Anyone out there willing to chance me?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Carleton College
1

<p>I'm applying to a relatively large group of colleges, and I'm not entirely sure on where I stand with some of the schools. A couple of them are state schools or schools that how low entrance requirements (ex. 2.5 minimum GPA) or high acceptance rates (ex. 96% acceptance rating), but I'm also applying to some of the elite liberal arts schools in the country. I've looked up the average stats for Carleton but I don't want to make any assumptions, so I'm wondering if I can get a chance here.</p>

<p>Basic info:
Gender: Female
Race: Caucasian
Location: Oregon
School Type: One of the top public high schools in the area, but a public high school nonetheless.
Intended major: I'm unbelievably undecided, but have interest in Journalism, Theater, Environmental Studies or Science, and Film.</p>

<p>School stats:
GPA: 3.73 UW, 3.86 W (Grades are on an upward slope this year and taking APs, so GPA should go up.)
Class rank: Unfortunately, I don't have an exact class rank but I'm in the top 20% of my class.</p>

<p>Test scores:
SAT: I had a miserable time taking my SAT, hated the test, and my score reflects it. I will not be reporting my SAT scores.
ACT: Highest composite is 30. Superscored, my stats are as follows: English - 36, Math - 27, Reading - 33, Math - 27, and Writing - 9.</p>

<p>AP Scores:
- U.S. History - 4
- Psychology - 3 (I was incredibly sick during the actual test and had a mediocre teacher for this course)
- English Literature and Composition - Will be taking this year, but teacher says he expects a 5 from me. </p>

<p>Awards:
- 4 year Academic Letter Winner
- 3 year Theater Letter Winner
- Induction into International Thespian Society
- National Merit Commendation</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
- 4 year band member where I'm a first chair tuba player. Co-founder and leader of Band Council. Our band placed 4th in state last year. 4 year Tuba Christmas participant.
- Heavily involved in our school's drama department. Been on tech for two different shows, including heading up the pit orchestra, and have been cast in five different shows and a one act. One play and an a capella rock opera (two of the shows) were original works/world premieres and I am listed as an original cast member. Director for Advanced Acting class my Junior year and will be directing another one act in spring. Inducted to our school's thespian society and inducted to International Thespian Society.
- 3 year member of Students for Environmental Action (SEA), my school's environmental club. No official title of leadership position, but definitely a leader of the group. We tend to our school's organic garden, lead bottle/can collection movement at our school and have bottle clean-ups to recycle everything, and organize all school grounds clean-ups.
- 2 years of high school soccer (played since kindergarten)
- 1 year of high school lacrosse (played since 7th grade)
- 1 year of high school swimming (summer swim team member as well)</p>

<p>Volunteer work:
- Worked as an unpaid intern every summer since I was thirteen at an arts camp downtown. Very near and dear to my heart, as I went to the camp as a child.
- 4 year school registration volunteer
- Meals-on-Wheels deliver during the holiday season
- Regular blood donor (Thank you Red Cross for the suggestion)</p>

<p>Work:
- Sporadic work at a family friend's clothing boutique. Worked as a personal assistant to a Project Runway winning designer (Seth Aaron Henderson) at the boutique.
- Occasional catering for aunt and family friend's parties
- Regular house and pet sitter</p>

<p>Recommendations:
- Pre-calculus teacher: Slightly unsure about how this letter will go, but the teacher loved me, so hopefully it'll be good.
- Chemistry/Advanced Chemistry teacher: My absolute favorite teacher, head of Students for Environmental Action, adores me. Should be a very good letter.
- AP English teacher: Published writer, Yale alumni, and overall very intelligent man. Likes me, although I've only known him for a semester. Should be very well-written.
- Acting/Directing teacher: Very close to this teacher, father-like figure and also would consider a friend, have worked closely with in the classroom and on extracurricular projects. Knows me very well and should have good things to say.
- Counselor: We've had our difficulties, but she's a good writer and would never let personal issues get in the way of writing me an excellent letter.
Additional rec:
- Letter from the director of the summer camp I work at/choreographer from one of the musicals I've been in. She's known me since I was six, knows my character very well, adores me, and is a Reed alumni.
- Letter from the director/writer of two plays (both world premieres were his) and the a capella rock opera I was in. Also taught two playwriting courses I took. Very close friend, a man I hold in highest esteem, someone who knows me well, and very influential in the Portland theater world.</p>

<p>Thanks so much for taking the time to look over this!</p>

2

<p>I was hoping I wouldn’t have to do this, but… Bump.</p>

3

<p>It’s hard to say with any real certainty–if your grades go up and your essay is strong, you may have a good shot. So much of it depends on the strength of other applicants.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for the genuine advice and input. It’s good to know that I at least have a possible chance. Any other thoughts or input?</p>

5

<p>If they ask you for your interests in the application, be sure not to include things that are not offered at the School. Journalism and Environmental Science are not offered at Carleton, so don’t mention them in your app. If your interested in these fields say something general like “Writing” or say “Environmental Studies” instead of science.</p>

6

<p>Good advice, although I am aware Carleton doesn’t offer Journalism or Environmental Sciences. I just listed those because they are technically some of my interests and because other colleges I’m applying to do have those programs.</p>

7

<p>I don’t mean to sound rude, but why are you interested in Carleton if you’re thinking about majoring in Journalism or theater? Carleton doesn’t have a journalism major and the theater major is almost nonexistant. Once again, not trying to be rude, just curious.</p>

8

<p>Good question. Those are things that, having merely glanced at, seem appealing to me. However, I’ll be honest when I say that I have absolutely no idea as to what I want to do with my life and what I’ll end up majoring in. Seeing as this is usually a big determining factor in applying, looking for a school that has good programs for what you’re looking at, I had to go another route. I’ve looked at the school itself, extracurriculars, housing, the overall quality of programs, and Carleton is one of the schools I came up with that appeals to me and has some of the qualities I’m looking for in a school.</p>

9

<p>i think you have a good shot at Carleton. But it still depends on whether your essays are strong enough and whether you are Carleton type. I personally do not think Carleton will accept anyone who doesn’t show any Carletonian (is that a word???) personality in his/her application. Of course, Carleton is very diverse. So, what i’m trying to say is that if you show the school you are a good fit for the school, you have real good shots being accepted.</p>

10

<p>Could you define what you think the Carleton type is? I mean, I have my ideas of how I see people at Carleton and envision the school, but I’m not sure whether I translated that over into my application right. I was just simply myself, but I did write good essays.</p>

11

<p>Per my freshman daughter, Carls are ‘wicked chill’, whatever that would mean in teen talk. :)</p>

12

<p>Go to:</p>

<p>[Carleton</a> College: Admissions: Carleton Videos](<a href=“http://apps.carleton.edu/admissions/about/videos/]Carleton”>Carleton College - YouTube)</p>

<p>and click on the “Carleton is…” student made video.</p>

<p>As far as your application is concerned, the one wrong thing you could do is try to be someone you’re not. Carleton adcoms value honesty, tolerance, personal and academic passions, but, possibly above all else, proud individualism. Feeding them what you think they want to hear would likely work to your detriment. If you’ve demonstrated pride in who you are, if you were, as you say, “just simply myself” in essays, you’ve done your job well.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

13

<p>I totally agree with 1190! Honesty and sincerity is the most important!</p>

14

<p>Excellent. I definitely didn’t try to be anyone that I’m not, and hopefully that’ll help me in terms of my application. Thanks for the advice, it’s been really helpful and somewhat reassuring.</p>