This is the official discussion thread for Carleton Class of 2028 RD applicants. Ask your questions and connect with fellow applicants.
Any other applicants skip the optional “Anything missing?” essay?
S24 was really happy with his combination of personal statement and required supplement, so decided it wasn’t worth trying to come up with something just do something.
Let me rephrase–anyone else actually apply to Carleton?
S24 applied a few days ago but I don’t recall whether or not he responded to this prompt. (I would ask but he has gone to bed.)
How inconsiderate of him! (Whenever you know is fine, I am just curious.)
In last year’s RD cycle my D submitted the “anything missing?” essay and was accepted. She was able to repurpose an essay from another school for it and felt it couldn’t hurt (showed another side to her), but I think her required essay (she wrote about her potential Comps project) was more important. She interviewed with an AO virtually in January but didn’t visit campus. Good luck! I regret never being able to visit the Cookie House!
2 Likes
S24 tells me that he did not submit anything for this prompt. (And, actually, my question unleashed a tirade of complaints about the fact that schools have all these optional prompts and don’t make it clear whether you are expected to respond. 
I don’t totally disagree.) He interpreted it as the type of question that gives you a chance to clarify special circumstances, such as low grades or other struggles. In retrospect, he has a nice essay about his sport that would have fit here as well. I think he’ll probably just let it go at this point, but he’s checking with his counselor to make sure.
2 Likes
Hopefully I didn’t cause unnecessary anxiety! I’ll be curious what the counselor says, but I agree the prompt definitely did not suggest you had to submit something creative just to do so. Including because the other prompt with all the interesting choices seemed ample for that purpose.
2 Likes
No worries - your question was actually very helpful. S24 checked with his counselor who thought it was completely fine not to respond to this “truly optional” prompt. But he also suggested that S24 could reach out to his AO via e-mail and send along an essay about his intended major that the counselor had liked. That’s what S24 just did. I doubt it will make a difference but S24 felt better about doing it.
1 Like
Thank you so much for checking and sharing!
DD24 interpreted it as distinct from the Common App’s “anything else you need to say” section and therefore completed it with a creative essay that further explains why she is interested in her intended majors. Her alumni interview was then another opportunity to talk about them from a different angle.
I guess we will see what happens!
how good is carleton with international student’s financial aid? i am an international needing full ride in rd
Carleton releases 22nd
3 Likes
any portal astrology for carleton?
do everyone have the withdraw link?
1 Like
everyone receive the second reminder about decisions today?
i did.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C4zEXYIuoCa/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Looks like 8:00 pm CDT