would applying EDII make a big difference?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Carleton College
1

<p>i'm 90% sure that carleton is my top choice. however...i haven't been able to visit yet, and it's going to be REALLY hard for me to find the money to fly out there. i'm thinking of applying EDII if it will make a considerable difference in my admissions decision--and somehow i'll find the money to get there before the jan 15th deadline. </p>

<p>what i was originally going to do was go visit in march/april if i were to get accepted RD...which would give me enough time to save up the money to go visit. since i'm below their average, i'm thinking that i would have a better chance EDII than RD? if it makes a difference, i'm making it very clear that carleton is my top choice in my application... under the "additional information" section, i turned it into a mini-essay about how much i love the school. </p>

<p>so, based on my stats (below), what do you think? would it make a considerable difference? </p>

<p>here are my stats -- </p>

<p>ACT: 30
SAT: 2000 (W730, R640, M600)
SATIIs: Lit-760; US History-640
GPA: 4.2W, 3.8UW
APs: Taking 3--stat, lit, environmental science--currently. took 1 last year--US History--and got a 4 on the test.</p>

<p>LOTS of ECs, especially theatre-related: </p>

<p>*Acted in eleven (to date) shows
*Crewed for four (to date) shows
*Six awards (three for acting, three for directing younger students) from a So Cal theatre festival throughout high school
*Drama Club for 4 years - Drama Board Historian (drama board = leadership in the department) junior year
*Comedy Sportz member (competitive team improv) - 11th-12th
Other -
*Web manager, Arkonline.com - 3 years (9th-11th) (Animal rights website)
*Yearbook - 2 years (9th, 10th)
*Part-time job junior year - 20-30 hours a week for six months (selling beauty supplies...woooo)
*Part-time job senior year - 8 hours a week as a waitress</p>

<p>Volunteer Work:
*Crew on musicals - 200+ hours from three shows (All working with middle school aged and younger kids)
*Arkonline.com - 150+ hours</p>

<p>Awards:
National Honor Society member
National Merit Commended Scholar
California Scholarship Federation (CSF) - 10th-12th
Principal’s High Honor Roll/Principal's Honor Roll - 9th-12th
AVID Write-Off Finalist - 9th (essay writing competition within my school) </p>

<p>thanks guys.</p>

2

<p>I don't think anyone can really know for sure exactly what difference ED will make, but I do think it can help. My strong sense is that they look for the exact same quality of student in both ED and RD, but that there are just a lot fewer qualified students fighting for the same few spots in ED, and that can make a big difference. </p>

<p>I'm DEFINITELY not saying you really should apply ED II, and I would expect your stats would at least put you in the running either way, but if you feel quite confident that Carleton will end up being your top choice, it would probably improve your odds. </p>

<p>AGAIN, don't apply ED if you aren't comfortable with it, but if it helps, I applied ED without doing an overnight or a class visit (although I did get to do a brief visit campus) and it turned out that everything that I read that made me want to apply ED was true.</p>

3

<p>Honestly, the competition of EDII and RD are very much the same. That's what admission officers at Middlebury and Wesleyan told me, and I assume all LACs have similar policies regarding EDII since they are the only ones who offer them in the first place. I personally won't be staying in EDII if I ever get deferred.
Regular Decision is like a freaking blood battle. We can apply to wherever and how-many-ever colleges we want, and many kids who think of Carleton as safety will throw in their apps just for the sake of it.</p>

4

<p>I disagree that ED II is the same as RD (at least at Carleton). The majority of highly selective places will tell you that ED (in general) and RD are the same, but that is in terms of qualifications they are seeking, not in the amount of competition for spots. I believe that Carleton's ED 1 and ED 2 acceptance rates are relatively similar.</p>

<p>Also, even if they think it is, I can think of VERY few people for whom Carleton would be a safety (admittedly there are probably some incredible people who apply not really expecting to attend - although I'm guessing fewer than at some East Coast LACs like Amherst, Swat, Williams, Middlebury, etc). I think there are fewer people who would apply to a school in small-town Minnesota just for the heck of it.</p>

5

<p>haha, woah, i didn't even realize this thread ended up getting replies! :) </p>

<p>i've decided i am going to apply ED2--i'm also flying out to visit, but due to my super hectic schedule (i'm doing two plays right now and will be starting a third by January) it'll be probably late january before i get to, so after my application is due. i've actually sent in everything already; they just need my counselor recommendation and i'll be good to go. :)</p>

<p>i'm super nervous! but i feel like this is what i should be doing, anyway--carleton seems like my perfect match. on top of that, i'm kind of a chameleon--i more or less will find ways to fit in wherever i go!</p>

6

<p>Hollylove--My daughter is a sophomore at Carleton and is very involved in the theater scene there, as well as in the Northfield community. The opportunities she's had so far have been amazing--from directing two single-act plays, to acting, lighting design, and publicity--have been amazing. Theater's her passion and it sounds like it might be yours, too. :)</p>

7

<p>That's awesome, Hindoo. I've heard such amazing things about the department at Carleton :)</p>

8

<p>The theater department at Carleton is small, but the opportunities are rich. Because it's not a highly competitive environment (as it is at NYU and other big theater schools), my daughter was able to jump right in, feet first, as a freshman. Next year, she's hoping to do Carleton's London term, with focus on theater. If you end up at Carleton, you'll undoubtedly meet my happy girl, who'll be a junior when you arrive. Best of luck to you, and enjoy your visit in Jan.</p>

<p>By the way, we're from Kentucky. She's had no problem adapting to the colder climate there. (I see you're from LA. My daughter was accepted at Pomona, which is very close to where I grew up, but opted to be a Carl.)</p>

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<p>Haha, the weather is one thing I'm nervous about, if I end up getting in--I've seen snow maybe twice in my entire life. (I'm super LA born and raised.)</p>

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<p>Me too, Hollylove--Southern California born and raised. I was traumatized when I moved to KY and experienced my first black ice!</p>

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<p>I don't even know what black ice is!</p>