How are my chances?

Colleges & Universities A-Z Carleton College
1

<p>Hi Guys,</p>

<p>I'm an international student (from South Africa) looking to apply to Carleton ED and asking for near-full financial aid (yes, I know the pool is competitive) </p>

<p>I would like some input as to what my chances are of being admitted and receiving that kind of aid.</p>

<p>Objective:
• ACT: 32
• SAT II: 690 French, 710 Math II
• Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): N/A , Did the IB
• Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): School does not rank, but around top 5-10%
• AP (place score in parenthesis): Not Offered
• IB (place score in parenthesis): Predicted 40/45. English (6), Maths HL (6), Economics HL (7), Business SL (7), French (7), Physics (6)
Actual score: 36/45 (due to external factors such as losing our residence permit)
• Senior Year Course Load: Full IB Diploma
• Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Duke of Edinburgh, School French Award, Open Water Diving Certification, IGCSE Distinction Award, IB Distinction Award
Subjective:
• Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Debate (Harvard MUN- Brussels, Belgium - Rep. Peru), Young Investor’s Award, Rajiv Gandhi Science Competition, Open Water Diving, Created own web design business (Innolounge), School Prefect (2005-2006 and again in 2010-2011), Guitar for 3 years, Gymnastics for 2 years, Duke of Edinburgh award programme, school fashion show, started own website for young south Africans looking to study abroad.
• Job/Work Experience: Working for my father’s company for two years, now working full-time as trainee accountant at an accounting firm.
• Volunteer/Community service: volunteered at local government school (painting & repair), cleaning beaches and rivers, teaching younger students with learning difficulties (peer-mentoring), participated in school charity walk
• Summer Activities: Internship, managing my online business
• Essays: Not sure; I thought that they were engaging and personal
• Teacher Recommendation: Very good
• Counselor Rec: Didn’t read… probably generic
• Additional Rec: Okay/ Generic</p>

<p>Other
• Country (if international applicant): South Africa
• School Type: (Small private school of around 700 students)
• Ethnicity: Caucasian
• Gender: Male
• Income Bracket: < $60,000
• Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM International (not sure about this), first-generation?</p>

<p>THANKS IN ADVANCE GUYS FOR ALL YOUR HELP AND SUGGESTIONS!</p>

2

<p>You have a very good chance, except for one thing. According to the international students I ran into on campus Carleton offers no financial aid to first year applicants. These students said very little was offered after the first year too.</p>

<p>Carleton has about 2,000 students so it’s quite a bit bigger than the 700 you desire.</p>

<p>Hope this helps!</p>

3

<p>

</p>

<p>I don’t know who you spoke to, but that is incorrect.</p>

<p>Financial aid for international students may be more competitive, but it is definitely available and I’ve met a number of international students who would not have been able to attend Carleton without it: [Carleton</a> College: Admissions: Aid for International Students](<a href=“http://apps.carleton.edu/admissions/afford/international_scholarships/]Carleton”>http://apps.carleton.edu/admissions/afford/international_scholarships/)</p>

4

<p>^seconded. I’ve met quite a few international students who would not have attended Carleton if not for the aid package they received. One of my roommates was one of them. </p>

<p>OP, the impression I got was that your current school is about 700 students, correct? At any rate, you look like a good candidate for Carleton. I would go ahead and apply - best of luck!</p>