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Macalester Admissions Information

Macalester College
St. Paul, MN (map)

 

Macalester College, located in the Minnesota capitol of St. Paul, was founded in 1874. Since then, the school has carried on a tradition of academic excellence; its scholastic program is constantly ranked in the top 20 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. The college emphasizes an international education with a commitment to the intellectual, personal, and social growth of its students. Through an environment modeled on diverse values and cultures, students are challenged to consider ideas and issues with multiple perspectives. The school’s small student-to-faculty ratio ensures that learning is personalized, where student-professor collaboration and research is very much encouraged. Through its outstanding liberal arts curriculum, the college involves students and faculty to integrate a worldwide perspective in the classroom and campus life.

Underclassmen at Macalester–that is, freshmen and sophomores–are required to live on campus, which ensures a tighter-knit community feel among the student body. Although the school does not offer a Greek life, students may choose from over one hundred extracurricular opportunities which represent a wide variety of passions. More than 60% of the college’s student body studies abroad, which serves as a testament to the school’s international eye. A unique aspect of Macalester daily life is the college’s identification with bagpipes; not only do the traditionally Scottish instruments show up regularly at campus events, but students may enroll in free bagpipe lessons throughout their college career.

 

 

Basic Info

Main Address: 1600 Grand Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105-1899
 
Phone Number: (651) 696-6000  
Website: www.macalester.edu  

Characteristics

Type of school: Private, liberal arts  
Type of school: Coed  
Setting: Urban  
Athletics: Division III, Intercollegiate, Club and Intramural Sports  
Degrees offered: Bachelor's  
Size of undergraduate student body: 1,996  
Percent out-of-state: 80%  
Percent international: 11.42%  
Female to Male ratio: 58:42  

Academic Life

Student to Professor ratio: 11:1  
Most popular majors: Biology/Biological Sciences
Economics
Political Science and Government
 
Special study programs: Cross-Registration
Double Major
Honors Program
Independent Study
Internships
New York Semester
ROTC (Air Force, Army, Navy)
Student-Designed Major
Study Abroad
Urban Semester
Washington Semester
 

Campus Life

Housing options:
Coed Housing Apartments For Single Students
Activities:
Campus ministries
Concert band
Drama
Jazz band
Model U.N.
Radio station
Student newspaper
Choral groups
Dance
International students
Literary magazine
Music ensembles
Student government

Fun Facts

  • Voted #8 Most Liberal Students
  • Voted #11 LGBT Friendly
  • Voted #8 Least Religious Students
  • Voted #14 Most Popular Study Abroad Program
 

Admissions Information

Macalester has a 47% admittance rate, making admissions moderately competitive. The college seeks open-minded students who will take advantage of its broad liberal arts curriculum to ultimately become world citizens. Officials will evaluate potential students based on a number of factors to determine who best embraces the school's academic and personal standards.

Applicants who intend to apply to Macalester should know that the student's academic GPA and the rigor of his or her secondary school record are the most important factors for admission. College officials also consider the personal statement, extracurricular activities, standardized test scores, letters of recommendations, and character to be crucial for selecting students. In addition, officials review alumni relation, class rank, interview, talent, volunteer and work experience, and whether a student is a first generation college student, though these factors are of lesser importance.

Admissions address: 1600 Grand Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105-1899
 
Phone number: (651) 696-6357  
Fax number: (651) 696-6724  
Admissions Website: http://www.macalester.edu/admissions/  
Email: admissions@macalester.edu  
Contact Person: Lorne Robinson  
Number of first-year applications received: 4,317  
Percent of applicants admitted: 46%  

Application Information

Regular application deadline: January 15  
Early decision/action deadline: November 15  
Accepts the Common Application? Yes  
Admission requirements: 2 Academic Teacher Evaluations
School Report
Mid Year Report
Final Report
Standardized test scores
Interview (optional)
 

Application Information

Standardized test scores required? SAT Reasoning Test or ACT
SAT II Subject Tests are considered if submitted.
 
Policy regarding SAT score-use: All SAT Scores Required for Review  
 
Middle 50% Scores

Low


Average


High
% Who Submitted Scores
SAT Critical Reading
660
700
740
72%
SAT Math
630
670
710
72%
SAT Writing
640
690
730
72%
ACT Composite
29
31
32
55%

 
College Board code: 6390  
ACT code: 2122  
Learn more about other Small Midwest schools:
Carleton   University of Minnesota  

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