火爆社区

An education at Macalester College emphasizes 鈥渟cholarship, internationalism, multiculturalism, and service to society,鈥� as well as a mix of 鈥渞igorous academics with research, civic engagement, and creative work.鈥� For many students, 鈥渟tudy-abroad programs are considered fundamental at Macalester in the learning process,鈥� and nearly 60 percent of undergrads participate in semester-long or short-term travel. Students also appreciate the flexible curriculum, which makes it 鈥減ossible to combine different areas of interest in a very open way,鈥� and the workload itself is said to be 鈥渁 perfect balance of self-initiated and given from the professor.鈥� The primary approach to learning is very discussion-oriented, and 鈥減riority is placed on students reading and taking notes on their own time to develop opinions and ideas.鈥� Specifically, 鈥渃ollaboration, critical thinking, and communication are the foundational aspects of all classes.鈥� Many courses also incorporate out-of-the-box projects, like the semester of computer science where one student鈥檚 group 鈥渟imulated a real-life software development project but with the support and feedback of our professor, preceptors, and peers.鈥� These unique academic elements are made possible by an 鈥渁bundance of enthusiastic and understanding professors who are passionate about what they teach.鈥� They 鈥渁re interested in students鈥� process of learning and give feedback to improve their understanding on an individual level鈥� and 鈥済o above and beyond to advise them and set them up for success.鈥� The Macalester vibe supports an 鈥渋ndividualized form of teaching鈥�[that] creates a great learning experience that nurtures creativity鈥� wherever you go.

The student body is diverse, 鈥渨ith a well-established international student body.鈥� No one shies away from politics鈥攖his is a 鈥渧ery liberal campus鈥� with students who 鈥渁re very socially active.鈥� Even those who differ from the majority opinion find themselves among friends, as these are 鈥渧ery open-minded individuals who are very accepting of individuals different from themselves.鈥� People鈥檚 hobbies run the gamut, with everyone having 鈥減assions that consume them, whether that be collective change or etymology.鈥� As one student puts it: 鈥淓very student has a secret superpower, skill, or interest you learn about once getting to know them that is really impressive.鈥� Make time for chit-chat, as Mac students 鈥渁re extremely friendly and are always excited to talk about anything that might be on your mind.鈥� One says, 鈥淣o one is shy to jump in on the learning and most people you come across are excited to have academic conversations.鈥� And another sums it up, saying, 鈥淢y peers at Macalester are intellectually curious, collaborative, and genuinely engaged with the world around them.鈥�

Generally speaking, Mac students 鈥渁re pretty driven and involved in activities.鈥� There is 鈥渓ots of studying,鈥� which often involves 鈥渉anging out around campus, studying in public spaces to be social and see people.鈥� Hitting the books is typically followed by attending 鈥渁n event that is more social/extracurricular based,鈥� such as a sporting event, a club meeting, or a music event. Mac 鈥渉as many work study opportunities available for students,鈥� and 鈥渕ost people work on campus or have jobs in the community.鈥� The sports clubs 鈥渁re a lot of fun, forming a very friendly and light-hearted group,鈥� and students also enjoy topic-specific clubs like Game Devs at Mac, Birding Club, and Climbing Club. There isn鈥檛 much of a party culture at Mac; instead, it is 鈥渧ery common for people to talk about having been at a protest, volunteering for charity, or other forms of involvement.鈥� The location in the city lets students 鈥渓eave campus at any time and go explore the surrounding communities.鈥� While 鈥渨inters are definitely cold,鈥� the other three seasons make up for it: 鈥淧eople are outside studying on the lawn, playing pickup sports, and spending weekends biking, going to lakes, or just enjoying how beautiful the city and campus are in the spring, summer, and fall.鈥�

Macalester is a tight-knit school, and 鈥渢he alumni network and the professors are very, very willing to help you network and land that job or internship, as long as you show some initiative.鈥� About two hundred internship sites are available within eight miles of campus thanks to its metropolitan location and the school鈥檚 Academic Internship Program helps connect students with opportunities (many for credit), as well as advising on r茅sum茅s and interview skills. 鈥淲e have great job/internship/volunteer opportunities from being in a city, while still enjoying the benefits of a small campus,鈥� says a student. Fall and spring job and internship fairs are held every year, and students can also attend the larger MN Private Colleges鈥檚 Job and Internship Fair. For students who cannot afford to take the summer off from work, the Macalester Summer Internship Grant (MSIG) provides funding for unpaid internships. And the MacExplore and MacConnect signature programs help students explore career fields in more intimate settings, either in local communities or through immersive trips to other cities. Payscale.com reports a median starting salary for Macalester graduates of $63,400, and 62 percent of Macalester alumni find a high level of meaning in their job.