Macalester College

Responses from the Student Interview

From a student  who identifies as Major: International Studies
Minors: Geography & Educational Studies
Student Self Identifies as: Asian-American Heterosexual Female

Summary

I’m part of the Bonner Scholars program, as well as the QuestBridge Scholars Program, and I’m very involved in the Macalester-Groveland community. I work at a local elementary school and do other community projects.

Background

Gender Identity: Female
Race/Ethnicity: Asian-American
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual

High School Experience: Public school in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area, GA with a graduating class of about 700 students. There was a culture of going to college.
First-Generation College Student: Yes
Major: International Studies
Minors: Geography & Educational Studies

Extracurricular Activities: I’m part of the Bonner Scholars program, as well as the QuestBridge Scholars Program, and I’m very involved in the Macalester-Groveland community. I work at a local elementary school and do other community projects.
Did any of your extracurricular activities have a particularly big impact on your experience?
The Bonner Scholars program because I’m able to interact with people who come from similar backgrounds and who can understand the struggles of transitioning into an institution like Macalester.

Academic Experience

Can you describe the weekly coursework for your major?
My courses for International Studies are heavy in terms of reading. I spend about two or three hours a day doing homework, and there are a lot of essays. For homework, it’s more interdisciplinary which includes a lot of readings but also applies concepts to creative projects.
Is there anything you feel your major’s department does especially well or poorly?
Something great about the International Studies program is that it allows a concentration. Because it’s such a broad major, it’s good to focus on a particular aspect that can narrow down the career you want to go into. The requirements are reasonable.
How would you describe the learning environment? Do you think it’s particularly competitive or collaborative?
For the most part, it’s very collaborative and supportive. Everyone is always willing to help people.
How accessible are your professors?
Very accessible. One thing I love about Macalester is how the professors are always willing to make time for you no matter how busy they are. They’re willing to show that they’re here to support you, no matter if it’s academic or personal. It’s very easy to reach a professor, and if I can’t see them in person I can call or email them.
Do you feel that people are open to multiple schools of thought in the classroom?
Macalester has a more liberal environment, so when people voice their opinions that are more conservative or moderate, they’re sometimes shut down. Whenever it’s something not typically agreed upon by the entire student body, it tends to be silenced. [See The Mac Weekly article, “Odd one out: Macalester conservatives share their viewpoints” and article, “Democolypse 2016: Macalester’s problem with conservatives.”]
Why did you choose your majors? Are you happy with your choice?
From the start, I knew I wanted to do international studies because I wanted to focus on global issues and things that affected people on a global scale. I was passionate about refugee rights and issues, and I felt the major that aligned with that the most was International Studies. Looking back, I don’t regret it, but I feel like there could’ve been a better job of also narrowing down what I wanted my concentration to be and how that would relate to my greater goals of why I majored in International Studies.

Reasons to Attend

1) They give out very good financial aid. [Macalester meets 100% of demonstrated financial need.]
2) The quality of education. It’s very rigorous, but not to the point where you feel like you can’t do it. It’s just hard enough.
3) The number of resources in terms of financial aid, your professors, and they do a wonderful job of letting you know the resources you have.

Reasons Not to Attend

1) If you’re someone who enjoys warm weather. I think seasonal depression is a thing.
2) If you’re used to coming from very diverse backgrounds it can be a culture shock. Macalester is majority White. [The undergraduate population is 3.4% Black, 58% White, 8% Asian, and 8% Hispanic.]
3) It depends on what you want to focus on. I don’t think Macalester would be very good for business.

Around Campus

Where have you lived on campus?
Freshman: Turke Hall with one roommate
Sophomore: Turke Hall with one roommate
Junior: Kirk Hall in a single
How was transitioning from your hometown to Macalester, MN?
It’s a culture shock. There are a lot of things that are different about Minnesota in general, but especially when coming to Macalester a lot of the social norms and interactions are different. It was difficult for me at first to understand why I felt so different and how to better interact with people.
Can you describe the level of safety you’ve experienced on and around campus?
The campus is very safe. I always feel like I’m safe no matter how late I’m walking back to my dorm. There’s always security walking around us, and people are willing to help you if needed.

Social Opportunities

What kind of nightlife or weekend activities do you like to participate in at Macalester?
Sometimes I go to parties around Macalester, but I often tend to just hang out with friends either in dorms or houses. Occasionally I go out to downtown Minneapolis or find an event going on.
What’s an alternative to going to a party that you like for a night out?
You can totally hang out with friends, and there’s a lot of things to do at Macalester itself. There are lots of student organizations that host events, so you can go to a movie night or something like that. I don’t think you’ll get bored.
How happy are you with the weekend activities or nightlife at your school? Is there anything you would change if you could?
I would make more inclusive events. A lot of the events are only catered for people involved in certain organizations, instead of making it more promoted to other groups on campus and not certain demographics.

Campus Culture

How did you meet your closest friends?
Through the Bonner Scholars program. A lot of my friends have similar identities. We all have a low-income and first-generation backgrounds. I think the program is good at finding out who my real friends are and who I can connect with.
To what extent do you feel people of different races and sexual orientations mix socially?
Overall there isn’t tension, but it’s more that people tend to stick with people who they can identify with. Racially, a lot of people tend to stick with people of similar races. With a lot of student identity collectives, it’s easier to get closer to people who identify in the same racial background. Sexual orientation-wise, I don’t think there’s as much mixing as races. [The undergraduate population is 3.4% Black, 58% White, 8% Asian, and 8% Hispanic.]
How do you like the size of Macalester? How has it influenced your social experience? [Macalester has about 2,200 students.]
I think it feels small, even though it has about the same number of people [as my high school]. It’s small, but it has its pros and cons. It has access to a lot of resources and you don’t have to go far to get help. I also feel like in some ways it feels too small as you see the same people. I think people know a lot about other people and word gets around a little fast. I like this environment because I’m able to stand out and be who I want to be and meet as many people as I can.
How would you describe the first-generation community on campus? How strong is it?
It’s a very small but strong group. We’re all aware of each other’s backgrounds. There are people I’ve never spoken to in my life, but if I know they identify as one of them it doesn’t feel weird saying hi when I see them. It’s welcoming because you feel like you’re part of a community whether it’s formed or not.

Careers

Has the alumni network helped you find internships or jobs?
I’ve asked several professors about jobs and they would connect me to alumni who’ve had those same jobs. It’s pretty easy to find those resources and I know the database is helpful. I’ve found a few alumni who have career paths in the same career I’d like to go into.
What have you used the career office for? How helpful have they been?
I’ve used it a few times for looking over my resume, applying for academic internships, or interview prep. It’s very helpful in preparing me to apply for jobs and showing me the process afterward, like how to enjoy the internship or job to the fullest.
Have you learned any computer programs or computer languages through your coursework that will be helpful to you professionally?
Professors have really creative projects where you’re able to do whatever you want, so although I haven’t been formally trained I’ve improved my graphic design skills.

Financial Aid

Have you used financial aid? If so, how helpful and responsive are they?
I do receive financial aid. I’ve been in contact with them ever since high school. I remember getting the aid package after I got accepted, and I know I wasn’t happy about it so I talked to them. They were really accommodating and decreased my payment by a lot. [Macalester meets 100% of demonstrated financial need.]