Considering

<p>So, I'm considering early decision between macalester and carleton, and was wondering what my chances of getting into macalester are. I have a 3.47 gpa, and 2130 sat, although i retook them last week. all ap and honors, except 2 level 1 classes. I'm the president of my school's JSA (Junior State of America) chapter, and am highly active in the debate team. I play trombone in and out of school, playing in the pep band and symphonic band in school, and taking lessons out of school. I am also trained in piano, and taught myself how to play the guitar. I'm the vice president (2 years) of the local USY chapter (Jewish youth group) and was the social action chair for one year. I haven't visited Mac yet, but I'm visiting a week from today (saturday). Can anyone tell me what my chances of getting in are? I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks for any help!</p>

<p>You're a fairly strong applicant in general, but given these details, there's nothing particularly distinguishing that will make you stand out. </p>

<p>Unless you are a minority or from an under-represented region, I would say applying to Carleton would be a waste of the ED round, since you have little chance. For Macalester, the ED-commitment boost would give you a fair chance at admission. What matters is that you make sure Mac is right for you. And if Carleton seems to fit you better, go ahead and apply there ED, because you don't want to ask yourself what-ifs a year from now.</p>

<p>My best prediction of your chances:
If you act yourself in your interview/essays, show true personality and quirks and shortcomings: 65% chance</p>

<p>If you simply try to make yourself out as what you think they want you to be: 25% chance.</p>

<p>Again, you're fairly middle-of-the-road for this pool in merit terms, but Mac loves to see personality and passion, and it will get you far if you have it AND show it.</p>

<p>I would say wait and visit both schools, and apply early to the one that you feel most comfortable with. That said, if you're approaching it as a game, you're probably going to get more mileage out of applying early to Mac....but don't do it unless you're sure you'd want to spend 4 years here :)</p>

<p>i have a question .. what schools would u consider similar (especially in terms of atmosphere) to Mac? the thing is that i dont like the "scenic beaty- in the middle of nowhere" feel.</p>

<p>I'm not sure what you mean by "in the middle of nowhere". Macalester is located in a city - St. Paul. Unless you mean Minnesota is in the middle of nowhere?</p>

<p>Seriously, the Twin Cities are very similar to Chicago or another large city. This is nothing like Carleton or Grinnel, which are true middle of nowhere schools.</p>

<p>no thats what i meant to say .. i like mac because ITS NOT in the middle of nowhere... and i wanted colleges with a similar atmosphere on my list.</p>

<p>can i have a description of mac and carleton please, im applying to both. similarities, differences? which one's better?</p>

<p>I think which one is better depends a lot on you. I knew I had to be in a city, with all of the internship, volunteering, and other opprotunities that are involved, so Mac was a better choice. However, I have friends who absolutely love carleton for how much social life occurs on campus, the on campus opprotunities, really strong academics (which both have), stuff like that. What are you looking for in a college?</p>

<p>i want small classes, great professors, but an even greater social life. i love athletics, so i need a school with a lot of spirit. it would be nice to be in a fun city, with a lot of things to do on the weekends. i dont want to necessarily be a number, i want to be an individual, BUT i dont want a realllyy small student body, i want diversity and a GREAT education</p>

<p>I don't think of Mac as an athletics, school spirit kind of place.</p>

<p>It's definitely not a traditional sort of school spirit. Mac's spirit lies in how it differs from other schools, rather than how it succeeds within the greater system (which it still manages to do). Students get upset when the school tries to move towards 'ivy-ness.' Athletics get attention, particularly soccer, but it's very easy not to notice.</p>

<p>I'd venture to say you'd like Carleton more in the first two years, and Mac more in the latter two years, as you learned to branch out into the community.</p>

<p>oh great, that's helpful, lol jk.... probably end up going to UW-Madison, anyway :)</p>