<p>Hey Guys,
Carleton is one of my top choices but I'm pretty sure that my GPA will kill my chances.. but more importantly, as acceptees, what would you say?
Freshman Year:
slacked... ended with a 3.4 GPA avg
H. Bio
H. Alg II
Geography
Spanish I
P.E.
H. English</p>
<p>Sophomore Year:
slacked again.. ended with 3.5
AP Chem
Drama
H. Pre-Cal
H. World History
H. English
Spanish II</p>
<p>Junior Year (this year)
stopped slacking and picked up my pace with a 3.83
AP. Calc BC
AP. Physics
ROP Virtual Enterprise
Spanish III
APUSH
AP English</p>
<p>Senior year (next year)
AP. Statistics
AP. Bio
AP. Spanish
AP. English
AP. Government/Econ</p>
<p>(I'm taking the most rigorous courseload to make up for my slacking in the beginning of the year)</p>
<p>I'm planning on taking 11 APs total, with the most rigorous course load that my school offers. I have decent SAT scores (I'm hoping to hit 2250 on the new SAT) and I am a varsity swimmer. I have 300 hours of community service (couldn't get a summer job at 15 so I decided to volunteer fulltime at the nearest hospital). I think I have enough extracurriculars (planning on being president of a community service club among others...) recommendations should be decent and the essay should turn out fairly well. I'm quite outspoken; many teachers know me well. </p>
<p>my academic GPA is a 3.61 and my weighed GPA is about a 4.3</p>
<p>Wow I gotta commend you for making such a great improvement your junior year. 11 APs?!! You're insane! Anyways, I agree your UW GPA is a little low, but from what I see you definitely make up for it with your EC's and academic load for junior + senior year. And they would probably note the improvement like I did. I'd say you have a pretty good chance. I do suggest that you visit the campus and have an interview to let them know how interested you are. I think the interview helped me a lot in getting accepted. </p>
<p>Although I may not be in a position to say so, I think Carleton is less interested in your GPA and more interested in the courses you took (at least that's what I gathered in my interview). With your focus on community service and your ungodly amount of AP's [and hopefully a 3.7+ UW cumulative], you would be doing yourself an injustice if you didn't apply [especially since the app is free]. You may even want to think about ED...</p>
<p>Yea, I'd think you'd be fine, as long as you demonstrate interest. They have to know that you're really interested in the school...I agree with nebzter, if you find Carleton to be your absolute top choice, go ahead and ED....if not, let them know that they're up there.</p>
<p>Admission at Carleton is pretty random. I got in with an 8.2 (out of 11) GPA and a 1520 on the old SATs. So Im not sure what it is that they rely on for their admissions. Seeing as a B average is not exactally the kind of thing you would expect for getting in, then again I'm not complaining. Oh yeah way to go with the varsity swimming. Swimming rules.</p>
<p>I agree with IceNine, admission to Carleton is pretty random.
I was accepted with 27 ACT, 3.9 UW GPA (naturally with AP/honors classes) and applied using a common app.
I think that what matters the most to Carleton is the transcript, personal improvement (I had no honors classes during my sophmore year!), and teacher recs. Personally,I think that recs (and possibly my essay) got me admitted.
You seem well prepared academically...i would advice making sure that the teachers like you and that they have something to write about you in their recs. I would not worry too much about the SAT scores...other things seem more important in Carleton admission.<br>
Keep working on your GPA - show that you are trying.</p>
<p>i was admitted with terrible test scores and an average gpa (3.96)... however, my teacher recs were awesome as were my ecs... i believe carleton places emphasis on things other than just test scores and gpa so to make up for an average test score or gpa, all you have to do is have something unique that will make you stand out</p>
<p>If you hit the SATs you project you should be in good shape, but not a guaranteed admit. Your tough courseload will definitely help. Check your times against their swimmers and if yours look good definitely contact the coach. And if you are sold on Carleton and not in need of merit aid, you could certainly consider ED or EDII.</p>
<p>From President Oden: Carleton wants students who crave learning for the sake of learning.</p>
<p>That craving is not revealed with a simple statement of test scores and a GPA. Carleton is looking for much, much more. Your choice of courses listed on your transcript, your recommendations, the passion with which you focus on any academic or non-academic enriching activity, etc. must send the "I love learning" message. I don't think it means that you have to be unique. You just need to enjoy what you do and communicate that effectively. My D's acceptance letter last year had a personalized first paragraph specifically citing these types of things from her application materials that appealed to the adcoms.</p>
<p>If your SATs are as high as you hope, you will very probably get in--IF you show interest.</p>
<p>Visit before Xmas; stay overnight.<br>
Write thank you letters to EVERYONE you meet with, including your tour guides, your host, and the admissions office people.
Treat every personal communication from the school as an invitation to respond and reshow your interest.</p>