<p>I fell in love with Carleton a year ago. Well, for the realists out there - love might be too strong of a word since I haven't had the chance to visit. But for the hopeless romantics, from everything I've learned about the college in the past year - I'm in love, alright.
I'm probably going to apply no matter what happens senior year, but I just want to know if I shouldn't get my hopes too high.</p>
<p>Basics: Female, Asian, Texas</p>
<p>GPA: 4.0/4.56
Rank: 11/996
SAT: 2110 - 710 Reading/690 Math/710 Writing (first time, retaking)
Courseload: All honors and AP classes (except for electives which are required)</p>
<p>Extracurriculars:
-Junior Civitan: 9th-11th (service club, I created the website for the group, will continue next year)
-Newspaper: 11th
-Elite: 11th (service club, co-founder and member of the executive board, will continue next year)
-Academic Decathlon: 11th (several medals at regional competition, will continue next year)</p>
<p>Job/Work Experience:
-Babysitting for past 3 years (younger sibling, parents work full time)</p>
<p>Extra information that may or may not be noteworthy:
-Rank has probably gone up (reported rank was from sophomore year)
-I don't have a lot of APs (only two this year) because my school restricts them to mainly senior year
-I was appointed Assisting Editor in Newspaper, but I will not continue next year for various reasons. (not sure if this should be mentioned when I apply)
-I'm finally getting the chance to volunteer now that I have my drivers license :D So I should have some hours by next year
-Might be in NHS (even though that equals practically no weight in admissions) - decisions are coming out soon
-Borderline for NMF, will get commended at least</p>
<p>Any perspective, insight, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I know Carleton is a reach for me. I just can't seem to get my head out of the clouds.</p>
<p>I would say that yes, as you stand right now, it is a bit of a reach. Not unreachable by any means. Here’s what I would do:</p>
<p>1) Retake the SAT, which you already plan on doing. Take the ACT if you haven’t tried it. Try to take a prep class–doesn’t need to be the super-expensive individual kind, but it helps you with things like random grammar rules (example: not “The person ate their soup” but “The person ate his soup”) that tend to show up on the tests.</p>
<p>2) Do as well on your AP exams as you possibly can. It goes without saying, but do your best to keep up your (excellent) grades.</p>
<p>3) I see that you’re involved with a couple of service clubs. Do you have a specific cause or area that you are especially passionate about? This summer might be a good time to really dedicate yourself to it. Starting your own service project would be a great way to show passion on your application.</p>
<p>4) Visit Carleton, if you can. Do everything you can to demonstrate your interest (i.e. show up if an admissions officer visits your school, request an interview when you apply). Fill your supplemental essays with your favorite Carleton quirks. If financially possible, apply early decision–Carleton offers an ED II option with a January deadline, which would give you more time to take care of tests and develop your ECs.</p>
<p>Thank you for your response! It was very helpful.
- I wasn’t certain whether I should give the ACT a try, but I probably will now. I will definitely practice before my next SAT test, even though I probably won’t be able to take a prep class. I have the Collegeboard SAT Study Guide, so I’m hoping enough practice will help.
- Absolutely understandable. I’m aiming for 5s, and hopefully I’ll achieve them.
- I plan on dedicating my summer to volunteering at a hospice (which I’m rather excited about), but creating a service project is a brilliant idea. Albeit, I find the concept a bit intimidating, so perhaps I’ll ask my counselor for a bit of advice and direction.
- I’ve pretty much been stalking Carleton. I squeal every time I get college mail from them and I had to grovel earlier this year to convince my parents to take me to an event Carleton hosted. Unfortunately though, I won’t be able to apply ED, mainly for financial reasons. </p>
<p>Once again, I really do appreciate your input.</p>
<p>Hold up there everyone! I don’t think you have far to go at all. Your SAT M/CR composite of 1400 falls squarely at Carleton’s 50th percentile, and your grades are excellent. Also, being from Texas helps - Carleton draws a lot of people from Minnesota (aka me) and always enjoys geographical diversity. Your ec’s are a little sparse - but so were mine, and I got accepted RD. Buff up those extracurriculars a little and you’ll have an excellent shot. I would advise applying ED if at all possible, because the odds are really much better. Good luck.</p>
<p>I’ve considered applying ED, but after discussing it with the authorities, it really isn’t plausible despite Carleton’s excellent reputation with financial aid.</p>
<p>Thank you for giving me more hope, though 
I’ll definitely look into ECs, and hopefully I’ll be able to find something that interests me. I’m actually kind of excited now - all tingly and whatnot.</p>
<p>I agree a lot with Drought - I think that you’re fine, especially for a Southerner. I would strongly advise that you take the ACT! Carleton accepts both and it seems to just work better for some students (it did for me, at least). BTW, if prep classes are too expensive, try the College Board’s SAT book - not to continue making self-comparisons, but it was the only thing I used for pretty much the same reason, and I can attest that it
s helpful.</p>
<p>I agree with Drought that maybe you could increase your EC involvement - if you don’t mind me asking, how come you won’t be continuing with the student paper? Also, you mentioned that you will be increasing your community service now: is there any area of passion that you have, to which you could dedicate yourself?</p>
<p>Also, I completely understand about not applying ED for financial reasons - that’s the exact same reason I couldn’t apply ED to Carleton, even though I really wanted to. But I think you still have a chance RD - I think it’s more of a match than a reach, especially with your excellent grades.</p>
<p>Like the above posters, I think you are a match for Carleton. My daughter applied ED 2 (she is a junior now) and her financial aid award was very good. She loves Carleton.</p>
<p>Okay, so the ACT is definitely going to my to do list. I suppose I’ll have to find a prep book for that now, too I have Collegeboard’s SAT book already, because I had heard so many people sing praises about it. I scored consistently higher on their practice tests, which is one of the main reasons I’m retaking the SAT - I know I can do better. </p>
<p>Reesez - It was mainly the atmosphere that surrounded Newspaper that led to my decision, if that makes any sense. Things went well at first, and I was offered a position as Assisting Editor (basically an Editor-in-training for next year). But more responsibility = more harping, and I was starting to detest it. Eventually, I had to make a decision between Academic Decathlon and Newspaper Editor because both activities ate up an insane amount of time. Academic Decathlon was just more important to me, probably because everyone on team had become like a second family. After I gave up the position as editor, I was pretty much ostracized. I have a weak stomach for hostile environments, so I decided to quit after this year.
I’m interested in medicine, and I particularly enjoy working with the elderly. I’d also like to try my hand at tutoring. I actually have no true preference when volunteering because I like almost everything - as long as I’m directly involved and not just fundraising. </p>
<p>Thank you again for taking the time to respond. I began the day off with a sort of dismal perspective, and it’s thanks to you guys I’m motivated to get going again.</p>
<p>notan - that’s completely understandable; it sounds like a wise decision (Ironically, I actually quit the newspaper my junior year as well, though for different reasons). Speaking as a tutor, it’s really fun, as well as rewarding - does your chapter of NHS run a tutoring club? Or maybe your guidence counselors? That seems to be how ours works…</p>
<p>Glad I could help! And definitely try the ACT…it isn’t necessarily easier, but it’s a lot more straightforward.</p>
<p>Good luck! Hope tomorrow goes better for ya :)</p>
<p>Oh, really? What a funny coincidence 
I guess some of us just weren’t cut out to be on our high school newspaper staff.
Our school’s NHS is more concentrated on food drives, toy drives, etc. than tutoring. However, there is a program at my school dedicated to tutoring AP kids - but I won’t be able to partake in that until next year, after I’ve actually taken an AP test. Until then, I think I will look into our local Boys and Girls Club. </p>
<p>Thanks again! I really appreciate the input.</p>