Workload?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Carleton College
1

<p>I'm the type of student that gets As and a few Bs, granted i go to a public school that is not very competitive. Even though i recognize that college is going to be more work, I would really like to continue getting top grades.</p>

<p>How hard is this to do at Carleton?</p>

<p>My mom, a graduate of Carleton, told me that i wouldn't be able to get the As that i expect from myself and have time to do all of the other things that I will make my college years amazing (which are more important to me).</p>

<p>SHe also told me that i would have an easier time balancing myself between academics and ECs at some of the other schools i'm applying to. (other LACs in New England and the MIdwest that i guess you could say are comparable to Carleton)</p>

<p>She graduated a couple of decades ago, and I'm still wondering if this is the case. Is the workload more intense at Carleton then the workload at other comparable LACs? and if there are any carleton students or parents reading this, how much time do you spend on hw a night compared to the amount of time you spend on your other activities? what is the ratio of class time to homework time? </p>

<p>thanks!</p>

2

<p>Well, I transferred to Carleton this year from another liberal arts school, and I definitely think the work is more challenging here than at some other schools. The big thing here is that all of the freshmen are used to getting As in high school, and then there's a big shock when it isn't the same at Carleton.</p>

<p>Basically, it's up to you. Carleton is a school where you continue to be challenged and have to put in the effort to get As. There are other schools where you don't have to work as hard, where people are less engaged, where people care less about academics than they do here. I transferred here because I didn't like that kind of environment. Lots of people do, so it isn't a judgment, and a lot of people feel burned out after hard work in high school. Consider the kind of academic environment that you want, and then things will come clear.</p>

3

<p>I definitley want an environment where people work hard and are very engaged and care about academics, I think I am all of these things. I hope that i've chosen schools that draw students who are as well...but i still want to get good grades and have time for all the fun extra stuff.</p>

<p>is that possible, or do i need to prioritize more?</p>

<p>also, where did you transfer from if you don't mind me asking?</p>

4

<p>I transferred from Pitzer College, and I went to classes at four of the 5Cs.</p>

<p>It's definitely possible to have a life and get good grades, but getting all As is going to take more careful planning. I recommend visiting, if you haven't already--you'll have the opportunity to see these things in practice and hear from other students.</p>

5

<p>woohoo, you might consider why it's important to you to continue making As, since they don't always denote real learning. From what I've read on this board and elsewhere, grad schools and employers understand that As aren't easy to come by at Carleton. You might search back through this forum, using "GPA" and "grades," to see some good replies from Americanski and LACalum, among others, about grades at Carleton. </p>

<p>Are you concerned about getting into grad school? Getting a job? Is the classroom experience and being challenged by your peers more important? Understanding your motives may help you make the right decision for you.</p>

6

<p>Thank you so much for all of your replies! They have been really helpful and I think I have a better grasp on my "motives."</p>

7

<p>Depending a bit on your major and other commitments, it is probably not safe to assume that you are going to be getting nearly all As at Carleton, and I would encourage you to not go into Carleton with that as a goal. You have to consider that 80% of Carleton students are coming in from the top 10% of their high school classes (i.e. Mostly As), and the average Carleton gpa is about a 3.3 I think (a B+ avg.), so most students at Carleton went from mostly As to more Bs. But I also want to reiterate what others have said in saying that the difference b/w As and Bs and "class rank" (which Carleton doesn't have) is simply not as important in college as it is in high school. I know a LOT of people at Carleton with 3.3-3.6 gpas who are getting into terrific grad schools for all sorts of programs, and who also learned a great deal at the school even in their many B classes. Summary: If you're happiness is going to be defined by grades, Carleton is not a good place for you. If you are more concerned about learning and having access to post graduate opportunities (even with Bs), Carleton is great.</p>

<p>And I didn't know anyone there who didn't have at least one passionate EC in which they participated heavily.</p>

8

<p>^^thank you, that was very helpful. </p>

<p>My worries have now been put to rest. If i do end up at Carleton, I'll have to work really hard, but I'll enjoy it, because, well, it's carleton. </p>

<p>ANd i'm not going to worry about getting into grad school/getting a job right now, because i know that where ever i end up, i'll be prepared to do whatever it is i finally dedcide to do. </p>

<p>THank you again!</p>

9

<p>What I noticed is that all of the Carleton students value learning and even put it above their ECs many times, which I think is great. The people who surround you during college make so much of a difference (which is why I'm trying to transfer). At the tour, the admissions person kept saying that you have to "let out your inner geek". While this doesn't mean become a hardcore nerd, I think he was saying that it's important to value learning for the sake of learning, but at the same time, have a great experience outside the classroom.</p>

10

<p>i'm just a bit worried about work load, because honestly, i've never had to try in high school. no matter what i did to challenge myself. taking all AP classes, college classes, etc. by senior year i was just slipping into laziness and doing the absolute minimum, still scraping by with As.... i procrastinate like crazy.</p>

<p>i have become one of the laziest people i know now. i have caught a serious case of senioritis. at least, i hope it will go away next year, and wont become freshmanitis. i'm worried that when i get to carleton, it will be insane for me, and others who really have experience studying (i cant remember the last time i REALLY studied for a test), working hard, and prioritizing time will have a much easier time. it seems like i'm at a disadvantage. i'm kind of nervous. but, i'm sure there are plenty of other people in my situation, right?</p>

<p>what i'm hoping for at carleton is some sort of inspiration or motivation that will get me into doing the studying and hard work because i REALLY enjoy doing it. the thing that high school teachers/classes have never done for me. I don't care much about grades (a 3.0 gpa would be fine), i just want to be engaged in learning, and actually enjoy doing it. i don't just want to take classes that turn an interesting subject into something painful. </p>

<p>maybe some current Carls/alumni can chime in on their experiences with this?</p>

<p>p.s. i realize i sound kind of crazy, like someone writing from a mental institution. well, that's just how i am when i procrastinate on my homework, like right now.</p>

11

<p>I think that i come from a situation very similar to you, cowbell. inner city public school all my life, and i come from an affluent educated background, so ive never really had a very difficult time excelling. most teachers liked me just bcause i behaved! now, like you, i'm a little scared about the workload that i'm going to be faced with at college. but i do think i'm still going to care about my grades, i have all my life (for some perverted reason, probably) and it's not a habit i think that i'll be able to drop jusst like that. </p>

<p>although, i do have a friend at bryan mawr, and she says that all the kids that went to fancy prep schools are the ones that had the most trouble adjusting to the workload. she said that senior year of IB really whips everyone at my school into shape for college. </p>

<p>maybe i'm just worryig, because that's what i do.</p>

12

<p>This is the beauty of the trimester system - you'll only have 3 classes at a time to worry about.</p>

13

<p>Woohoo:</p>

<p>You’re fears are reasonable. The workload will be significant and charm and good looks will only get you so far. BUT what you already have going for you (along with that charm and those good looks, of course) are those very fears. The kids I’ve seen swallowed up by the freshman year social vortex are generally those who feared little. Cockiness and cluelessness are dangerous traits to bring with you to any college. The concerns you voice suggest a modesty and healthy wariness that should protect you well wherever you go.</p>

<p>Three points relating to LACs in general, Carleton’s trimester system in particular, and ECs: </p>

<ol>
<li><p>It’s real hard to fall behind in a class of 12 or 20 where discussion dominates. You won’t find enormous lecture halls at Carleton. You’ll be out in the open with no place to hide. Engagement is a given. It’s either keep up or be “outed.” Professors here will know who you are, they love to teach, and they care deeply about their missions.</p></li>
<li><p>The trimester system helps keep you in line. Although taking only 3 classes (as fireflyscout mentioned), with 10 weeks to each term, papers/quizzes/exams come at you pretty briskly and in rapid succession. But this serves to externally pace kids who are “managerially-challenged.” In a 15 week semester arrangement, the fall into a midterm abyss is much riskier, much harder to remediate.</p></li>
<li><p>Everyone here is busy – generally incredibly busy and incredibly happy. Lives are very full and revolve around much more than just academics. Deep involvement in ECs as LACalum has mentioned, is a given. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>Finally, there’s one last fail-safe mechanism you can always rely upon here - your fellow Carls. The support students offer one another is near-legendary. It cannot be overstated. It’s part of what explains my devotion. It remains one of the school’s greatest, most defining attributes.</p>

14

<p>"finally, there's one last fail-safe mechanism yuo can always rely upon here - your fellow Carls. the support the students offer on another is near legendary. it canot be overstated. it's part of what explains my devotion. it remains one of the school's greatest, most defining attributes?</p>

<p>wow, 1190, i think that just moved carleton from number 2 to number 1 on my list. (it was always a close second) </p>

<p>Thanks! </p>

<p>(now i just hope i get in!)</p>

15

<p>(My opinion as a current Carleton freshman)</p>

<p>To a large extent, the workload is dependent on the classes you take and how you handle different sorts of assignments. I've taken mostly humanities and social sciences (though this term I'm taking geology as well) and on a typical evening find myself with 100 or 150 pages of reading, which is really not too bad at all. Adding periodic writing assignments on top of that, I typically get about two hours a day. Considering that you'll spend less time in class in college than you do in high school, that's perfectly manageable as long as you're an efficient reader and writer. Sure, there have been those days where I'm swamped with essays and reading, but that hasn't been the norm.</p>

<p>Math and language classes in particular, however, assign a lot of daily work. Some of my friends in Calc III or Chinese find themselves with four or so hours of work a day. Perhaps, though, a sheet of math problems is less, well, problematic to you than reading Invisible Man in three days, in which case a math class will seem less intimidating than one in the humanities. </p>

<p>Everyone does have to make trade-offs; that's part of life. Sometimes I've had to give up going to this concert or that event or the weekly meeting of some club in order to get the paper done...But I've never felt like my to-do list in a given day was impossible or like I was chained to some forsaken desk on first Libe for an eternity. For what it's worth, I feel like the readings and assignments I've been given are thoughtfully chosen, reasonably sized, and fully worth my time. </p>

<p>No, you probably won't get all As, even if that's been the case for you before. But I also haven't found that my grades have been crazily or substantially lower than they were in high school (part of the reason for that, though, is that I've been taking classes in my stronger subject areas). I had something like a 3.95 UW GPA in high school. After this term, I should be carrying something like a 3.75. I'm being challenged and I'm learning a lot, but I'm not being slaughtered either. </p>

<p>The bottom line: you will have to work for a good GPA at Carleton. The workload is substantial, but fully manageable provided you cultivate a measure of efficiency and take advantage of the myriad academic resources the college offers you.</p>

<p>Hope that helped! Good luck to everyone who's still waiting to hear back, and I hope to see y'all here next year!</p>

16

<p>wow, Invisible Man in 3 days?? I thought it was crazy when I had to read it in a week this year in high school... Humanities aren't my strong suit, especially literature. I find it difficult sometimes to really get under the surface of the text, compared to what my peers can do. hopefully i can get a lot better at it.</p>