<p>With all due respects, I highly, highly doubt that would have come into play in the scholarship decision. I believe it is most likely a question of perceived economic need (parents’ occupations were listed, if I remember correctly) coupled with perceived talent/potential of the candidates which would have been the deciding factors.</p>
<p>Personally I don’t think need even entered into it, seeing as it did not say anywhere that need was even a factor, and if it was they would’ve asked for your family’s income. I think they must’ve happened to have a lot of people with similar (quite good) qualifications, but something had to give eventually. They said some were “more recognized,” which could mean they were just better liked, or they were actually recognized by the committee, like they had relatives there or something.</p>
<p>^ yeah, just the “it” factor. And wow 5 out of 87.
And the app was pretty short for them to see much besides stats.</p>
<p>I’m guessing it wouldn’t even mean 5 full scholarships… probably like one full one and maybe 4 for like $500 or something… so I guess that makes me feel a little bit better if that’s true.</p>
<p>Dear Everyone,</p>
<p>I wasn’t sure whether sharing the news would make people feel bad or what, but here goes: My D got a full scholarship. I found out today. </p>
<p>To try to soften the blow a bit, let me tell you I’m a single mom on a very limited income. My D has wanted to become a neurologist since she was about eight, and she wrote some pretty compelling essays explaining her dream and her reasons for wanting this program so badly. So it’s not like some rich person’s getting a full ride and, remember, we will still have to pay the airfare from California out of pocket. </p>
<p>If my D hadn’t gotten a scholarship, I would have found a way for her to go, even if I had to borrow the money or take out a cash advance on my credit card. If you feel strongly about the program, I would like to encourage you to consider making whatever super-human effort it takes. You’ll only be a junior in high school once, and this is an amazing opportunity. I was terrified my daughter wouldn’t be accepted at all. If you have been accepted, that’s already an honor, so I would try to get the money from somewhere. We only have one living relative in this country, my 87 year-old dad, who is disabled and living on Social Security. He lives in my house because he couldn’t afford to live anywhere else, what with the cost of living so high in San Francisco. If we had other relatives, I’d try to get them to give/lend us money. Maybe you could think about that…It’s not lowering yourself, it’s an attempt to raise yourself above what you could normally hope for out of life. I think you owe it to yourselves to try to make the best opportunities available for yourselves. Education is the most important thing. You did the right thing applying…now that you’ve been accepted, you should–sorry if I sound preachy–try to make it work. I feel like you’re all my kids, so I’m talking to you the same way I talk to my D.</p>
<p>By the way, I was on full scholarship for all four years of college because of my straight-A average and our low income. Being such top-notch students, I bet you’ll all get great financial aid packages, too, when the time comes. So maybe you can spend a little now for important summer activities like CSSI that will help you get into the college of your choice. Remember, Carleton is ranked 8 by U.S. News and World Report. It will look superb on your apps. In fact, you may well fall in love with Carleton and Carleton with you after they see how brilliant you are!!</p>
<p>End of pep talk. Good luck, and hope you and my D can become friends this summer.</p>
<p>Wow! Congratulations, that is quite an accomplishment! It’s good to know at least one scholarship went to someone who seems to really deserve it 
I really hope it’s a good experience for you guys.</p>
<p>Thanks very much! My D is over the moon.</p>
<p>I got in, but no scholarship. So I am not going. Still going to SSP, so its all good.</p>
<p>Is anyone going?</p>
<p>If so, what are you looking forward to?</p>
<p>Is anyone from the Midwest going? If so, how long is it from your state to Carleton?</p>
<p>bump…
Any participants from last year? How was it? Would you go again?</p>
<p>Accepted and I might go. But then posts saying how they would not go without f/a makes me feel bad. I had not applied for scholarship cause I found out about this only recently… I just cannot tell if this is a good one or not. u know anything, sunny2113?</p>
<p>Well I am not sure about how good the program is because it is a new program . I am going for the experience. I’m sure there is going to be something new to try and I’ll try to delve deeper into the whole college experience.</p>
<p>This is a new program so I don’t know much about it. But, I’m hoping it will be a good experience.</p>
<p>Hey, for those who end up going this summer, please come back and revive this thread afterwards and post about your experience! I have a D who may apply for next summer or the summer after, but we can’t really find anyone who has been who can talk about it. So if you could come back and tell us what it is really like, that would be great. Thanks!!</p>
<p>I think CSSI will be a fabulous experience because: 1) It will allow you to study science and participate in scientific experimentation without having to worry about the grade you’ll get. 2) It will give you college credit plus a great summer activity to list on your college apps. 3) You’ll get a taste of life on a college campus and in a dorm. 4) You’ll be able to experience Carleton College, which is ranked eighth among liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report. After attending, you may well decide to apply to Carleton. 5) If you look at older threads about Carleton’s summer academic programs, you’ll see that the people who went last year absolutely loved it.</p>
<p>I agree with all your reasons why it SHOULD be great, marmara. We live in Minnesota, so are very aware of Carleton. But I can’t find any threads about the CSSI experience (if you have a link, please let me know). What is should be like and what it is like aren’t always the same… so would love it if those who attend come back and talk about it!</p>
<p>Your comments are very valid, intparent! I promise to post feedback from my daughter at the end of the program.</p>
<p>Since you live in MN, do you know if Northfield is a nice place, or is it really boring? Also, are there many mosquitoes there?</p>
<p>Northfield is a very nice town. Carleton is not the only college in town, St. Olaf is also there. There is a main street not far from the Carleton campus with local coffee shops, restaurants, etc. The campus is very pretty, in my opinion. They have an arboretum right next to campus, which would be a nice place to take a walk. But likely there will be mosquitos, so she probably should take some mosquito repellent. And sunscreen. She might not need it, but better to have it…</p>
<p>One thing I am interested in finding out is whether your D and her friends feel like they get enough depth of subject matter. I think my D would rather drill into one thing for three weeks than do three different subjects. I think my D would be concerned about how much hands on research one could really do in one week. So I am curious about how attendees feel about that aspect of it after attending.</p>