The campus is pretty with a central quad and a mix of old and modern architecture. Some of the stand out buildings were the visual art and music building.
Macalester is ideal for politically engaged students seeking a small urban liberal arts college with a focus on social justice and internationalism, and who don't mind the snow.
Macalester takes a holistic approach to reviewing applications; each application gets 2-3 reads. The acceptance rate ranges from 30-39%.
They fill 20-25% of the class with Early Decision candidates. Testing is small piece of the overall review; they superscore both SAT and ACT.
Macalester meets 100% of demonstrated need with 2/3 of the student body receiving financial aid. The average need based package is $42,000 made up mostly of grants and work study.
They also offer merit aid, which is automatic and based entirely on academic rigor, letters of recommendation, and grades.