I started my BA in Social Work at Carleton in 2020. I was one of those students that spent my first 2 years totally online! Obviously, covid was a difficult time for everyone, and that exacerbated the difficulties of starting university because providing guidance online to someone who’s never gone to university before is hard. I didn’t have an orientation, or a frosh week, and didn’t meet anybody until the third year! However, things are definitely better now.
Carleton’s campus is huge, with lots of fun places to sit, several places to grab some food or a snack, cafes, you name it! I quite enjoy using the gym on campus, although it is usually super busy! It’s a decent size with lots of equipment, and it’s a great place to meet people on campus. There are clubs (although I haven’t joined any) and lots of events at Ollie’s (the school restaurant/bar that turns into a club some nights). The classrooms are also quite nice, and when a class isn’t going on, they’re a great place to sit and get some work done.
In terms of profs, obviously, my experience is a little bit biased because I’m only in social work, but what I will say is that it can be overwhelming! Carleton is not a university where you can just slack and pass a course. Participation is usually marked and monitored, and the expectations for assignments are high! There are opportunities for placements/co-ops for credits depending on your program, and lots of jobs you can get on campus as well.
Overall, now that it’s not all online and I’ve been able to get the full university experience, I have enjoyed it way more. I hope you enjoy your Carleton experience too! 🙂