Macalester College

Date: May 23 2011
Major: Geography and Geosciences (This Major's Salary over time)
During my time thus far at Macalester, I have learned a great deal, both in the classroom and out. Macalester does a great job of challenging its students; some departments more than others. No matter how smart you were in high school, you will probably not get straight A's here at Mac; and if all you are looking for is a 4.0 GPA than Mac isn't for you. Professors grade students based on their understanding and application of the information learned in the class, not just whether or not they can regurgitate facts read in a text book. This helps students actually learn and retain the information. I was a straight A student in high school, and currently my Macalester GPA is around a 3.3. I'm okay with this, because I know that I am actually learning the information, and I know that grades aren't the most important thing in the world.

The social climate at Macalester varies. If you are looking to go out and party, you will definitely be able to do so, but if that's not your scene, there are plenty of activities around campus and off campus for you. Macalester isn't a party school by any means, but we also are not total homebodies, so there is usually something to do. People at Macalester are generally friendly and interested in meeting new people from new places, which provides for a very close-knit community. It is not uncommon for students to enter Cafe Mac and stay there for hours just because they are talking to all of the different people they know.

Athletics at Macalester are somewhat lacking, although the Athletic Department is trying extremely hard to build up the various Varsity programs. Macalester's soccer teams are always fun to watch; both the Men's and Women's teams made it to the first round of Nationals this past year, which was a great point of pride for the school. So if you play a sport, get in touch with the athletic department, and you'll probably be able to play! I play a sport for Macalester, and I had only played for 2 years in high school. Since joining Mac athletics, I've gotten great coaching and had a lot of fun with my fellow athletes.

In terms of finances, Macalester can be pretty pricey. There are students who pay full tuition with no financial aid, but a great deal of students receive need-based financial aid. I come from a lower/middle-class, single-parent household, and Macalester has been extremely good about financial aid for my family; currently I am receiving financial aid that covers full tuition, so all my family and I are responsible is room and board.

There is a great deal of diversity on campus. Although upper-middle-class white females seem to be the most prevalent group on campus, there are people from all socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds across campus. I have friends from all walks of life; some are rich, some are poor, some are white Americans, and some are from foreign countries. Going to Macalester is a privilege because I get to interact with people who possess different viewpoints than my own, and that understand the world differently based on their upbringing. You learn so much from the students here; in fact, you might learn more from your peers than you do in the classroom.

Overall, I am extremely happy with my choice of Macalester. It is totally worth the price tag, and even though the winters can be miserable, everything else makes choosing Mac totally worth it.