Macalester College
Macalester students come from every state and 87 countries for an academic program that ranks 17th in the nation (US News and World Report) and for a location that offers broad, accessible research and internship opportunities, plus a friendly neighborhood, faculty who love to teach and good food (“varied and appetizing” according to students). Macalester offers an opportunity to learn in an international community and succeed in a global economy. Most students study abroad for a semester and graduates reap the benefits of a global education in the job market and at the nation’s top graduate programs.
Contact
Macalester College
Admissions Office
1600 Grand Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105
(651) 696-6357 Phone
(800) 231-7974 Toll-free
(651) 696-6724 Fax
admissions@macalester.edu E-mail
http://www.macalester.edu Web site
Academic programs
Degrees offered: Bachelor of Arts
Top five majors: Economics, Political Science, English, Psychology, Biology
Faculty: 157 full-time, 55 part-time; 94% of full-time faculty members hold the doctorate or highest degree in their field
Student/faculty ratio: 11:1
Average class size: 17
Average lab size: 15 (Science labs) 8 (Language labs)
Number of library volumes: 434,057
Academic calendar: Semesters
Accreditation & approval: American Chemical Society, National Association of Schools of Music, North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools
Teaching licensure programs:
Pre-professional programs: 3-3 architecture, 3-2 engineering, pre-law and medical fields
Inter-campus agreements: Students may take one course per term at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design with the approval of the Registrar’s Office. Also, the Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities (ACTC) is a partnership with Augsburg College, the College of St. Catherine, Hamline University, Macalester College and the University of St. Thomas. The partnership allows students to register for courses at the other colleges, and collaborative majors are offered through the partnership.
Honors program: Students of exceptionally high achievement are invited to undertake a special project of independent research or creative work in their senior year. Their work is evaluated by a small committee of faculty with special expertise in the field of the student’s work.
Independent study: Macalester students have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and enhance their ability to learn independently by pursuing questions of special interest through individualized, one-on-one study with faculty. Available in all departments.
International study opportunities
Most Macalester students study abroad for at least one semester before graduating. Last year 256 students studied in 47 countries around the world. In addition, 16 percent of Macalester students hold citizenship in another country with a total of 87 countries represented in the student body, making Macalester one of the most global campuses in the nation. Graduates reap the benefits of a global education in the job market and at top graduate programs.
Student organizations
More than 80 student organizations, including 14 academic clubs, 11 communications and publications organizations, 12 national honor societies, 20 special interest groups, many religious groups, five speech and theatre arts organizations.
Athletic programs
Conference membership: NCAA Division III, Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC)
Men's varsity: Baseball, basketball, cross-country running, football, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field (indoor and outdoor)
Women's varsity: Basketball, cross-country running, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field (indoor and outdoor), volleyball, water polo
Intramurals: Basketball, bowling, football (non-tackle), racquetball, soccer, softball, volleyball, Ultimate Frisbee
Club sports: Crew, fencing, ice hockey, rugby, volleyball, water polo, nordic skiing, Ultimate Frisbee
College services and facilities
On-campus housing: Macalester's 10 residence halls are divided into 40 communities offering a variety of living options. Other choices include coeducational or single-sex floors, quiet floors, nonsmoking floors, a kosher residence, Eco House and off-campus language residences.
Fitness/recreation facilities: A new $45 million athletic and recreation facility opening fall 2008 will provide plenty of space for practice and athletic events. It includes a 9,000 square foot fitness center and a range of informal gathering spaces for students to meet friends or study and relax before or after a workout, training session or practice. Recently renovated outdoor space includes a 4,000 seat stadium, nine-lane track, soccer and football field, baseball and fastpitch softball fields and six tennis courts.
Technology: Macintosh and PC computers and high-powered UNIX-based work stations are found in computer labs, all residence hall rooms are wired for personal student computers, and most of the campus is wireless. Macalester's central computer system also supports several major statistical, database and word processing packages, as well as high-level programming languages.
Internships: At more than 250 sites in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, Macalester students apply and acquire knowledge while taking an active role in a community, business, organization or professional setting. By graduation, nearly 65% of all Macalester students have completed an internship for academic credit.
Career services: The Career Development Center provides career counseling and related services to all students and alumni. The center’s career library includes files on corporations, government agencies and non-profit organizations, as well as other helpful information. A comprehensive Web site provides students access to a wide range of resources.
Counseling and guidance services: Winton Health Services consists of two departments: medical services; and counseling and psychological services.
Undergraduate enrollment
Full-time: 1,873 students
Part-time: 45 students
Women: 58%
Men: 42%
All undergraduate students: 69% live on campus
Racial/ethnic distribution: 4% African-American; 9% Asian/Pacific Islander; 4% Hispanic/Latino; 1% Native American; 11% International; 71% White
First-year student profile
First-year students: 18% from Minnesota; 68% from other states; 11% from other countries; 3% U.S. citizens living abroad; 100% live on campus
Scholastic aptitude test: 76% of first-year students submitted the SAT as part of their applications. The middle 50% range of their SAT Math scores was 620-710. The middle 50% range of their SAT Verbal scores was 630-730.
American college test: 54% of first-year students presented the ACT as part of their applications. The middle 50% of enrolled students had ACT composite scores between 28 and 32.
High school rank: 58% of new entering students reported their high school class rank. Of those reporting, 68% were in the top tenth of their class; 90% were in the top quarter of their class; and 100% were in the top half of their class.
Admissions
On-line application: http://macalester.edu/admissions/apply/
Application deadline: January 15
Application fee (amount): $40
Admissions tests required: ACT or SAT
High school preparation: High school courses recommended for applicants include four years of English, three years each of history or social science, mathematics, laboratory science and foreign language, and some honors or advanced courses.
Advanced placement credit: Students who score 3, 4 or 5 on the College Board Advanced Placement Examinations will be considered for advanced placement and appropriate credit. Up to 24 semester hours of credit through advanced placement may be counted toward a B.A. degree. Macalester will not accept for college credit high school courses taken outside of the Advanced Placement Program. Macalester also does not recognize the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests for advanced standing. Macalester will accept for credit no more than the equivalent of 20 semester hours from courses earned at a college or university prior to graduation from high school. Credits earned through summer session college courses, the Minnesota Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Program, the International Baccalaureate or the Advanced Placement Program are included under this limitation.
Transfer process (deadlines and materials): Fall Deadline – April 15. Students must submit a Dean of Students' Recommendation from the college at which they were most recently seeking a degree, plus transcripts of all high school and college work.
Transfer criteria (credits, GPA): A minimum GPA of 3.33 or higher is desired. No more than the equivalent of 64 semester hours may be transferred.
Campus visits: To schedule a campus visit, contact the Admissions Office at least one week in advance. Visits are available throughout the year. Interviews are offered in all months except February and March.
Financial assistance
Percentage of new-entering students receiving financial aid from any source: 64%
Financial aid applications: To apply for financial aid, families should submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Financial Aid PROFILE.
FAFSA code: 002358
Financial aid deadline: February 8