<p>Rice has been my first choice since June, but I got cold feet and didn't apply early. I did an overnight, an interview, etc. but I am worried that my stats are not up to par.</p>
<p>My SAT is 2150 (690 CR, 660 Math, 800 W) and my ACT is 32 (34 English, 30 Math, 35 Reading, 28 Science). I did NOT do well freshman year but have gotten 3.9-4.0 ever since, so my weighted GPA will be 3.74 (my school doesn't do unweighted so I don't know what mine is, but I'm guessing it is around 3.65...).</p>
<p>Basically, Carleton and Rice are neck and neck right now. The only problem I have with Carleton is the weather (I lived in TX/Cali so I'm not used to snow), and the only problem I have with Rice is that there are not a lot of arts and humanities courses available. I want to major in psychology though, so I guess that doesn't matter.</p>
<p>But other than that, I really love Carleton and am considering ED II. I absolutely love Carleton's quirkiness. I don't know...does anyone have any insight?</p>
<p>To apply Carleton for ED2 or regular decision is up to an honest self-analysis: Do you really care the weather factor that much? How much will it affect your college experience? (Are you susceptible to seasonal affective disorder?) The long winterin Minnesota can be both negative and positive. It can open up the opportunities for the winter sports and activities you may not try in California and Texas. I grew up in a subtropical area and never saw snow before I came to study in Minnesota. I adapted myself to the Minnesota winter without any problem. Do you love Carleton for other reasons beyond the “quirky” student body? Do you have any financial concerns that you need to compare financial packages? </p>
<p>If the cold winter in Minnesota does not really bother you, you can list 3-5 reasons why you love Carleton (and Rice will not offer anything better on these, for example, Carleton does a better job in keeping classes small, see Rice common data set p. 23 & Carleton CDS p. 28), and you do not need to compare financial aid packages, apply for Carleton ED2.</p>
<p>Our family has come to the conclusion that weather is only an important factor in a Carleton decision for the sort of person who is inclined to spend time outdoors. Going from building to building on campus only takes a few short minutes. </p>
<p>We just returned from the airport sending our son from the Gulf coast to Carleton for his 2nd winter term. He is wearing only a t-shirt and a fleece for the trip because he (intentionally) didn’t bring his winter jacket home for the 6-wk break. He knows it’ll be 5 degrees when he arrives, but he’ll only be outside for the short run from Sayles to his dorm. Last year he only wore true winter gear for a few games of broomball and frolf with friends and several evenings sledding. He loves Carleton and has no concern about the weather because the campus is compact and has efficient and sufficient snow removal.</p>
<p>I’ll go one step further than the reassurances above and tell you there is probably no reason for concern about Carleton OR Rice. </p>
<p>I know Rice well, have great regard for the school, and while science/engineering/math-CS dominate the academic scene along with very strong small supporting casts in music and architecture, the bread and butter humanities and social sciences are not to be dismissed. “…not a lot of arts and humanities courses available…” is just not my experience with the school. </p>
<p>The cold winters at Carleton are very real, but sunshine is remarkably plentiful, possibly more than you’d find at Rice that time of the year. Personally, I’d take snow and sunshine over overcast skies and cold rain any day and am not a fan of Houston. The Cali’s/Texans/Floridians at Carleton adapt easily. Outdoor activities are much more plentiful here given the Arb’s offerings year round. Spring/Fall mean hiking, running and biking with Winter bringing opportunities for cross country skiing and snowshoeing along with broomball, skating, and hockey on the Bald Spot rinks.</p>
<p>Applications are similarly competitve at the two schools with ED (at both) offering an admissions edge. If you’d truly be equally happy at either, I’d apply EDII and take advantage of that edge. If you remain uncertain, hold tight, apply RD, and sit back and let the dice roll.</p>
<p>Thank you all so much – I’m smitten by all this Midwestern friendliness. In the end, I’m just going to apply to Carleton RD. Rice is, was, and always be my dream school. I am retaking the SAT in January to further increase my chances, so hopefully I’ll at least make it into Carleton. That way, if I don’t get into Rice, I can go to my second choice.</p>
<p>I would agree with most of everything on this page. </p>
<p>I grew up about 45 minutes away from Carleton, I toured and got the whole feel IMO, and if I wasn’t for potentially lackluster financial aid, I would have applied ED this fall. And I was very interested in Rice for a long time, too. IMO, the main differences between the two is size and location. Rice is right outside Houston, while Carleton is in a smaller town about 45 minutes away from the Twin Cities. Rice is a larger research university, while Carleton is a smaller liberal arts college. </p>
<p>Weather in Minnesota really isn’t that bad. You learn to enjoy it. I think it would be really unfortunate if that was the only reason you wouldn’t apply EDII. </p>
<p>I like what an above poster said about making a list of the things you like about Carleton. Pros and cons lists work great! </p>
In the end, I’m just going to apply to Carleton RD. Rice is, was, and always be my dream school. I am retaking the SAT in January to further increase my chances, so hopefully I’ll at least make it into Carleton. That way, if I don’t get into Rice, I can go to my second choice.</p>