deserves just as much if not more praise than some of the big-namers. The cities have a good number of colleges, so I'd say you're in a "semi-college town." It's still a city (two, to boot), but there are a lot of students around, and the local businesses know that. Grand Ave is especially great for students and local residents alike. Mac's administration has its heart in the right place. Like any administration, though, it tends to be populated by older people, and thus things tend to change less quickly than the fiery students want them to. I'd have to say, though, that we have a relatively open and open-minded administration that will listen to what we have to say, even if they won't always act on it.

Nico

Macalester can sometimes get clicky and you especially notice this since it's such a small school. There are definitely those girls who you thought wouldn't be at college anymore, who make fun of people and are exclusive, but they go to good colleges too. At the same time, you can find your own group of really nice people who genuinely care about others and the world around them. Everyone kind of knows each other and it can get annoying at times. A lot of people know other people's business even though they may not even know those people personally.

Parker

Exaggerated internationalism. Incredible professors available. Students' passion to learn overrated in college brochures -- many are as indifferent about education as students in other undergraduate schools, like the Ivy Leagues (as surprising as that may sound...IVY LEAGUES? INDIFFERENT to education? Sad but true) But some incredible students available. Great food. Great. Smallness gets claustrophobic, but I wouldn't have it any other way. It's intimate and personal and memorable. It's nice to know that after leaving this place I will have remembered every corner, as familiar as home, because it's just that small. Great location. I like the availability of many homosexuals. It's a new experience. But one must always be aware that America is not such a liberal, gay-crazy bubble like Macalester.

Ali

The campus is small and familiar. It is extremely easy to navigate the buildings and find your classroom. When I tell people I go to Macalester, they usually don't know what it is, unless they are from the area. If they do know the school, they are usually impressed. The administration is alright, could use some work. There are mixed feelings about the president, Brian Rosenberg. The twin cities have great public transportation which makes going to college without a car very simple. The athletics are not great, but we are just finishing our new 41 million dollar recreation center, which will be nice.

Zach

Macalester is foremost a rigorous academic institution. No matter your major - chemistry or economics or anthropology or Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies or dance, you are going to work hard and learn how to be an active, engaged citizen. Mac is politically active and tends to be liberal, though not to the exclusion of people with other political/social leanings. Mac is a very ethnically diverse campus - we have students from some 80 countries, and our multitude of student organizations ensures that everyone has a smaller group and community. Despite this, after a year or two, the community can feel small. I don't know every single student's name, but I recognize about 90{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the faces. However, Mac is smack-dab in the middle of St. Paul, and the Twin Cities community provides lots of off-campus people, activities and culture. The administration is great at empowering student initiatives, and lately has been a big part of Mac's climate crisis movement. The student body is working en masse on a global scale to address global warming, and has made some amazing strides already. Initiatives include going carbon-neutral on campus, engaging the surrounding community in the same thing and starting a global, grassroots movement for a new-energy economy. A frequent complaint I hear from the straight women is that there aren't many eligible, straight men. I dispute that argument.

Jeff

I absolutely love Macalester. It has been the perfect match for me. A couple of its qualities bother me, however. One concerns the international students, of which Macalester is largely composed. They tend to be incredibly cliquish according to what area of the world they're from. This makes it hard for domestic and international students to interact on a regular basis, but there are several people, both domestic and international, who completely ignore these cliques and cross boundaries. The other complaint is the dating scene. For some reason, it is very weak or absent, altogether. There seems to be some inhibitions that Mac students have about approaching each other in a suggestive way, and I don't know why. I love the setting that Macalester is in. Saint Paul has a very neighborhoody feel, while still maintaining some minor resemblance to a city. This makes it easy to feel at ease, while also allowing you to explore and discover new places. Most students are happy to be here, but they're not very quick to express it. Most of the conversation concerning Macalester involves a complaint in some form or another, whether it be social life, financial aid, or the food.

Julianna

The best thing about Macalester is its size. It embraces being a small liberal arts college in so many ways. Class sizes are remarkably small, and are ALWAYS taught by professors (or visiting lecturers). Professors are accessible, to the point of inviting students to their homes for dinner, which is something I always thought was just a stereotypical college guidebook comment. The campus is a manageable size, and though it's in a city is in a quiet residential neighborhood, so it's really the best of both worlds. Even better, and something I did not anticipate, is the way the school almost seamlessly blends into the neighborhood, in the sense that surrounding area is full of students, alumni, faculty, and people who are just generally friendly towards the school and the people who go there. When I tell people where I go to school, most of the comments I get are about how cold the winters must be. They are. But for me, that was fairly irrelevant - I bought a winter coat and kept going. The administration, to the best of my knowledge, is fairly tame. They make themselves very visible, which is good...but they also seem to beat the dead horse about their favorite brochure phrase, "global citizenship". To their credit, the campus is legitimately diverse in terms of having students from around the world, especially since it's a small school in the midwest. Something unique about Macalester is the "Veggie Co-op" - quite literally an on-campus group of vegetarians and vegans who live in converted loft-style rooms under the stadium and share a kitchen where they cook meals together. They throw the best Halloween party every year, make delicious food, and are generally an interesting group of people. You have to apply to live there, but from what I hear, its way worth it.

Alex

The best thing about Macalester is its commitment to being part of a global community. To fulfill that commitment, the school makes a great effort to attract international students as well as making study abroad opportunities very accessible to its domestic students. Furthermore, many of the classes have an international aspect built in which is furthered by the diverse students sitting in the classroom. The school also invited globally minded guests to campus to keep its students informed about the broader world.

Luke

Macalester is a great place. The size is one of my favorite things about it, although at times it does feel a little too small. I spend most of my time outside when its warm. When it gets cold out, I pretty much stay inside. St Paul is a great place to go to school. It is easy to get around with plenty of stuff to do. The hardest part is breaking out of the 'Macalester Bubble'. School Pride is different at Macalester. The student body takes pride in being one of the best liberal arts schools in the country. In terms of athletics, there is little interest outside of soccer. Personally, I am a big fan of the football team which has a small, devoted following. As the team gets better, I expect the following to increase.

Ash

The teachers at Macalester deserve to live in heaven. They respect and help their students as they would to their children. THe one thing I would chamge-abolish Queer Cabaree even though it is incredibly hilarious. Most of the time in campus, I walk in all corners of the campus and then I again walk all corners of the campus.

Candace

Ok, the best thing about Macalester is the food. Most students will tell you that college cafeteria food sucks. Well, Macalester is not so bad. We have fruit and a plethera of vegan/vegetarian foods (they're even labeled!!!). The dorms are a little bad your first 2 years (especially dupre or as the students call it duprojects) but they aren't that bad. Only thing I might change is the weather. It does get cold in Saint Paul. But the snow is pretty!!!!

Casey

While Macalester, like any school, has its flaws, overall I feel it has allowed me to meet a ton of amazing people of different backgrounds, personalities, and personal beliefs. To me, Macalester is full of caring people who legitimately want to make a positive change in the world. While there are a lot of people who party on the weekends, most people still care about their grades at least to some degree and are open to learning about other people's different ideas and cultures. I really valued my first year at Macalester, because it learned me to appreciate my background. When I first got to Macalester, I had an eye-opening experience. While listening to every individual in a circle of new people name off their places of origin, I realized how many people were either from a different country or had spent their lives hopping from place to place. I felt that, being a life-long resident of Kansas, I was somehow less important or interesting than those other people. However, as the year progressed, I learned that living in dozens of places does not necessarily make a person more knowledgeable or open-minded. A lot of international students or people I knew who had traveled a lot still displayed prejudices and intolerance. I learned that it is a person's willingness to learn about others, regardless of their external surroundings, that makes them wise and will allow him or her to learn more in the long-run.

Tate

Macalester. Hmm, well its tough to start considering I might be one of the biggest fans of this school. I live about 25 minutes away and originally thought that I was going to be too close to home. This was definitely not the case. I felt like I was from a state far away. The atmosphere at Macalester is one of the intangibles and made me feel like I had found a new home.

Robin

You want a city? have two. Want a small campus? All right. College is what YOU make it, and Macalester is a place that can make you feel at home. Only go to a school where you feel comfortable, and if Mac is that place, you'd better come here.

Casey

In general, Macalester is a good, small college. The small-college vibe is very present, with low class sizes and lots of community. One of the things that makes Mac special is its location in the Twin Cities, nearly directly between two downtown areas, which is a direct contrast to otherwise similar schools. The amount that this location is actually important varies from person to person, however, and I found that (at least during my first year) I spent a lot of time staying on campus, in what is the very defined "Macalester Bubble". However, regardless of whether you stay on campus or make use of your location, the college's facilities are excellent, and living for a week without leaving campus is not uncomfortable.

Hannah

I think Mac is just the right size, especially as most of the juniors and seniors don't live on campus, so it makes an even smaller commnunity. The best thing about Macalester is really the people, the vast majority of the student body are friendly, very welcoming and interesting. When I tell people I am go to Mac, they are either impressed or haven't heard of it at all, the majority being the latter. Off campus time is really up the individual, some kids go off campus every weekend to concerts, restaurants and museums and other people never leave. I wouldn't say it's a college town, but there is defintely a "Mac bubble" of the mile or so area around Macalester, up and down Grand, that it is very easy not to leave, with all of the coffee shops and restaurant.

Molly

Macalester is a little utopia located in St. Paul, Minnesota. Its small campus creates and inclusive community known as the "Mac Bubble," where everything a student needs from study spaces, social events, and midnight snacks is available. Located in the urban Twin Cities, chances abound to escape the "Bubble"- whether it be for trips to concerts, museums, sports games, or for community involvement through Mac programs, internships, or independent volunteering. While many choose Macalester because of its urban location, its amazing how rarely first years actually leave the Bubble!

Charlie

Macalester is a small and cozy campus in the busy twin cities area. It is a very diverse and multicultured environment. Many students spend their time outside during nice weather or else at the campus center doing work. There is much school pride with our Rugby and soccer teams. We are a super friendly and well-informed campus that does not hold back any ideas and conversations about a wide variety of issues and topics.

Emily

The size is really fantastic. It's small enough to have a close-knit community and you see people you know all the time, but at graduation there are still a ton of people you have never seen before.

Caley

Macalester is a really academically-tough college. I can´t say how many times I´ve been stressed out of my mind. But, it´s so rewarding. I´ve learned so ridiculously much about things that aren´t even related to my major that I would never choose to go anywhere else. Mac also has very little grad requirements, so you can really dig into your interests. The campus itself is really cozy, in a really nice neighborhood, with lots of cool little diners to eat at. I´ve never felt unsafe.

Holly

Macalester is a small liberal arts school in the middle of two big cities, which is a draw for many people. Most people don't take as much advantage of the cities as they could, and tend to stay on campus most of the time. This makes sense when it is -30 degrees outside (which happens), but the cities are great with tons to do.

Greg

Macalester is a very small school. While it is easy to know most everyone, it is harder to be friendly with everyoen becasue there are so many cliques. At first, many people think they are smarter then everyone else in part because they were atop their respective schools...this changes depending on the major. While in the twin cities, there is a macaleser bubble, and many students find it hard to leave a radius of six blocks.

Emily

Macalester is about being involved and being active--in the classroom, local community, and world. Students are engaged in many different on campus activities, community activities (like civic service and internships), and study abroad.

Anastasia

The administration was always very helpful and did everything they could to make me happy and successful! People are very environmentally conscious and the work done to make the campus a more green institution is admirable. The work of others in this area helped take some of the guilt off of my shoulders. Everyone complains about being required to live your first two years on campus, but it was definitely a smart decision. It increased community between students and strengthened our ties to Macalester. Classes are small so you get to know your profs and other students in your courses. I loved it!

Amanda

I really enjoy going to a small school that is in the middle of a city to escape into when needed. The Twin Cities are very supportive of the arts and there are lots of cultural events and good restaurants to visit. I enjoy being in a community where so many people come from far away. The classes are small and conversation is inevitable.

Cameron

My favorite things about Macalester: -it is in a city with a lot to do: art museums, music, bike trails, theater, but in an area of the city that feels "collegy" -Focus on internationalism and diversity through student body, classroom discussion and readings, etc -Students who are passionate, interested in learning, enjoy discussion

Emily

I view Macalester as my diamond in the rough because it is extremely intellectual, academically stimulating and offers so many academic and other resources but the entire world does not know about it like the IV leagues. However, the people that do know it know that it is a great place. When I go home to California many people aren´t familiar with Macalester. But when I run into someone that is they are always so happy for me to be there. In the midwest it is seen as a prestigious school and is very well respected in St. Paul. I have become much more proud to be a Macalester student as time has gone on because I feel I am part of a unique Macalester experience that the whole world does not know about. The school is small but there is a fairly diverse student body. For example, many of my friends are international students and come from extremely different cultures and backgrounds than me. One of my favorite parts about Macalester are the traditions. For example, at sports games we have a series of ridiculous cheers that everyone knows and goes crazy with. There are also various places on campus where people tend to gather or serve special purposes. Like Bateman Plaza. If you are looking for someone in the spring, you can just go wait at Bateman plaza because it is central to campus and there are nice outdoor tables to sit at and everyone passes by there as it is in front of the campus center.

Keith

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.

Alex

I really like the location, the campus, the accessibility. It is a small school, but to me it doesn't feel TOO small. I never thought I would go to such a small school, but I really like it because of its atmosphere. Even though lots of people have never heard of Macalester, it really is a highly respected school. One thing that I have had trouble with, which probably happens all over the place and is also partly my own fault, is that during Orientation and the first couple weeks of school, students find other people they are comfortable with and it all sticks. I feel like the groups generally get made, and that's the way it is. I feel like if you are really involved and really want to know lots of people from all different groups, you can. So, basically, that is something I need to work on if I want it to change. The food is good, too, compared to lots of other schools.

Kelly

It's a small campus in the middle of two cities. That's why I came here. Unfortunately the cities are not always easily accessible because of the cold weather, but if you have a bike it helps. The location is really perfect, aside from the weather. There are a lot of stories in the twin cities, and people coming in from all over the world. I spend a lot of time in the library, which is so wonderful. There are a lot of other great indoor places on campus, which was definitely done on purpose with winter in mind. When the weather's nice, I run down to the river or go for a bike ride--it's really pretty around here.

Liz

The best thing about Mac is that we are located in St.Paul--there are so many places to walk to or bus to; the twin cities are fantastic. The student body is a little small. You get to know people quickly, and that's great. But, sometime's it's difficult to see the exact same people everyday--occasionally you can feel boxed in. Mac may not be super well known, but it is certainly a respected institution.

Jody

Macalester is a small liberal arts school in the Twin Cities. We are one of the only colleges of its kind, being a liberal arts college in a major metropolitan area. The area around Macalester, primarily Grand Avenue, is very fun and has a lot of restaurants and shops to visit. While still a bit under the radar, Macalester is slowly emerging as a premiere institution in the US, being that we were recently designated a "New Ivy." Macalester students are proud of who they are as individuals and that they are part of a diverse community. Macalester has its quirks, primarily the student body, and we are unique in that way. Macalester students are also not afraid of being passionate for what they believe in, whether that means trying to start a dialogue through the campus newspaper or chaining oneself to recruitment center doors. We are all passionate about something and we pursue it to the full extent.

Sarah

The best thing about Macalester is the small liberal arts vibe in a bigger metropolitan area. It allows us to do internships unavailable to most other liberal arts schools in the middle of nowhere. Also, it's nice to get off campus and enjoy the perks of city life (museums, bars, shows, etc). Frequent student complaints include the campus being too liberal--when everyone agrees with each other it's difficult to debate topics in discussion based classes. Also, our athletics tend to be a bit of a bummer but the administration seems to be working on getting better athletes with the new athletic facilities coming in and our football team more than doubling in size in less than three years.

Carl

The school is small, the campus is small, but the opportunities are endless. It's great to be in the Twin Cities, an area that is extremely active, and teeming with academic, social, and political opportunities. It is well known, and well respected in the area, though it is not widely known outside of the Midwest. Pretty much every single person that I've met here has been friendly, welcoming, and interesting. There are some very fun things that happen every year, such as Springfest, Trads concerts, music, dancing, and good times. Sports teams exist, but the sports kids usually tend to keep to themselves. Oh, and the weather. Just be prepared for six months of winter. That being said, Spring and Fall are beautiful.

Andy

It is small and there are quite many international stdudents. Students here are quite aware of local and gloal issues. These i reallly like a lot. Sometimes i would like to have more free time and less stress, but i guess that is a part of learning and getting ready for life.

Marissa

Macalester is a pretty small school (little more than 2,000, all undergraduates) and it's a very open-minded, liberal school. I absolutely love it, but at times people can get a little TOO politically correct. A good example: there was a recent controversy concerning a themed party on campus - the theme was "political correctness" and people had to basically come as the most politically incorrect thing they could think of. Someone came as an aborted fetus and I think someone might have come as a Nazi...not 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} sure about that, but you get the picture. People were obviously offended and, because the party happened on school-property, the school authorities got involved. Now, I'm sure the people who attended/planned the party did not mean for it to get as out of hand as it did, but people did end up getting offended. As a result, these students were verbally attacked and ostracized from the tight Mac community, even though they did not mean to hurt anyone. That, however, is the most extreme case that I've encountered here. The city - St. Paul - is absolutely amazing and Minneapolis is right across the river...gotta love the Twin Cities!

Andi

Macalester was/is the best option for me. It's located in a vibrant community with the wider Twin Cities area offering pretty much anything you could want. There are tons of bike trails and lakes for outdoor activities in all seasons, though it does get pretty cold. If you really want to be able to take advantage of the world outside of the college bubble, Mac is a great place to be. Most departments and courses are dedicated to introducing the students to that world, though it is possible to make it through four years without riding a city bus. But you would have to work at it. And the transit system isn't too hard to decipher. We're also pretty close to the airport, which is great. The campus itself is small and easy to navigate. As a theatre major, I have spent most of my time in the Fine Arts complex, which is about to be entirely remodeled (after forty years of outdatedness). I've noticed how tight-knit departments become since the school is not too large. The smaller ones almost become surrogate families for their students. Students are frequently invited to professors' homes for dinner and conversation. Conversation at Mac is the most amazing and intense I have ever experienced anywhere. That is one of the best aspects of the student body. The vast majority of students are incredibly smart and sincerely interested in examining modes of thinking and acting, including their own. Even when people are drinking excessively on the weekends, most of what we talk about is academically originated, or at least contextualized.

Mark

Macalester's administration is, as I said above, an impressive one. Hires are chosen very carefully, and public participation (from students) is nearly always included in even very important, high-profile decisions about who serves the positions that direct the school. There are logistical limits to public participation, and I feel Macalester often pushes them. It gives the school an air of community when a student is given the opportunity to voice an opinion. For example: your opinion about who is hired to teach a subject you are very passionate about. I think there are plenty of unusual things about Macalester, which is why I chose it. For example, for a kind of nerdy school, we have more than our fair share of people who do amazingly hip things right on campus. (Most people do hip things in Minneapolis) Guys walking tight-ropes strung across trees (big beautiful trees to climb!), people swinging fire balls around their bodies very rapidly, people practicing the fine art of Parqueur (see the Mac Weekly article of 2007), groups crowding around home-made telescopes, people constructing random works of sculpture, students sleeping outside in tents during The National Campus Energy Challenge (in February!), and the list goes on. They destroyed our swing set (a great class gift), but our facilities management director promised that it would be replaced. If not, there's a very good chance that there will be protests!

Jeremy

Macalester's academics are top notch. It is a small liberal arts school stuck in one of the largest metropolitain areas in the country. Though it can get cold, having the off campus opportunities, either academic based or for entertainment, that the Twin Cities offer is priceless. Even with being in the St. Paul with Minneapolis right next door, the campus is blocked from the bustle of Snelling Ave., giving it a secluded small rual campus feel. The small size of the campus not only allows for small class size meaning direct professor contact, but also not walking very far outside to get to class in the winter.

Cody

When people find out that I go to Macalester, they usually think it's a deli chain that we have down South. Not a lot of folks know much about it because it's so small and in the Midwest. At first, the size of the student body seems great, because your classes are tiny and you get to know everyone pretty easily and it's not intimidating, but after 3 years there it can seem a teensy bit suffocating. And I will say, I wish there was a little less campus gossip going around--because there are less than 1,900 of us, everybody knows your business. But at the same time, I love Mac because every kid there is just a goofy nerd who loves what they do: everyone seems to have so much energy and passion and excitement about what they study and what they want to do with their degree, my peers are always raising the bar for what I expect of and for myself in life. And the location is great, the Twin Cities have everything: live music, theaters, museums, NGOs, pretty churches, coffee shops, clubs, bars, baseball-hockey-basketball-football teams, delicious restaurants, a ridiculously international population, gorgeous parks, lakes (of course!), beautiful old houses, unreal sunsets, and tons of fluffy snow in winter.

Molly

Macalester is a small school and it is really nice most of the time. You know or at least recognize everyone on campus. The professors know your name, and even invite you to their houses for dinner sometimes. If you ever get sick of the people on campus, you are in a city, so you can leave easily to go somewhere else for a while. The vast majority of people at Macalester are very very liberal, which sometimes leads to big debates with the moderate and the very few conservative students. Most people at Macalester do not like sports very much (there are definitely people who play sports and enjoy watching them, but it's not at the same level as a school with a big football team). But, when you do go to games, there are great cheers. My favorite is: drink blood, smoke crack, worship Satan, go Mac!

Dani

When I tell people I go to Macalester, the first thing they tell me is i'm gonna freeze to death. And that's true during the winter. The second thing they tell me, if the person is from the area, is that it's an excelent school. If the person is not from the area, they probably have never heard about it before, although those who have, hold it in very high esteem. The school is small. Sometimes a bit too small. Even though it's not closed out from the city, Mac student's tend to stick with other Mac people and stay in its surrounding area (except from the eventual Downtown party's at clubs/bars). Classes are great in general. Professors are smart, funny, understanding, open and very good at teaching. There is the occassional rotten apple, but they don't stay very long. One of the best things about Mac, is how chilled it's people are. People are extremely smart, but they never show it off. At Mac, modesty is almost a norm, and showing off is badly seen, and uneffective. The best thing I've found at Mac though, are my friends. Extremely fun, smart and interesting people, they are very honest with their friendship, and are what makes Mac an excellent experience. Because it is true that you sometimes start feeling suffocated inside the "Mac bubble", I highly recommend any of the study abroad programs. The experiences you get while studying abroad are incredible, and it allows you to take a break from Mac most often during your Junior year, which is when you most feel like you need one. Administration is great and extremely helpful, and even if I have my quarrels with Residential Life, they are nevertheless, compared to most other universities, very chilled and soft on students.