Choosing Carleton
Carleton in Their Own Words
To truly understand Carleton, talk to the people who know it best: our students.
We asked students to share their candid opinions about Carleton's student body, academics, campus life and more. Below is a cross-section of their uncensored comments.
Academics | Student Body | Campus Life | Choosing Carleton
Choosing Carleton
- “I chose based on the vibe--I visited all of the schools that I was seriously considering, and I felt the most at home at Carleton. It's also nice that it's one of the best liberal arts schools in the nation.” —Hannah Ebner '09
- “Because of the awesome academics and the volleyball team!” —Laura Barsness '10
- “I chose Carleton because of its strong academics in both the physical and social sciences as well as the humanities. I also chose Carleton because I didn't want to attend school in the East, where I'm from. I thought students here were welcoming and friendly and enjoy the small town (but others find it isolating).”
- “I wanted a small, quirky, liberal arts college. I could have gone several places, but Carleton gave me (by far) the best financial aid package.” —Liz Snider-Lotz '08
- “The mix of quality academics and the fact that the people are nicer here than anywhere else I've been.” —Steve Merry '10
- “I am premed and found that at Carleton I could take my premed classes easily while still pursuing other interests which was really appealing. I also loved the close faculty-student relations and faculty availability, something that has proven a true perception throughout my four years here.” —Lauren Kanner '08
- “Best financial aid package of the liberal arts colleges I applied to.” —Jolene Mork '10
- “I chose Carleton because I thought the campus was nice, the people were cool, and trimesters were awesome. Additionally, I had been looking for a small liberal arts college in general, and Carleton fit that bill.” —Mark Stewart '09
- “A combination of good academics, small liberal arts school, financial aid award, basketball team possibility, and location.” —Joy Esboldt '08
- “While I initially considered Carleton because of its impressive rankings, academic reputation, and being a liberal arts college, a visit to campus sealed the deal. The community here is amazing, something that everyone remarks upon when they visit.” —Claire Hill '11
- “The people.” —Dan Levy '11
- “I chose Carleton because of its atmosphere--combined, the people, academics, and location make it an ideal place to study for four years.” —Jinai Bharucha '11
- “I chose Carleton because it was the place that felt most like a home. I knew people here were caring and open and if I ever had a problem, someone would be there for me. You can find rigorous academics at any number of places, but it's difficult to find such a feeling of comfort and community.” —Anna Losacano '10
- “I found the place where people know how to pursue what they're passionate about, live without worrying about Prestige or what other people think about them, ask hard questions, stay laidback. There's good energy here.” —Mary Ellen Stitt '08
- “I chose Carleton because it felt right, which is not a helpful way to explain my decision. I visited Carleton, and noticed how friendly everyone was. I also felt accepted even for my short visit, and of course the good academics were a pull as well. I also got the idea that people were intense, but not to a level of unhappiness. And I think that is pretty true. Carleton students may be super intense a lot of the time, but we are incredibly happy on the whole. I know very few people who have transferred, and I think that says a lot about the school. Carleton students love the other students and the professors and everything about this place. Just ask one of them, and they will be ecstatic to tell you about it. I think that is a pretty good sign.” —Hannah Campbell Gustafson '09
- “Fabulous professors. Community atmosphere. Snow. Great people. Small town. Fate.” —Ariel VandeVoorde '09
- “I chose Carleton because, while it had all the programs that I wanted, all the clubs that I could want, and a gorgeous campus, there was one thing that made it stand out. This is the atmosphere. I like to say that Carleton is a place where you can both be a part of excellent academics and actually have a good time. Carleton has a sense of humor, and that is something that I did not find at any other college that I looked at.” —Anna Newman '11