<p>I give statistics below. The demographics of the class of 2018 shifted significantly compared to all other classes profiles I could find. There were far fewer students from Minnesota, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Generally, I think this good. It will help Carleton have a greater national profile. Also, I think Carleton will have an easier time finding qualified students who can pay in full outside of these three states.</p>
<p>The change is significant. The class of 2018 is comprised of 9% fewer students from these 3 states compared to the class of 2017. I doubt this is random, but I have not been able to find any explanation of this in materials from Carleton or the Carletonian. I am interested in comments or explanations (official or not) on the subject. </p>
<p>It was an especially brutal winter. Not sure what is was about the weather, but seemed much harsher than other years even though not any more snow to shovel than usual. I think a lot of northern kids may have headed south.</p>
While it is worth looking at, I really doubt it. More statistics comparing the percentage from other cold northern states between the class of 2017 and 2018……</p>
<p>So “no”….I would say the opposite thing happened or things remained the same in other cold northern states, except for Indiana (usually considered to be another Midwestern state).</p>
<p>…a good question. I don’t know how I’d find admission rates and yield rates for specific specific states.</p>
<p>The data on Carleton’s website only shows students who enrolled into Carleton from a specfic states. It does look like other Northern states got a bump in the students enrolled (New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio)</p>
<p>California also has significantly more 2018ers – it’s getting close to the point where the number of California students almost rivals the number of Minnesota students.</p>
<p>We have had back-to-back brutal winters here in Minnesota. I can’t blame natives wanting to get the heck out of here for college. I have no idea if this is a one-time aberration or some type of policy shift. All it takes is a dozen or so kids to choose out of state schools over Carleton to shift these numbers.</p>
<p>The more interesting number would be to look at their yields–which they are unlikely to divulge in that detail.</p>
<p>If they offered admission to the same rough numbers of MN, WI and IL kids, but had a lower yield, then external factors like terrible winters or continued proliferation of Common App applications leading to admissions spread nation-wide may be the explanation.</p>
<p>…could have something to do with the Common App. Does Carleton use the Common App? Is there still some sort of essay about “Why Carleton?” in the admission application.</p>
<p>Weather might account for a change of a dozen students, but this wasn’t a change of a dozen students. Between the three states, it was a change of 50 students.</p>
<p>I suspect it is just a normal variation. Look at WI. In the years listed the number of students have ranged from 18 to 37. That is a big swing, more than double. Are we suggesting someone on the admissions staff now dislikes the Packers? No, just the way the class shook out.</p>
<p>Time will tell if this is a more permanent change in how the classes shake out. If the classes in coming years continue to follow this trend, it is not random.</p>
<p>By the way, if the admissions staff decided they “dislike (i.e. didn’t accept as many)” Packers fans compared to international students or students from the coasts, I would not criticize it. I personally think it might be a positive…certainly there should be nothing wrong discussing it. </p>
<p>Last year Carleton introduced a new needs-based admission policy. I don’t know if it was implemented for this class of 2018 or will be implemented for the class of 2019. If the policy was implemented for the class of 2018, it might provide some explanation…but I just don’t know.</p>
<p>I can read it. My understanding is that only students, faculty, staff, and alumni can read it. I’m not not going to put my alumni login on College Confidential. :(|) </p>
<p>I wish I knew why the Carletonian requires a login for certain articles (even in the latest issue) and all back issues from a year ago or further back. It seems unnecessary. I don’t think any other liberal arts college newspaper does this…not even for the back issues.</p>
<p>Especially, in cases like this (for this very specific article) it seems that perspective students and their families should be able to read the Carletonian. The change in the needs-based admission policy seemed major.</p>
<p>@jack63 I agree, it is very strange that back issues of the Carletonian are restricted access. For people that do not have experience with a school, this is a great way to get more familiar. I wonder if it is related to privacy concerns, or just simply controlling the flow of public information about the school.</p>
…so its not random…The Carletonian requires a login, but there was a piece specifically discussing this issue this week. Look under features. I’m still at a loss as to why the Carletonian requires a login.
Anyway, the article was good, and the points where as follows:
-Getting more students attending from the South & West is a goal of Carleton’s strategic plan launched two years ago
-Demographic shift says that there will be more students graduating high school in the South and West in the future, and Carleton needs to enroll more of these students
-They are recruiting more heavily in the South and West
-No longer doing the Posse Foundation program from Chicago…doing it from Houston instead. It attracts students from urban environments
-Students from South & West may have slightly better chances of being accepted
-International student enrollment has gone from 5% to 10%
I think this is generally a good approach. I’m not criticizing it at all. My only concern is partially with the international student enrollment. Having more international students is great; however, Carleton, like most universities, does not necessarily meet their demonstrated financial need.
The point is international students are more likely to pay full tuition. This is fine and maybe even good. Just so long as this tuition is used to improve student diversity by enrolling more students who need financial aid. I don’t think any of the extra money from international student tuition should go to increased faculty and staff salaries.