Why i love macalester

Anyway, they really, really want you to use these services, so please do! It is a very liberal campus - sometimes so much so that she feels silenced, and she is a liberal who was head of the Gay-Straight Alliance in high school. She has had to learn new language to use on campus, which was very disorienting at first, but now she has adjusted. The school touts its diversity, and it IS diverse in many ways, especially the geographic distribution of its students, but it terms of socio-economic group, political leanings, race and religion, it is much less diverse than what my daughter was used to in high school.

Students seemed very worldly yet sheltered at the same time, if that makes sense. My interactions with the staff is what sold me on this place. Each response to my questions, even annoying ones, was speedy, personalized and cheery. This has continued after enrollment. One staff member I met on Family Weekend even remembered talking to a small group of us about some changes she was advocating to improve health on campus, and emailed me when one was made that she thought my daughter would appreciate.

Allegedly, there is even a Mac Republicans group, although there are also jokes that there is no one in it except for one person who widely posts things. My daughter went to a very diverse, but very non-PC high school, so the hardest thing for her to get used to is language.

People have called her out on terms that were used all the time by her classmates and even teachers in her high school. Now that she has her footing, it is less of a problem. For example, at orientation and at the beginning of classes each semester, everyone introduces themselves using their name and PGPs, or preferred gender pronouns e.

Paul: Drury Plaza Hotel 10th St. Paul Riverfront 11 Kellogg Blvd E. Save School. From The School Seniors and transfer applicants can begin their application with the Preliminary Application, letting Admissions know of their interest in Macalester. The form is available at macalester. The Common App and QuestBridge are the two ways in which applications are submitted.

The best preparation for college is a balanced and rigorous high school curriculum. It is important to take classes in all five academic core subjects: English, mathematics, history or social science, laboratory science, and foreign language.

Macalester evaluates each applicant's record in their high school context, paying particular attention to each applicant's curricular opportunities and performance. There is no minimum GPA because school systems vary a great deal. Macalester practices a holistic admissions review. Factors such as academic performance in high school, teacher recommendations, essays, leadership experience and extracurricular involvement are thoroughly reviewed by the Admissions Committee.

A test-optional admissions policy means students are welcome to submit standardized test scores if it's believed the scores will add another positive layer to the application.

There is no penalty for students who choose not to submit test scores. There is an admissions staff member assigned to every state and region of the world, ready to answer your questions and help you through the application process. Find your counselor at macalester. Applicants: 6, Testing Policies. Superscore ACT. Superscore SAT. Other Admission Factors. Selectivity Rating. Admissions selectivity rating.

Learn More. Faculty and Class Information. Professors interesting rating. Professors accessible rating. Graduation Rates. Graduate in 4 years. Latin American Studies. Women's Studies. Computer and Information Sciences, General. Education, General. Creative Writing.

English Language and Literature, General. Chinese Language and Literature. French Language and Literature. German Language and Literature. Japanese Language and Literature. Russian Language and Literature. Spanish Language and Literature. History, General.

Mathematics, General. Environmental Studies. Chemistry, General. Physics, General. Research and Experimental Psychology, Other. Econometrics and Quantitative Economics. Political Science and Government, General. Art History, Criticism and Conservation. Music, General. Students Say. The pound rock—once rumored to be stolen by a rival college and mailed back to campus—is always changing appearances as students paint creative messages on it. With comfy chairs and freshly popped popcorn from the Loch, the campus center is a popular weeknight destination.

Late into the night, there are always students working on group projects, studying, or just hanging out. At the end of every fall semester to kick off finals week, faculty and staff host Midnight Breakfast in the dining hall for students.

The dining hall is overcrowded with students celebrating the end of classes, and the president always makes an appearance to serve students cheesy eggs and potatoes. Every October, the campus and the community come together for the Macalester International Roundtable.

A three-day forum consisting of student panels, academics, speakers, and performers, the Roundtable offers the Mac community a chance to explore and discuss broad, timely topics such as migration, sustainability, empathy, and race and racism. The Mall of America is only about a minute drive from campus. It is a perfect place for rainy weekends to go shopping and even ride a few roller coasters.

The Idea Lab, located on the second floor of the library, is an innovative space for student collaboration and creative projects. Students have access to cutting edge technology such as 3D printers as well as crafts and art supplies for class and personal projects. We never lack smart people, but we always need people with kindness, understanding and potential. Some people may say Mac, or other liberal arts colleges, create a bubble.

But Mac creates a community where we can learn together while still preparing us for the real world. I am glad to have chosen a college that prioritizes students and their experiences.

I can really feel the efforts Mac has invested in me as a student and a person. My first trip to Macalester was in the middle of an April blizzard. Coming from South Florida, I had barely seen snow, let alone been walking around in a snowstorm, but the snow was exciting and fun! During breaks between events, I went around campus making tiny snowmen on benches and curbs, and people seemed to get a kick out of my obvious bewilderment.

It was the coldest weather I had ever been in, but the free hot chocolate helped keep me warm. I was coming from a pretty small area, so I was focused on schools near or in cities. I also wanted a school with a good music program and plenty of things to do on the weekends. Most importantly, I wanted a college that could accommodate all of the different things I wanted to do. During college applications, I had an intricate plan with a major, minor, concentration, and pre-med track, and I needed a school where I could do all of it without being completely drained.

As my day of meeting people and learning about Macalester was coming to a close, I had one more stop to talk to an admissions counselor. He sat with me for close to an hour answering all of my questions and giving me department contact information and listing professors I could talk to.

As many people can tell you, things change when you get into college.