When I began applying to colleges, I found that most colleges boast about small class sizes, interesting courses, and many extracurricular offerings. What set Carleton apart for me was its atmosphere. Carleton fosters a peer-friendly atmosphere where students are working together rather than competing and there is truly a sense of community on campus. You really are on a first-name basis with your professors, there are student tutors or aids for your classes, and there is never a shortage of student-run activities. While I never initially intended to come to Carleton when I started applying to colleges, it quickly became the clear choice as I learned more about it and now, in my senior year, I can't imagine having gone anywhere else.

Carleton was also quite appealing for its athletic program. Having run track through high school, I wasn't ready to give it up in college but was worried about the time commitment. Here, as committed as all the runners are, we are students first. The coaches understand our workload and even schedule meets to avoid missing classes. The social aspect was also attractive. After spending a couple hours together everyday, it's hard not to bond!

While track and school work do account for most of my time here, like most Carleton students, I found a chance to go abroad for a term. As a biology major, I decided to take a complete break from the status quo and in the fall of 2008 I spent a term in Madagascar studying sociology/anthropology. I can not fully express the experience in a couple sentences, but ask me sometime--I'd love to tell you about it! Even back at Carleton, I have time for other activities. I have participated in various clubs and regularly volunteer in the Northfield community with developmentally disabled adults.