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With all of the talk about the importance of the “top” schools, it seems that all most mean is the “Ivy Leagues.” Some may think I’m crazy…but I said no to Brown, a school that tried to recruit me very hard, to Carleton. When trying to decide on a good school…don’t just look Ivy…because there is so much more! Brown told me they couldn’t match a package like Carleton’s because they are now “need blind,” which basically means they no longer give merit scholarships. The recruiter said, because Carleton gives merit-based scholarships, he couldn’t match their package (they gave me almost $40k/yr.). Besides that, I feel I can get a BETTER education at Carleton. Having a trimester system instead of a semester system does mean the students have to work a little harder, but it is all worth it. And, I have met with many profs at Carleton, and was amazed at how personal they are, (however, with a class of around 20 students, you would expect that!) and how willing they are to help. Also, knowing that ALL of my teachers will be PhD. holding profs is nice…Brown couldn’t match that!

When looking for a good college, remember, some of the BEST are not Ivy’s…save them (Ivy’s) for your grad and PhD. work! I’m glad to be enrolling in a school of about 1,800…small and personal is what I like!

By Bigbigboy (Bigbigboy) on Saturday, April 05, 2003 - 02:33 am: Edit

I completely agree with you but i was rejected by Carleton ED2. Can you post your stats here?

By Rosarosaef (Rosarosaef) on Saturday, April 05, 2003 - 08:48 am: Edit

good decision. great school. best of luck to you.

By Thedad (Thedad) on Saturday, April 05, 2003 - 09:41 am: Edit

Great school. Congratulations. Good luck.

By Cscourneen (Cscourneen) on Sunday, April 06, 2003 - 12:21 am: Edit

Hey all...

Thanks for the many wishes of good luck…I know it’s a hard school, so I will need it!

My sats…well, give me a few days because I’m leaving for the National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas early tomorrow, and still have to pack! I can post the academic stuff, but all of the ECs (what I believe to be the key to me getting in) will be posted later.

I’m ranked 1 in a class of 260+ w/ a 4.12 GPA. This will go up at the end of the school year…
My school offers some AP courses (obviously) and I took the following:

AP English (Junior and Senior year)
AP Economics
AP Government

Not too many APs b/c my school doesn’t offer too many. All of my other classes were Honors courses.

I’m in Advanced Media production V (my school specializes in Media production and is considered one of, if not the best in the state of AZ). I’m currently working as the Executive Producer for a series of videos created for Great Decisions, a part of the UN Association. I have also won film festivals and have been a producer for four years. On of the reasons I chose the liberal arts school is because that type of background makes for better films…film schools for undergrads, in my opinion, are no good…they are too closed minded.

My SATs and ACTs SUCKED! No joke…a little above 1000 and a 21. But, I explained to the college my difficulties with tests of this type…and in my interview made a convincing argument about why these tests are actually harmful to the students who take it, and most harmful to those who do well (My interviewer said it was the best argument he heard against the test and agreed with me after the interview…I believe that is why they dismissed my lower scores and still accepted me).

I’m currently a finalist for Student of the Year in Tucson (big city, 29th largest in the nation, baby! LOL a little city pride there) and have been featured in local papers many times.

I wrote a killer essay…very unique/weird…it’s up for some national awards. Both schools told me that everyone remembered it and they had not seen anything like it before. It was the type of essay that either got you in, or had your app tossed in the trash… “Ballsy” as my counselor put it.

My ECs are impressive and unusual, but I will have to talk about them later…I really need to pack now! I’ll be back on Wed. and will post then.

By Ubaid_In (Ubaid_In) on Sunday, April 06, 2003 - 11:23 am: Edit

Hey Cscourneen,
I too am international - from India.

Though I havent got accepted to Carleton(coz I have to send some documents ......) I havent had applied for any financial aid. Can you please tell me whether I can still apply for it ( though I can find it out myself online, I am really very busy (and lazy) to have any time (and energy) to browse and find out) ....... please tell me if you know or leave it! .... thank you.

Just wanted to tell you - my SAT I 1290

By Bigbigboy (Bigbigboy) on Sunday, April 06, 2003 - 12:15 pm: Edit

To Cscourneen ,
Could you please post your essay here cuz i want to learn how to write an impressive essay ? Or please email your essay to me at babynicky75@yahoo.com
Thank you very much

By Ubaid_In (Ubaid_In) on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 11:54 am: Edit

bump

By Cscourneen (Cscourneen) on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 11:20 pm: Edit

Hey all...

Well, I'm back...Vegas was great, NAB was good, but just hangin' w/ friends in the "City of Lights" was much better!

Um, I'll see what I can do about that essay...as of right now, I'm not going to post it b/c I'm not sure on some of the rules I have to follow b/c my essay is being recognized, and I am just not sure if I can post it anywhere...when I find out, I'll let you know.

I can say, well, I wouldn't recommend that anyone write an essay like mine...it was really a big risk (now that I look at it again, I still can't believe I sent it in). It's hard to explain, but I'll find out about me posting it so you all can see it...

About financial aid...

If you applied to Carleton (this is only from what I know about domestic students, b/c I'm not an international student and don't know if the rules are different), then you also applied for financial aid. It's all in the same package. I was awarded around $40,000 when all was said and done (one reason I picked Carleton over Brown...Brown just couldn't match the package b/c of they no longer give merit scholarships). You may want to call Carleton and talk to Mr. Soto if you have more questions (I think that is his name...director of financial aid, or something like that .

I'll post my ECs soon...give me a little time to catch up on the work I've missed!

By Rosarosaef (Rosarosaef) on Friday, April 11, 2003 - 12:04 pm: Edit

is that mr minne soto ?

By Thedad (Thedad) on Friday, April 11, 2003 - 01:05 pm: Edit

Huh. This is good news...they don't edit or delete bad jokes.

Along the same lines, though, I was editing and typing daughter's friend's waitlist appeal letter to Smith...and the director is a Ms. Smith. I wonder if she used to be Ms. Wesleyan or something....

By Johnnyd (Johnnyd) on Friday, April 11, 2003 - 03:21 pm: Edit

im not sure it necessarily has a BETTER education system than Brown, maybe equal
however, you did get a very good deal with carleton

By Cscourneen (Cscourneen) on Friday, April 11, 2003 - 05:03 pm: Edit

Okay…here is a list of awards/ach. And ECs for ya…I don’t know why someone would want them, but oh well…here they are upon request (I’m sure these played a big role in being recruited by Carleton and Brown):

· I was selected by the Tucson Citizen (local paper) to be a Teen Movie Critic. My reviews were published every two weeks in the City’s daily publication.
· I have received the Outstanding Achievement Award from the African American Studies Department of School District One every year I have been in high school.
· Selected as my schools only Leadership Ambassador to the HOBY (Hough O’Brian) Youth Leadership Seminar
o Selected as a finalist for the World Leadership Conference
· Selected as my schools only representative to Boys State
o Was honored as the most influential citizen at Boys State and received the Lobbyist of the Year award.
· Won the 1999 Producer of the Year award for ENG and EFP Production (my first year in media)
· Won third place in the Tucson Student Film Festival for Short Documentary
· Been in Who’s Who Among American High School Students every year I have been in high school
· I am on the National Honor Roll
· This year I will be honored as a recipient of the United States Achievement Academy’s English Award
· I have been invited to and won a full scholarship for the International Conference on Thinking (2003)
· I am a University of Arizona’s Presidential Scholar and have received a full tuition waiver
· Recipient of the University of Arizona’s Community Leader Award at the Sounding of the Drums in January of 2003
· Named the APEX (Academic Preparation for Excellence) Student of the Year.
· Was a CLAE Scholar (2001)
· Awarded a full scholarship to Carleton’s Summer Writing Program
· Junior Honor Guard (2002)
· Won the Principal’s Extraordinary Performance Award
· Nominated and selected as a National Delegate representing Arizona at the Nation Summit of Young Technology Leaders.
· People to People Student Ambassador
· Won the Fine Character and Accomplishments Award from the Principal
· Only freshman to be honored at the Eta Psi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc., honoring southern Arizona African American high school seniors.
· I am again being honored by Eta Psi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc. this year
· Founder and CEO of Students-To-Students
· My poem, “Silence” was published in 2000.
· My poem, “Nigger Clothes” was published in a literary magazine (2002)
· My poem, “Moonwalker” was published in a literary magazine (2002)
· Member of Pueblo’s National Honor Society from 2000 until present time. Served as president for one year.
· Have been or currently am President of:
o Nation Honor Society (1 yr.)
o African-American Culture Club (2 yrs.)
o Young Entrepreneurs Club (1 yr.)
o APEX (no traditional offices, only “student leaders”, 1 yr.)
o Future Business Leaders of America (1 yr.)
o Warrior Media Club (1 yr.)

Okay, here is some more stuff—

I am the CEO and founder of Students-to-Students, a local nonprofit organization that teaches high school students about the world of business, the Internet, and leadership.

Volunteered at the Tucson Wild Life Museum during their “Haunted Castle” festival.

AP Tutor (the subjects of English and Economics—Micro and Macro)

Volunteer security officer at the Tucson Celebrity Classics

Volunteer member of Church’s security patrol and greeting team

Currently hired by Great Decisions (a part of the UN Association) to create a series of videos to be used in high school classrooms across the country. These tapes highlight the lives of about 20 people that once lived or currently live in the Middle East. The first tape highlights the life of Rula (Palestine), Idat (Tunisia), and Rebecca (a Muslim living in the U.S.).

I also work 16 hrs. per week at Top Hat Formal Wear (a tuxedo shop…great job!)

Whew…okay…there it is…so now you should have everything. If you want anything else, just let me know.

By Cscourneen (Cscourneen) on Friday, April 11, 2003 - 05:14 pm: Edit

Okay, okay…I have to say just a little more…

When I said that I believe Carleton is a better school, I didn’t mean it in a way to knock Brown. They are, by all means, a good school. They would have the reputation they do if they were not. However, I am a strong believer that, for undergraduate work, Carleton has a better system, environment, and overall approach than Brown. I, first of all, am not a huge fan or a “liberal arts education.” Why? Well, to say it with all honesty, I’m the laziest person I know (and I know some bums). I’m like a “true economist,” I want to maximize my resources…allocating just the right amount to get the job done. I do like, however, Brown’s approach of letting the student build his or her own schedule w/o all of the gen. ed. Requirements. However, I know that, in the long run, I will be better off with a broad education—especially in the fields of business and media (whether it be photo, video, TV, or movies). I have talked to many people in the above mentioned fields, and they have all said that the best in their business got a good, broad, education before specifying…that is what Grad. work is for!
In the area of environment…Carleton is in a “college town.” Now, that can be deceiving because that does not mean a small city…Tucson is considered a very strong “college town,” being home to the University of Arizona…however it is also the 29th largest city in the nation. The type of college town that I speak of when referring Northfield is more of the stereotype. Small, quiet, etc…etc…etc…I like it because there are not a lot of distractions…I will be able to focus on my work. The campus is large for the population (about 1800 students) and that is nice. It isn’t crammed, it is beautiful, and has all of the amenities. I have stayed there three times and know that it is a great place from experience, not just a single day visit (I have spent, in total, about 6 weeks there). I have also had classes and the profs are great. I just have to get used to calling them by their first name…it is a little weird to say, “hey, Nathan, I have a question.” But oh well…if that is an adjustment I have to make…then…I guess…I’ll just have to suffer! (notice the irony J)
It is a great school…in my opinion, the best in the country!

By Heartbroken (Heartbroken) on Friday, April 11, 2003 - 08:31 pm: Edit

see you at carleton this september cscourneen.

-heartbroken(nomore)

By Bigbigboy (Bigbigboy) on Saturday, April 12, 2003 - 12:12 am: Edit

to Cscourneen
Could you please email me your poems which were published in the megazines when you have free time ? i'd love to read them. My email is babynicky75@yahoo.com.
Looking forward to hearing from u

By Pizarnik (Pizarnik) on Saturday, April 12, 2003 - 05:19 pm: Edit

I have checked Carleton as well...analyzed this option carefully, and I just discovered it is a great school!

See you there cscourneen and heartbroken!

Carleton rules

By Ndhawk (Ndhawk) on Saturday, April 12, 2003 - 06:32 pm: Edit

I don't think any of the ivy leagues have ever given merit-based scholarships its not something new, need-blind means they accept people without knowing if they can pay for it or not, and i'm not sure whether this is actually true, itd be better for people like me who can pay if it weren't.

By Cscourneen (Cscourneen) on Sunday, April 13, 2003 - 01:57 am: Edit

Yeah…when I talked to Tony at Brown, he made it sound like they did give out scholarships based on merit before (when, I’m not sure), but not any more. And yes, your definition of “need blind” is correct. I went through and reread what I wrote earlier, and saw that I didn’t fully define it and did make it sound like it was something else—an error on my part (I type faster then my brain can think sometimes). Thanks for the correction there.

But, what I plan on doing is going to Brown for grad work.

And, by the way…if there are any juniors…etc, reading this, then hey, make sure you take a close look at your schools. Don’t just go by name! Take a look at Carleton too. Just like Pizarnik (Pizarnik) said, it’s a great place and worth going!

Heartbroken and Pizarnik (Pizarnik), Email me at cscourneen@yahoo.com and lets see if we can meet up some time! I know we have to be there on the 10th of September, so maybe we can meet during that week.