Macalester College

I enjoyed the effort to be inclusive that the school provides. It can feel a bit like a utopia just considering how many students can be truly authentic to themselves without fear of judgment from other students or their institution. The education is rigorous and you will constantly be surrounded by people with varying niche knowledge in certain subjects. Macalester does a great job of picking unique and well-rounded students. The school also has so many opportunities to learn that are not limited to the campus via study abroad, volunteering, and internships.

The campus is small and if you are looking for a large atmosphere that emphasizes parties then this may not be the place for you. While I think that a lot of the student body does go to parties on campus or clubs around the cities, we do not have fraternities or sororities (but the University of Minnesota is right around the corner for that).

I love Macalester due to its close-knit, diverse community. As an international student myself, it was easy to meet people from all around the world and subsequently broaden my perspective. My time at Macalester has taught me to become a global citizen, all while being in a cozy and supportive environment that values academics.

While it is no big deal to me personally, some people believe the food options should be increased for those who need eating accommodations. For example, there is not a huge variety of dishes offered for vegan students so some students request to get off of the meal plan so that they can prepare food for themselves.