<p>I knew a guy once who went to a good prep school out east. He told and interesting story. Most of his class would apply to a top 20 liberal arts school(let's say school-O...you might be able to figure it which one) as a safe school. school-O put every single person who applied from the prep school on the wait list. An admissions official from school-O called this prep school and said something to the effect of "If anybody actually wants in, give us a call!" Anything can happen...It may not hurt to have an admissions official from your High School that you trust give Carleton Admissions a call. My only recommendation is that this High School admissions official is very nice and emphasizes that the student is a "good fit". </p>
<p>Years ago Carleton used to have the worst freshmen retention rate of all the top 10-20 liberal arts school. There would be loads of students that would leave after a year and transfer to a much better school(In the opinion of usnews). It's hard to say if any school does something like a "Tufts syndrome", however no school wants 10% 15% of their freshmen class transfering out after a year if they can help it. The College should look at how good of a fit the student is primarily through the essay process.</p>
<p>I realize much of this is just speculation, but I still want to dispell any misinformation that may go out here. I have also heard the rumors of schools that waitlist overqualified students and then let in anyone off of the waitlist who calls or writes and says they really want to come. I have no idea if this is an actual practice, but I am 100% sure that Carleton does not handle their waitlist this way. The evidence is the relatively small numbers of students they've taken off the waitlist in some of the past few years (some years as low as 10ish). That doesn't mean they won't take more in a year like this one, so don't let it discourage those of you on the waitlist, but it does mean that they aren't waitlisting boatloads of kids and instantly admitting them once they show further interest.</p>
<p>Also, whatever problems they've had with retention in the past seems to have been resolved, as they've been around 97% retention in recent years.</p>
<p>I'm not exactly overqualified. Just qualified. And I know in 2005 or something they took no one off the waitlist. The highest I've seen from the past couple years is 8. So I'm hoping for the best but preparing for the "worst"/a backup.</p>
<p>LACalum....no misinformation intended.....very glad to hear Carleton does not waitlist overqualified students....it's a crummy way to do business. </p>
<p>I still would think it should not hurt to make a call or have an official from your high school make a very polite call to Carleton....my advice only....do at your own risk. </p>
<p>As for the retention ratio, I'm glad the problem was resolved. I thought it worth mentioning in a thread basically devoted to "Why did I not get in and what should I do now?" A change in the way Carleton accepts people over the last 10-15 years seems relevant.</p>
<p>Sorry, magneticpoet and all the other waitlistees.</p>
<p>Last year, Carleton got 4956 applicants. It admitted 1361 and waitlisted 1531. Eight students were admitted from the waitlist. This year could be the same... or it could be completely different.</p>
<p>While I don't doubt Cardinal Fang's statistics and I do think that waitlist odds aren't great, don't forget that the number of students who is waitlisted is very different from the number of students who take a place on the waitlist (which I think is usually under 300). Also, I would guess that 8 students off the waitlist last year was at least a bit lower than usual.</p>
<p>For the data-lovers - here are waitlist stats from the past decade
Year: Offered place on waitlist, accepted place on wl, admitted from wl
2008/09: 363, 8
2007/08: 1368, 306, 5
2006/07: 1304, 361, 10
2005/06: 1430, 310, 0</p>
<p>Year: accepted place on wl, admitted from wl
2004/05: 273, 8
2003/04: 272, 8</p>
<p>Year: Offered place on waitlist, accepted place on wl, admitted from wl
2002/03: 1494, 394, 10
2001/02: 1437, 1397, 0 (not a typo on my part)</p>
<p>no info on how many were on list prior to '01
2000/01: 16 waitlisted students admitted
1999/00: 118 waitlisted students admitted (?!!?!)
1998/99: 0 waitlisted students admitted</p>
<p>Ooh, I did some of that! (The, erm, feasible stuff anyway.)</p>
<p>I sent off my letter, update resume, and supplementary letter of recommendation today. So now it's time to hope for the best and get excited about Kalamazoo. :)</p>
<p>I know how it feels. Carleton was obviously one of my top choices but on the top laid Reed. I got waitlisted from Reed and admitted into carleton =D</p>
<p>Well, I'm an international student and I got wait listed.</p>
<p>The first thing I felt when looking at "sorry" in the email was about to cry. The next "waiting list" word drives me crazy. Not because I am so good and the school was wrong for not having chosen me, it was because I am happy to be given another chance.</p>
<p>Especially when I know I can be in the same list with so many excellent people from everywhere in the the world.</p>
<p>I understand my situation, I am not as good as you guys, I am an international asking for 90% aid. Well, but I'll try at all cost. Because I don't want to regret afterwards. Because I enjoy the feeling of being challenged XD XD. I want to improve myself. These obstacles will help me, won't they?</p>
<p>So anyone wait listed, let's go. We have another game to play. Try to enjoy it :D.</p>
<p>Oh, I forgot one thing, I read this in the email:</p>
<p>"In order to hold a place on the Waiting List, you should send us a written request
indicating your interest by May 1."</p>
<p>What does that mean? Does it mean that I should send them a letter, hand written by post mail? Or can I just email them back? I'm very worried because I'm so far away and sending them mail would take at least 2 or 3 weeks :-SS.</p>