Chances Please!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Carleton College
1

<p>I know that this is not a chance forum, but I figured that those who are perusing this site would be those sincerely interested in Carleton. </p>

<p>I am a rising senior and I am greatly anxious over my chances at the top LAC’s. Well here it is…</p>

<p>1st generation Korean-American
Born in Georgia, now residing in suburbs in California
Income bracket <40,000</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 unweighted, 4.67 weighted
Rank: 4/517 (for now…I think I will be moving up to 2/517 by next year)
PSAT: 190
SAT: ugh…690M, 650W, 640CR----I am currently studying to retake in Oct…my goal is to get 730+M, 700+W, 700CR
SAT II: 660 Math IIC, 670Bio E, 710 US History—retaking in Nov.</p>

<p>Special Circumstances: nothing really, except that I moved from GA to CA in the second semester of my sophomore year and that GA did not offer AP classes to sophomores…so I technically had only 1 semester of AP World History…</p>

<p>10th:
AP World History: A (5 on exam)</p>

<p>11th:
Pre-IB Pre Calc/AP Calc AB: A
AP English Language: A
AP US History: A
AP Biology: A</p>

<p>12th:
AP English
AP Calculus BC
AP Art History
AP Govt
AP Economics
AP Physics</p>

<p>EC’s:

  1. National Honor Society 2 years</p>

<li><p>California Scholarship Federation 2.5 years </p></li>
<li><p>Latin Club 4 years (founder/instructor)
I had previously taken Latin in GA however, moving to CA which did not offer Latin, I decided to create a latin club and teach latin I and the culture to those interested)
I also took the National Latin Exam for Latin I and got bronze medal</p></li>
<li><p>Future Doctors of America 2 years (founder/co-president)
Basically, we bring guest speakers to our club meetings (neurosurgeons to pediatric cardiologists) who talk about their occupations, do volunteer work at local hospitals/Red Cross, and provide hands on experience to those interested in pursuing a medical profession.</p></li>
<li><p>LiNK-Liberty in North Korea 3 years (co-secretary/promotions director/public relations)
Spreading awareness upon the humanitarian crisis in North Korea and doing humanitarian activist promotions (ie: organized an all-day LiNK awareness assembly at school, protests in front of the Chinese Embassy in LA, sending petitions to various embassies and release North Korean detainees, host a benefit concert and raise $5,000 for SAFE Haven orphanages in China that are posts involved in an Underground Railroad to help NK refugees) I am a great advocate for this cause while many ppl in my church have dissapproved b/c they feel that I am simply straining the already tense relations our motherland: SKorea and NKorea and US. Nevertheless, I this issue itself is my passion and energy not only b/c of the horrendous atrocities being committed right under noses but also b/c some of my family members are in NKorea right now…and so, its not only a matter of human decency but of ultimate necessity. </p></li>
<li><p>Model UN 2 years (cofounder/activities director)
My involvement in LiNK led me to intiate our school’s 1st MUN chapter. (our school just opened in 2004…hence our class is the 1st graduating class for 2007!)</p></li>
</ol>

<p>so…what will it be! Too big of a dream for me at Carleton? PLEASE Be HONEST while I still have time to improve! Thank you!!! :)</p>

2

<p>Grades and rank are superb. As you noted, test scores need to be higher (Carleton does not require SAT2s). Your most interesting and impressive EC is LiNK - definitely emphasize that in your essay. Will you be able to visit and interview?</p>

<p>I think you have a good chance, especially if you raise your SATs. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>anyone else?</p>

4

<p>In MN you may count as an "URM" - although Carleton tries hard to be diverse, MN is pretty nordic. Your class rank, top 1%, and AP load, more than 7 course-years, sound good). The SAT is a little low, in the 25%-50% range but it is doable. Good luck on your SAT retakes, you are doing fine. I would apply to several schools, generally college admissions (and f/a) can seem erratic so cover yourself, watch your financial aid offers carefully (est'd total yearly cash paid + 4 yr debt + workstudy). Also if SAT is a problem consider taking the ACT, some students do worse/better. Carleton takes the ACT too (my student did). Good luck.</p>

5

<p>Hey Crazedjunior, </p>

<p>I got into Carleton, UC Berkeley, and UCLA. I decided on Carleton. Why? Smaller class size, top notch education, and better financial aid. </p>

<p>I am a first generation Mexican-American. </p>

<p>SAT's: M: 570 V: 600 W: 690</p>

<p>Sat II: Math level II: 600 Spanish Language: 770 English Lit: 690</p>

<p>GPA: 4.6</p>

<p>Class Rank: 42 / 800</p>

<p>AP's:
Spanish Language - 5
English Language - 5
Spanish Literature - 5
US History - 3
Calculus AB - 3</p>

<p>PSAT: 184</p>

<p>Recognized by collegeboard as National Hispanic Scholar and AP Scholar.</p>

<p>Played soccer 2 years. JV team captain, Varsity. </p>

<p>Created tutoring program. </p>

<p>Was in smaller learning community called Social Justice.</p>

<p>Historian and yearbook editor in such.</p>

<p>Wrote a play in 11th grade that was performed. </p>

<p>So, college admissions is really a roll of the dice. I also applied to Harvard and Boston...got rejected at both...but Carleton seemed to fit me more, anyway. </p>

<p>Good luck...and keep on striving to better yourself...don't do things just for admission into your favorite college...do things because you truly enjoy them...</p>

6

<p>Obviously, your scores are the biggest problem, although you're certainly still competitive as it is. You may not count as a URM, but being Korean isn't going to hurt you as much for Carleton as it might for some other schools. As I think I've mentioned before, it's important to show that you understand what Carleton is about and demonstrate a real desire to go there.</p>

7

<p>thanks for your replies I truly am interested in attending Carleton I have heard so many positive attributes from the insitution...however, I am apprehensive over the thought that I may not appear that way to the admissions directors...I live in California and my family's budget cannot afford a trip to MN and do a campus visit...will that somehow be a turnoff?</p>

8

<p>no. you can explain that in your application. if you lived in minneapolis and didn't visit, they'd have to wonder. but there's no way they'll question your interest just because you didn't come all the way from ca. you should try to get an alumni interview though.</p>

9

<p>i was also wondering if the sciences here are reputable...i am really interested in going on a premed track and was wondering how carletonians fare in med school admissions...thanks in advance!</p>

10

<p>I'm a 1st generation Cambodian-American that will be attending Carleton next year, so at least minority-wise we are pretty similar students. In short, your grades and rank were slightly better than mine, your ECs were much better than mine, but your test scores were not as good, so you have a pretty good chance. I also got into Berkeley, UCLA, and UChicago.</p>

<p>I didn't visit Carleton beforehand (I'm from CT) and I didn't request an alumni interview either but got in anyway. I showed interest through the common app supplement that accompanies the application for the most part.</p>

<p>I think that Carleton is pretty good as far as med school admissions go, but not many people choose to go to med school. Instead, they go to grad school.</p>

11

<p>thank you for your replies...I am really concerned about my sat's however---ugh...whatever, I am going to take the ACT and I am sure I can do well on those...:)</p>