Macalester College MN 2007 (Off the Record)

Introduction from the Author

I spent most of my life in Saint Paul, so when it came time for me to start my college search, I looked at colleges as far away from Minnesota as possible. I considered colleges and universities from coast to coast, but in the end, my first choice ended up being the college that was under my nose the whole time: Macalester.

I made up my mind about Mac as soon as I took a campus tour. Having passed the college grounds many times before, I already knew that the Macalester campus was beautiful. What I discovered as soon as I actually stepped foot on campus is that the Macalester community is immensely diverse, friendly, intelligent, and warm. Even though I know the Twin Cities pretty well, going to Macalester is like stepping into another, somewhat idealistic world. It seems like everybody here is friendly and honest. Diversity is not only valued on campus, it is also quite evident. Students here represent countries from all over the globe (88 countries to be exact) and all 50 states. Best of all, students aren’t afraid to be themselves here. If you come to Macalester, you’re guaranteed to meet many interesting, unique, likable, and intelligent characters.

The academics at Macalester are just as remarkable as the diverse student body. The workload is challenging, and the professors range from highly knowledgeable to brilliant. Macalester has a great academic reputation, and students take their work seriously, but there is no unpleasant competitive tension, and you’ll rarely run into an undergrad that’s spent more than one consecutive sleepless night due to homework. Students call most of their professors by their first names, and they aren’t afraid to ask tough questions in class. Original and thought-provoking classroom discussions form the core of most Macalester courses.

Coming to Macalester made the transition from high school to college surprisingly easy for me. I was looking for a small school with challenging classes, nice people and a comfortable atmosphere, and that’s exactly what I got. I didn’t get a party school, a sports school, or a school where I could sleep through all of my classes. Other Mac students may tell you differently, however. I hope this book will give you a greater understanding of the typical Macalester experience as seen by me, as well as a several other Mac students, and will allow you to decide whether or not you want to share that experience.

Katherine Tylevich, Author
Macalester College