Click here to go to the NEW College Discussion Forum

I'd like feedback from anyone who has some knowledge of how rigorous the admissions process at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota is.
I've done fairly well on my SAT I (780 verbal {hopefully 800 soon}, and 620 math {hopefully 650 or better after my last testing}). My GPA is 3.3 - 3.4 range (hopefully 3.5+ after this year) and i'm ranked about 100 out of my class of 300+. I haven't taken my SAT IIs yet, but would expect mid/high 700s in biology, chemistry, and writing. My ECs are not terribly abundant. The ones I've got are pretty decent, but I don't feel like creating a list of them now, so just know that they're fairly impressive. Thanks for any help I receive on this! I'm very interested in Carleton and would like to know what kind of odds I have of acceptence there.

By Heartwork (Heartwork) on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 12:30 am: Edit

Also I'm a terrific essayist and my recs are top notch if that's of any consequence.

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 12:42 pm: Edit

Carleton is a tough school to get into - your SATs are in their ballpark but your GPA and class rank is low. A lot will ride on your recommendations and the type of courses you've taken. Carleton is a great school, however, so don't just drop it from your list - perhaps you could think about ED to increase your chances somewhat.

Other schools that are similiar in quality and feel to Carleton are Grinnell, Macalester, Kenyon.
You might consider those as well.

By Heartwork (Heartwork) on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 02:03 pm: Edit

Thanks for your help, my classes are all honors or AP classes (4s on AP tests). I'm definitely considering early decision though, Carleton is pretty much my number one choice.

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 08:21 pm: Edit

I'd give Carleton a shot then. It really is a terrific school. I have friends who went there and one friend who taught there and they all speak highly of the academics and atmosphere (but of course, everyone HATES the winters.)One of my friends scored 1600 on the SATs and was accepted at Harvard and Princeton. His father, however, who's a college professor, talked him into Carleton as he thought it provided a better undergraduate experience --- my friend went on to graduate school at Princeton and post doc at Cal Tech. My friend who taught at Carleton as a visiting professor still talks about the quality of students and class discussions there - and wishes she had the same level of student engagement at the university where she currently teaches. If you're interested in the sciences, you'd be hard-pressed to top Carleton. The have more students receive National Science Foundation fellowships for graduate school than any other liberal arts school in the country. English, history, and economics are also terrific. I'd be thrilled if one of my children wanted to go to Carleton (and, of course, got in!).

I checked and your Verbal score is right in the ballpark but math is a bit low (verbal average was listed as 640-750, math 640-720)but with good recommendations and an outstanding essay, it could work out for you - especially if you apply ED. Remember, they only take about 35% regular decision - you might want to check what their ED rates are - the admissions office could probably fill you in.

By Quakerboy2 (Quakerboy2) on Tuesday, June 10, 2003 - 02:46 pm: Edit

I have two friends who are going to Carleton next year. One of them almost exactly matches your stats, so I think you have a good shot of getting in, especially if you apply ED. Good luck, and enjoy the weather if you get in!

By Heartwork (Heartwork) on Tuesday, June 10, 2003 - 04:25 pm: Edit

Thanks Quakerboy2, I'm glad to have that information, definitely a confidence booster!

By Useatoothbrush (Useatoothbrush) on Tuesday, June 10, 2003 - 10:45 pm: Edit

Let me put it this way: Carleton has accepted over 75% of the people who apply there ED. If you really showed improvement, you'd stand a very reasonable chance of getting in.

Carleton is definitely my first choice and I'm visiting there this summer, but I doubt I'll be applying ED because I don't trust their financial aid department and I REALLY need great aid. I think I stand an ok chance of getting in, my stats are great but my ecs are so-so.

By Procrastinating (Procrastinating) on Tuesday, July 01, 2003 - 10:00 pm: Edit

I got into Carleton with an SAT I score of 1320 (680M, 640V)...I was also named a William Carleton Scholar, an honor-at-entrance given to about 10% of each entering class. I had a friend from another high school with a 1540 who was waitlisted by Carleton. I know that my scores are towards the low end of their middle 25%-75% range for enrolled students, so I guess the thing I learned is that they look at many more things besides just SAT scores (for example, I had a 3.97 unweighted GPA & was class president twice). I definitely recommend interviewing, I think that my interview helped my application alot.

FYI- I applied early decision & was very pleased with the financial aid package they offered (I was worried that I wouldn't get enough, but it was more than adequate)