<p>Ok, so I'm pretty sure that I'm going to apply ED to Carleton. I live in Connecticut, and am visiting in 2 weeks. I have a 3.47 GPA with all AP, honors, and one L1 class. I got 2130 on my SATs, but retook them today. I am the president of our school's Junior State of America chapter, extremely involved in debate society, am VP of the local chapter of USY second year running (local Jewish youth group) and was Social Action chair. I take trombone lessons, taught myself guitar, used to take piano lessons, and play in the pep and jazz bands and am first trombone chair and section leader. I've made regionals for the past 3 years as well. I have a passion for learning for the sake of learning, not just to get a good job coming out of college. I'm pretty certain Carleton's the school for me. What are my chances of getting in? I'm tired of listening to my parents' self-prescribed advice. Thanks for any help you can give me!</p>
<p>your SAT score is fine, and if your score does improve, it will certainly be impressive. my concern is that your GPA seems a little on the low side...you will need really good recs from your tutors, and excellent essays. </p>
<p>you can be sure that admission officers will read every word you write - esp since this is a small college and carleton offers only about 1300 acceptances - for your essays, maybe you would like to focus a little on your ideals about learning for the sake of learning...this is only a suggestion, which might or might not work - i am just thinking that a LAC like carleton may like students who enjoy studying for the pure sake of acquiring knowledge. goodluck.</p>
<p>thanks for the advice. for the essays, do you think maybe one should focus on learning for the sake of learning, and the other should focus on something else, or should they both focus on the same thing? thanks for the help.</p>
<p>Have you visited/interviewed?</p>
<p>Your essay(s) should show something that you are passionate about. If that is learning for learning's sake that's great. But it can be about anything.</p>
<p>No, I haven't visited or interviewed, although I'm doing both in two weeks. It's hard to get affordable plane tickets from CT to MN.</p>
<p>If you are not too far from Boston, Northwest has a direct flight to the Twin Cities. I actually just purchased round trip airfare for my daughter (she's a sophomore) and it was pretty reasonable- I think there is a sale of sorts currently. Carleton shuttles her directly to and from the airport for a nominal fee during regular breaks, etc. It's a wonderful service when you consider what gas and hotels would cost going back and forth from New England to Minnesota, not to mention my time!!
As for the interview, my daughter felt it was key to her acceptance...</p>
<p>Actually, I'm flying American using frequent flyer miles. I considered taking Northwest, but I would have to miss an extra day of school to get the flight. Thanks for the advice though. Maybe if I end up going to Carleton, I'll use your advice in the future. By the way, how does your daughter like Carleton?</p>
<p>She LOVES it. She has found the midwest atmosphere to be very genuine and warm, as are the folks at Carleton. All are very talented, self motivated kids who love to learn. She is actually abroad right now and can't wait to rejoin the fold. She also loves being able to hang around at home during the holidays (Carelton is on a trimester schedule and she is basically home from Thanksgiving to New Year's), although many(not all!)of her hometown friends are away at school. It does make for some fine opportunities for holiday employment...</p>
<p>My daughter is also a freshman and loving Carleton. She really isn't stressed. Her classes are demanding, but nothing she can't handle. There is a lot of support at Carleton, from the administration to the professors to the other students. There is certainly plenty to do outside of class, both organized and disorganized. Today the RAs were organizing trips to the local apple orchard/cider mill. There have also been impromptu midnight ultimate games. Daughter is eagerly anticipating the start of broomball season.</p>
<p>How do you get two essays into the Carleton ap? There's the essay on the common ap, but the supplement questions all seem to be short answers -- books, influential teacher, academic interest/career goal and why carleton.</p>