I am contemplating whether or not to apply to Carleton ED II, and the deadline is fast approaching (January 15th). As of now, I am also considering other liberal arts schools including Macalester, Grinnel, Kenyon, and Oberlin and some larger schools including the University of Minnesota and the University of Michigan. I applied to the larger schools earlier in the school year, but latter decided that a liberal arts school may be the better option for financial purposes (all the LA schools I applied to are 100% need met) and for the smaller size that I am more accustomed to as I have gone to a smaller private school my entire life. I live in the northern part of iowa and do not consider distance a factor in my decision.
I am intending to pursue a engineering major, likely computer engineering or aerospace engineering, which is one of the reasons Carleton is at the top of my list as I know they have a strong math and computer science department. I have taken the ACT twice but got the same average 29 with a 9 on the writing portion (attempt 1: E-32 M-31 R-26 S-27; attempt 2: E-30 M-29 R-26 S-32). Will the higher individual subscores achieved over the two tests help me with admissions to Carleton in any way? I have a 3.81 GPA but have honestly taken the most rigorous courses offered at my school (5 APs, 6 honors courses), and I know that my school’s grading scale is higher than other public schools in the area (A-94% AB-89% B-84%). I also do a lot of ECs including soccer (team captain) Forensics (Captain and state medalist), student body VP, volunteer work at my church and two service orgs at my school, NHS, and work paid part time at the YMCA working with kids.
My first question is do you think that it would be necessary to apply to Carleton ED or is my application solid enough to at least compete with other applicants? Second, will my chances be that much higher applying Ed, making it worth the early commitment? Third, what are some of the unique qualities that set any one of the schools I listed above that would make them a great place to go to school, especially for an engineering/computer science major? Also, would Carleton give me the oppurtunity to switch to a business degree such as marketing, economic, or managment (all majors I am possibly considering)? If not, is there an LA listed above that would? Which LA would give me the most opportunity as far as internships and research? Which school has the strongest intellectual community with students who are passionate about learning and studying? Lastly, how does the campus affect life at each of these schools?
I know that these are all great schools, but I know Carleton is likely the most competitive and therefore would like to take advantage of the ED option if its right. If you can answer any one of the questions I listed I would appreciate it, and sorry for the long post (I ramble when Im stressed :))!!!
Carleton does not offer an engineering degree or the business degrees you are considering. It certainly does not seem like an appropriate ED school for you.
I would likely choose to gain a B.S. in physics or computer science from Carleton and pursue a graduate degree. As far as which grad school, I was hoping to stay Midwestern and looked at places like Michigan, Minnesota, or Purdue but I still am not certain.
Carleton as well as all the LA schools I listed include an engineering 3-2 Co-op with multiple schools like Columbia and Wash U that allows you to earn both a B.S. and an engineering degree from the transfer U
If you want to compare financial offers then I would recommend against applying ED anywhere.
If you don’t have a 100% definitive top choice, I would recommend against applying ED anywhere.
If you want to study engineering I would suggest you look at schools that have engineering programs. Carelton does not have engineering.
Carelton also does not have a business program. They do offer economics, but that is a liberal arts course of study and is not the same as a business program…
Your ACT looks like it is below the 25th percentile at Carelton.
regarding financial aid, all the LA schools I applied to meet full demonstrated need which I stated in the original post. Also, if financial reasons would keep me from going to Carleton that is pretty much the only way that you can get out of an ED commitment
While your ACT score is solid, it is below the mid 50 for Carleton. ED will likely not improve your chances at Carleton as your score is below avg. so you are more likely to be deferred or rejected vs accepted. Not sure if the other schools offer ED 2, but if so that may be a better option for you if you are willing to commit
If you are at all uncertain about a school as a first choice, you should not apply to it ED, regardless of how it affects your chances. (A school being the most competitive is not a reason to apply to it ED.)
Also, if you apply ED, you have fewer options regarding financial aid. You might find that one of the other schools is more generous with aid, and by applying ED, you don’t have the option to consider them.
As for 100% need met, best to check their respective calculators to be sure how they define need is … what you need.
Wisteria thanks for the advice! Can you elaborate on why ED in this case wouldnt improve admissions odds? Wouldnt my demonstrated commitment at least improve my odds of admission?
Porcupine, my reason for considering ED is not based solely on the fact that Carleton is the most competitive, but rather that Carleton is the most appealing choice right now. I have not been able to visit some of the schools that are further away, but I know that Carleton is an excellent choice, probably my best, and I dont want to pass up a chance to possibly gain an admissions edge through ED and regret it later without understanding all my options.
Have you run the net price calculators for all of your schools? Their definition of need and yours may not match. They are on the financial aid webpage. Also, 3-2 programs are rarely actually used, even though the schools advertise them. Plus you then end up with 5 years of undergraduate expense. If you want to major in engineering or business, you should pick a school that offers those as a four year degree. No need for grad school if you want to be an engineer.
As I stated earlier, ED commitments can be broken with the schools full consent if your financial situation does not allow you to attend. This particular element does not concern me. As for your other comment, the number of engineers graduating in four years is relatively small at larger universities and graduate school is something that I would likely pursue regardless of where I attend school.
For many LACs, ED is a way of enrolling recruited athletes and other students with hooks. For students without hooks, they are happy to be chosen as a #1, but are unlikely to accept someone who is not avg to above avg for their profile. In other words, demonstrating interest does not make up 2-3 pts in an ACT score. Demonstrating interest may put you ahead of another applicant with similar stats, but if the stats aren’t high enough, it likely won’t matter.
That makes sense wisteria. But would this be a reason that I wouldn’t apply ED? At worst, I dont get accepted to Carleton under ED, but at best, I am able to get in. Either way, is ED necessarily hurting me? I understand that there are a number of other factors that I would need to address before applying ED, but I’m not sure that having a below average test score would be one, especially since it still falls at the bottom of the middle 50 percentile range.
Wow, that makes zero sense that you would not run the net price calculators before applying. It takes a few minutes with help from your parents, and can save you the stress and embarrassment of having to back out of a binding ED commitment if the need based aid won’t be sufficient. Why not use every tool at your disposal now to figure out which schools are affordable? It is a black eye on your high school if you back out of ED agreements when you could have known ahead of time by a few minutes work whether the aid package makes sense or not.
Also, plenty of college students graduate in 4 years with engineering degrees. You are mistaken if you think most of them take 5 years. Some do, but not most… but if you believe that so strongly, what makes you think you can fulfill the engineering requirements in 2 years in a 3-2, and that you won’t end up looking at six years? Also, if you are just looking at a masters degree at the graduate level, you need to look hard at minimizing your debt as an undergrad, as you likely will be paying for your masters program as well with no need based aid to help you out.
Honestly, your ACT is low enough that you probably aren’t getting into Carleton anyway, ED or not. Carleton has a lot more qualified applicants than they can make room for – they have no need to accept unhooked applicants with scores below their 25%mark, even in the ED round. They are also not need blind – if you need financial aid and are a borderline candidate (which you are with your test scores), they are less likely to accept you. So it all may not matter. But you should still run the net price calculators on all your schools to make sure you know which ones are affordable and which ones aren’t.
Michigan is also not going to be feasible as an OOS student with a 29 ACT. Minnesota won’t provide financial aid, although at least their OOS cost isn’t as high as some other state flagships. Do you have a safety, a school you know you can get into and know you can afford (maybe an in-state public)?
If you like Northfield, you might consider St. Olaf. Very strong in CS, and you actually have a decent shot of admission there, while Carleton is, frankly, a long shot.
Everyone here has given you some good advice. Run the Calculators, make sure you are looking at affordable and realistic options, and get your applications submitted in a timely manner.
You are a good student, just not a rock star at this point. That’s ok, find your field of interest in undergrad studies, and kick some booty to get into Grad school.
Thank you again to all for providing me with your advice. Believe me, I have tried to get my parents to fill out the info for the net price calculator as I am curious but they haven’t filled it out. I understand that Carleton is a very competitive school, and that it is a reach however I was under the impression that there was worth applying and that my numbers were within the range and I would have to shine in other aspects of the app. I have already been admitted to Iowa State as a safety school. Also, I have looked into the 3-2 program quite a bit, and I understood I would be taking classes that would count towards my engineering major my first three years. Lastly, I am not necessarily attracted to Northfield but I will definently look into St. Olaf.
Thank you again for the advice. Believe me, I have tried to get my parents to help out with the net price calculator. I I have applied to and been admitted to Iowa State as a safe school. As for the 3-2 program, I understood that I would be taking classes my first 3 years that would count towards my engineering major. I understand Carleton is a very competitive school and a reach, but I figured that my ACT was within range and I would have to shine in other parts of the application to be admitted. Lastly, im not necessarily attracted to Northfield but I will definitely check out St. Olaf.
I am curious why your parents will not do this, as it is a great tool that has only been available in recent years. They have to sign the ED agreement binding you to attend – they are the ones who will have to also break that agreement if the costs don’t work. It is inconceivable to me that they would do that blindly assuming that the aid will just be there when there is a way to see ahead of time. Do they want you to attend out of state, or are they pushing Iowa State (which seems like a reasonable option)?