Macalester College is one of very few selective liberal arts colleges located in the heart of a major metropolitan area. Macalester's demanding academic program and commitments to internationalism, multiculturalism, and service to society are all amplified by its location in the Twin Cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
Students are curious, highly motivated, serious about their academic pursuits, and supportive of each other. Macalester students are more likely to work together for collective academic success than to compete. Every Macalester student takes a First Year Course (FYC) in their first semester. Seminar-style FYCs are limited to 16 students and the professor is the academic advisor for each student in the class. FYCs set the stage for an academic journey based on small classes, individual attention, and collaboration. Average class size in the fall semester of 2019-2020 was 16.5.
Macalester's location in the heart of a metropolitan area of 3.5 million people augments academic opportunities. Over 60 courses partner with organizations in the Twin Cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Examples classes include
- Legislative Politics, where students intern as legislative aides in the nearby Minnesota State Capitol;
- Cultural Atlas, where students collaborate to create a cultural atlas of Saint Paul (see macalester.edu/curiouscity);
- Community Psychology and Public Health, in which students engage in off-campus shadowing opportunities;
- Drama: Theater and Politics, which incorporates theatrical performances in multiple Twin Cities theaters including the world-class Guthrie Theater.
Campus life is lively, with more than one hundred campus organizations providing opportunities for Macalester students to pursue their passions. Activity is focused on campus, especially for students in their first year at Macalester. Theatrical performances, speakers, student media organizations, identity collectives, cultural organizations, concerts, dance, and sporting events flavor campus life.
Opportunities continue off-campus. From internships with Fortune 500 companies and non-profit organizations, to professional sports (Minnesota's new Major League Soccer stadium is less than one mile from campus), to world class theaters and museums, Macalester's best-of-both-worlds location manifests itself in the academic and social lives of students.
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