Macalester College

Being a small campus in an urban setting makes Macalester College a kind of unicorn among higher education. But as the renowned Dr. Hannah Montanastein once stated, "You get the best of both worlds." Students at Mac get to enjoy the benefits of having a close-knit campus community while taking advantage all that the Twin Cities have to offer. And in my opinion, the best things that Macalester offers can be summed up in two words: perspective and opportunity. Perspective Even though we don’t always want to admit it, the majority of us have a fairly limited worldview. Macalester recognizes this, and strives to bring the world to us. This is reflected best in one of the most prominent features of the school: its commitment to internationalism. Not only was it one among the first schools in the US to fly the UN flag, but it also has one of the highest percentages of international students in the country. Cultural mixing is encouraged on campus, with a second language requirement as well as many campus events that allow you to learn about different cultures. It’s truly a place where you feel like a global citizen by simply being part of the student body. As far as academics go, there's no need for me to explain the top-notch faculty and courses. But the idea of expanding perspectives runs deep into the very core of academics at Macalester. The faculty here place a huge emphasis on being cross-disciplinary. Many courses, in fact, are offered across two or even three different areas of study. And in the spirit of Mac's internationalist values, the most popular courses are often cross-disciplinary with International Studies. This exposure to many different topics and being able to see them interact in a realistic way helps the students to think more deeply, and look at the multiple layers of an issue rather than just the surface. Opportunity Of course, a new perspective means nothing if you have no way to utilize it. Macalester offers plenty of opportunities to its students that are unique to the school, many of which directly stem from its location. First off, the Twin Cities are an artistic hub. They have the second largest number of theaters per capita in the country (after New York City), and there is no shortage of entertainment. There is also a large slam poetry movement, with Button Poetry being based in Minneapolis. Best-selling poet Neil Hilborn even graduated from Macalester College (c/o 2011). On top of being a hotspot for the arts, the Twin Cities are also incredibly culturally diverse. It is a popular destination for many immigrants and refugees, and many students at Macalester choose to volunteer or intern with various non-profit groups that assist them. There's even a program you can apply for in which students fulfil their work-study by working at such organizations. Overall Ultimately, the reason I chose Mac was because I found a home in all the unicorn-ness listed above. Mac offers me a slice of the world that I've never experienced before, a world that I can thrive in. The prospect of learning and growing in such a diverse and opportunistic environment allures me, and I could not be more excited to join this spectacular community.