Carleton College MN 2007 (Off the Record)

Let College Prowler give you the inside scoop on Carleton College's traditions before you go...you don't want to misinterpret something and end up with an awkward situation on your hands. Take this tradition for example...

Screw Your Roommate:

During fall term, roommates get a chance to set each other up on blind dates. This event is usually reserved for freshmen that finally decide to take the plunge and talk to the opposite sex. Screw Your Roommate dates can be extremely awkward, but they can also be a blast. This is the most dreaded event of the year for a lot of Carls, but for a select few it's the most anticipated.

The main reason why people usually end up choosing Carleton is its academics, but the main reason they stay is because of the people. Unlike at larger schools, you will not get lost at Carleton unless you make a conscious effort to do so. Sure, the academics are stressful, but the friendships and life experience you'll gain at Carleton is invaluable. Given Carleton's high retention rate, it's pretty evident that Carls are satisfied with their school. What is it about Carleton that keeps them there?

"The classes are fantastic. I've never had a class with more than 50 students, and most are under 20. The small class size promotes good discussion and encourages participation. They're amazing. The professors here are just as interested in the students they educate as they are in the subjects they teach. To describe them: honest, dedicated, accommodating, supportive, intelligent, and pleasant."

"Carleton is bizarrely fun and stressful. We work hard, but it's very much you against your work as opposed to you against the next student. Your friends and professors want you to do well, almost as much as you want yourself to. You are very much looked after in this regard. People are genuinely interested in what they're doing, and they come expecting the intense academic atmosphere and quirky social scene that only a high-ranking school in rural Minnesota could provide."

But as with so many schools, not everything at Carleton is perfect.

"People here are mostly not hot. The Carleton goggles hit you after a few weeks and you become numb. Visiting other schools, especially large public ones, makes you realize just how hard the rest of the world tries to look good. There are very eclectic people here, and it shows in people's appearance."

"Do brunettes count as diverse? Granted it's more diverse than Minnesota, but that's not saying much. There's lots of emphasis on diversity, but, in reality, don't come here if that's what your looking for."

Are you a student that could overcome the cons and have an amazing Carleton experience? Get all the info you need to make that decision, straight from the students' mouths.

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