If you are looking for Minnesota nice, you might be thinking about applying to Macalester. Macalester College is a small, private liberal arts college in St. Paul, Minnesota. When we say small, we mean small. The freshman class is about 500 students. Their acceptance rate is around 28%, and they have a permanent test-optional policy.
We have written about Macalester’s supplement in the past. However, they have changed some of their prompts since then. So, let’s break down how to approach the Macalester Supplement.
Technically, Macalester doesn’t have a supplement. All of their essay questions are optional. However, we would highly recommend everyone write at least 2 of the four prompts. The TLDR is Macalester is selective, and if you want them to select you, you should show your commitment to applying by answering their questions.
Macalester is one of few highly selective liberal arts colleges located in the middle of a metropolitan area. Students benefit from the strong sense of community on campus and opportunities to engage in academic, social, and civic engagement options in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Have you thought about how Macalester's location might impact your experience? If so, in what ways? (300 words)
This is a tricky question, but everyone should try to answer it. When colleges ask, “Why do you want to go here?” we usually only mention where the college is in passing or if you have enough space in the word count after exploring academics and on-campus opportunities. However, this question is different.
You really need to talk about why you love St. Paul while also tying it to the person you want to be at Macalester. Showing that overlap is essential. The first step here is to connect the city to what you want to study. Are there any museums, organizations, professional groups, or research in the city that can connect to what you want to study? Talk about opportunities you would take on campus and connect them to opportunities in the city. If you get stuck, look at what they say on their website. They talk about 200 internship sites and 16 museums. Do any of them connect to your academic interests? We venture some might.
Once you have found an opportunity or two, start this essay with a story about how you fell in love with the academic subject you want to study, which connects to this opportunity. Then state that you plan to major in it at Macalester and become involved in the subject in the Twin Cities community as well. Write about why you are interested in the opportunities you have found and how they will supplement the opportunities you hope to take advantage of on campus. Yes, you also should mention on-campus opportunities. This should include classes, professors, and even clubs. Show how you will make the most of the next four years, both on campus and off.
Four values permeate Macalester’s mission and purpose: academic distinction, internationalism, multiculturalism, and service to society. Guided by this mission, Macalester is a learning environment that affirms different identities and experiences and prepares graduates to work toward a more just and peaceful world.
In what ways do your lived experiences, perspectives, or hopes for your college education connect with Macalester’s mission/learning environment? 300
This is another question that everyone should answer. Choose one of their four values and tell a good story about how that value has influenced your own life and perspective. What does this look like in practice? We are glad you asked. If you choose service to society, you could write about volunteering at a home for the aged and what that work means to you. If you select multiculturalism, you could write about going to a friend’s cultural event and what going to another culture’s event taught you. Tell a good story, and this should be a breeze.
One note: if you choose internationalism, don’t write about your trip to Europe… or anywhere else. That isn’t really what that means: it’s a political principle that advocates greater political or economic cooperation among states and nations. Think about how you have approached this value in a more everyday and local way (yes, we understand the irony of local.) Travel stories often come off as overly privileged. A better story would be about how you love to read international news.
Has there been a significant change in your grades at any point in your high school experience? Please use this space to provide relevant context we should consider when reviewing your academic record. 300
This question isn’t for everyone, and even if you had a change in grades, you may not want to write about it. Obviously, skip this if it doesn’t apply to you. If it does, let’s talk about it. First, let’s define “significant change in grades.” This essay should not be about the one B you got in physics, wrecking your otherwise perfect 4.0. This should be about large changes that are immediately obvious when reviewing your transcript.
That said, review your common app and ensure you haven’t written about that change elsewhere. If you have, you don’t have to write it again here. Many students will answer this question in either the additional information, school change, or change in progression essays in the Common App. Many students use the additional information essay to talk about why there are significant changes on their transcript. If you already have done that, don’t do this twice.
In case you do need to write this, make sure you end the essay with you overcoming the challenge that affected your grades. You want to end this essay on a positive note. It can feel a little fake sometimes, but we want to see you thrive at the end. Maybe thriving is getting better grades, an accommodation you need, learning new study habits that work, or even just learning something about yourself from the experience.
Have you ever been found responsible for a disciplinary violation at any educational institution you have attended from the 9th grade (or the international equivalent) forward, whether related to academic misconduct or behavioral misconduct, that resulted in an out of school suspension or more significant sanction?
Macalester asks this question as a means to identify areas of support to an incoming student that has experienced an academic or behavioral challenge. 300
We have almost the same advice here as we did for the question above. Especially not repeating yourself if you have already written about it and if not ending on a positive note.
Before you answer this question, do a little digging to see if Macalester is actually going to learn about this misconduct. Pretty much does it appear on your record… permanent? Criminal? Otherwise? If Macalester is 100% going to hear about this, it is good to get in front of it. However, if they don’t because the record is sealed or the infraction wasn’t added, you don’t need to write this essay.
If you write this, focus on the growth and learning this experience gave you. Find the silver lining and make it shine.
Most students will only write two of these four questions, but that is still a lot of writing, researching, and brainstorming. Make sure you give yourself enough time.
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