Introduction to Carleton College

Aerial View of Carleton College

Driving down rural Highway 19 in southeast Minnesota amidst farms and cornfields it's hard to imagine that one of the country's best liberal arts colleges lies just out of sight. Nestled in the small town of Northfield, Carleton attracts a talented, diverse, and intelligent group of students, many of whom were initially considering matriculation at the Ivies. In fact, what sets Carleton apart from its East Coast counterparts is that the campus atmosphere, while intensely intellectual, is at the same time laid-back and friendly. Strangers really do smile at each other in passing, and even in the middle of finals or midterms, Carls can be seen tossing a frisbee in the middle of campus or building snow forts in the subarctic Minnesotan winters.

Residence Hall of Carleton College

In typical Carleton style, the college just celebrated the 140th anniversary of its founding with celebratory cupcakes during the half-time of its homecoming football game. Although the rural college still maintains its Midwestern humility, its student body hails from forty-nine states, the District of Columbia, and more than thirty foreign countries. Carls come from a wide range of socioeconomic, ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds, so there really isn't a "typical" Carleton student. Carls often discover their classmates unique perspectives not just in the classroom but also in late-night conversations with their roommates, over a team dinner after sports practice, or on walks with friends in the college's arboretum.