Really awful Freshman and Sophomore Year... Getting into Carleton?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi everyone, I've browsed CC for a while now and I just now made an account. I had a couple pretty awful years at the start of high school and I'm just now figuring it back out. The first quarter is over now, and these were my grades:
APUSH: A
AP Lang: A
AP Psych: A
Algebra II: B
Japanese III: A
Chemistry: A</p>

<p>My freshman year went like this:
Semester 1-
Biology: C
Dance: A
Algebra 1B: C
Japanese I: A
Honors English 9: C
Honors Acting: A</p>

<p>Semester 2-
Biology: B
Dance: A
Algebra: C
Japanese I: A
English 9 Honors: C
Honors Acting: A</p>

<p>My sophomore year is as follows:
Semester 1-
AP World: C
Geometry: B
ROP Culinary Arts: A
Japanese II: B
English 10 Honors: C
Independent study PE: P</p>

<p>Semester 2-
AP World: C
Geometry: C
ROP Culinary Arts: A
Japanese II: B
Honors English 10: B
Independent study PE: P</p>

<p>My ACT and SAT scores are currently rolling in at around 30 and 1900, respectively. The SAT I'm trying to bring up.</p>

<p>During my sophomore year I contracted mononucleosis and was bedridden for several weeks. I got a 3 on my AP World exam. Since I know Carleton looks at other things, let me include some important things about myself that I know they'll take a look at:
I've been a blood donor since my sophomore year and do it consistently, I started the glee club, I'm very active in community service and feeding the homeless within the community.
My high school is one of the top 50 high schools in the country, is very well known, and is EXTREMELY rigorous.
I was raised in a single parent household by my father in an incredibly unstable environment for most of my life, including my high school career. I like synchronized swimming and I'm a very talented writer. I've participated in competitions for Japanese culture and gotten 2nd place, and I'm in the varsity Comedy Sports team.
I also have some very very good letters of rec from some rather important people and I feel that it's within my power to write a very good essay.
I feel my personality really fits the Carleton atmosphere.
I've had a difficult life and I can definitely highlight those adversities and how they affected my grades and my passion for learning and bettering myself as a human being. I'm worried that my freshman and sophomore years screwed me over.
My senior year, I'm looking at taking these classes:
AP Stats
AP Literature
AP Japanese
AP Biology
AP Government
AP Economics
I'm fairly certain that I can get all or mostly As in these classes as well. I plan on applying for ED at Carleton. Can someone give me some information on what I can expect or if this will matter at all?
If it matters, I plan on majoring in international relations, maybe with a minor in anthropology.</p>

2

<ol>
<li><p>Carleton doesn’t have minors so you can’t minor in Anthro… You could try to double major in Sociology & Anthropology though.</p></li>
<li><p>I can’t really tell you what to expect but if you interview and definitely show your interest and explain why your grades were initially low, you might have a chance. You should, of course, maintain your grades and increase those test scores. Good luck! (:</p></li>
</ol>

3

<p>Carleton: Reach</p>

4

<p>I agree with Catria, it is a reach for you even if you maintain your grades. You probably need to focus on finding matches and at least one safety. Go ahead and apply to Carleton, but focus in on those matches because you are much more likely to end up at one of those.</p>

<p>What is it you especially like about Carleton? We might be able to suggest some matches if you can provide some details. Right off hand one school I would suggest is Dickinson, they are strong in IR. My D1 who did not get into Carleton (waitlisted and never got off it) attended there and was very happy.</p>

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<p>Also note that these are not always well received by colleges. They would rather have great letters from teachers. Unless you have had a specific role with that “important person” like working directly for them on an internship, don’t bother with the extra letters. And at most you should send one extra letter in addition to what the college requests. They really don’t want more materials than they ask for, they already have a massive amount of material to go through during the application period.</p>

5

<p>Carleton - Reach.

They don’t care if you are a regular blood donor or not…

Does that mean you didn’t even start on your essay yet?..</p>

<p>Any leadership ECs?</p>

<p>IMO, if you are going for politic related majors, you should think about GWU.</p>