<p>I have an ACT score of 31 and a 4.0 unweighted GPA. I have a lot of ECs, and I am taking/going to take a lot of AP courses.</p>
<p>What does it take to make it in?</p>
<p>Unless you murder someone in-between now and the day you send in your application, you should get in.</p>
<p>A more complete listing of your credentials would be much more helpful, though.</p>
<p>That’s quite a prediction, petros. Carleton looks at more than numbers - just look at the waitlist thread. Carleton looks for applicants who are passionate about learning, so essay, recommendations and interview are very important.</p>
<p>Firefly, implicit in that prediction is the notion that most students with a perfect GPA, taking AP courses, and with “a lot of ECs” will evince most of the qualities you list as important. One needs to have a passion for learning to have comparable numbers, and so I ventured a prediction. It was by no means intended to derogate the college or its academic reputation, which is near sterling. In fact, I’m giving strong consideration to attending.</p>
<p>Note also that I ask for more information. ;)</p>
<p>I second what fireflyscout said. Also, if you are sincerely interested in Carleton, show that interest–by visiting, interviewing, sitting in on classes, spending a night, etc.</p>
<p>I agree with Hindoo–I truly think that most of the reason I got into Carleton was showing interest. I applied ED2, visited, interviewed, stayed overnight with a student, and was generally very enthusiastic about the school. I’m sure there were other reasons, too, but it really helped me. With a 30 act and a 3.7 GPA, I feel like I was a little under the stats they typically admit–check out some of the waitlisted people–but the enthusiasm gave me that extra push.</p>
<p>Both of my daughters applied to Carleton. The older one, who showed no interest whatsoever, was wait-listed. The younger did the whole nine yards–visiting, writing thank you’s to her interviewer and hostess, expressing continued interest and enthusiasm to her admission’s officer (but hopefully not making a pest of herself). She was accepted. While her stats were slightly better than her sister’s, I’m sure her visible passion for Carleton is what did the trick.</p>
<p>More info that was requested:
Well, I am planning on attending a summer program there. (I am currently a Junior in HS)</p>
<p>Yes, I am definitely going to set a lot of effort forth in order to produce a quality essay; an essay that displays my interest, of course.</p>
<p>I really am interested in the great pre-med program they have set up there. </p>
<p>So, you would think with all of this behind me that an ACT score of 31 is adequate?</p>
<p>Are you attending the Summer Writing Program? D attended - loved it! Enjoy!</p>
<p>Check out this year’s Stats thread. Look at who was accepted and who was waitlisted. Then tell me if it’s possible to predict whether or not someone will get into Carleton.</p>
<p>31 ACT is solid, but even a 36 with a million APs is not a guarantee of admission to schools like Carleton! Your 4.0 is a big plus, though. It may not hurt to take the SAT and SAT Subject Tests.</p>
<p>You have the numbers, I_need advice. But you might also think of having a sort of locus around which the entire application revolves. It is, after all, a very low-budget advertising campaign for yourself… so have something that ties everything together. Why do you want to go into medicine? What extracurriculars are you engaged in at school? Just try to craft a narrative with a central theme, a narrative with a climax, a point at which you realize, “I WANT TO GO INTO MEDICINE!” And take care that that narrative intimate a certain degree of intellectual curiosity. Examine your entire high school career, and try to come up with a list of intellectual pivot points or paradigm shifts, points at which your interests changed or evolved or something important took place. Carleton does, as previous posters have suggested, look beyond just the numbers. So show them that you will make worthwhile contributions to campus life.</p>
<p>Not to be a downer in this process but my #2 son was rejected outright. He had a 32 ACT with a GPA a bit less than yours. He had outstanding ECs and wrote some great essays. In other words, all the factors should have been predictive that he’d get in. In addition,#1 son goes there and this was thought to be some advantage. Granted that this was supposed to be a record year in terms of applicant #s but unless next year is dramatically different if Carleton is a clear first choice I would think about ED application. The suggestion of showing interest in any way possible is also a very good one.
Good Luck</p>
<p>NEValu is right - ED is obviously the ultimate proof of interest and commitment to a school. But financial aid worries, especially these days, have to come into consideration. Carleton’s guarantee to meet 100% of demonstrated need does ameliorate some of this concern. </p>
<p>Reluctantly, I’ll make a suggestion you may not want to hear (or read) - that you give the ACT one more shot. There’s plenty of time to register for another sitting. Scores can varying pretty dramatically test to test. If that 31 comes up, and an adcom is on the fence, it may well tip the balance.</p>
<p>Good point about the ACT, 1190. My daughter got a 32 on her first try, a 35 on her second. She went with the latter. :)</p>
<p>Nationwide, I feel that a score of 31 is very good. Going on this website, I feel as though I am incompetent with a score of a 31. Is everyone a downright genius on this website? When I told people my score, they were ecstatic and blown away. Some people said they know of hardly anyone who has gotten a score above a 32. Even those who are taking AP courses and doing quite well score in the mid 20s when they take the ACT. </p>
<p>(I am just fueling discussion, so don’t confuse this with anger or frustration)</p>
<p>I am questioning a few sources because a few people seem to be bias with their acquantance with high ACT scores; therefore, I feel that their mindset is in the upper end of the spectrum. In actuality, it is not everyone in the nation that receives a 33 and above. I am just trying to mediate a few responses.</p>
<p>I checked several websites and I found the average ACT score to be 28-32 (25th to 75th percentile). That definitely puts me above the 50th percentile.</p>
<p>For goodness sake, a 31 is considered to be in the top 2% of the nation. I know that if I take the ACT once more that I will not be able to improve it no more than one point, if even. This is not pessimism, but reality. Even so, a one point improvement would hardly make any difference at all. I have already done all the preparation for my ACT.</p>
<p>Oh, and in response to a question: it’s not the writing program I am applying for, it’s the science. 
-but that is separate from actually applying next year, of course.</p>
<p>I agree with all who explained that a 31 ACT and a 4.0 gpa is a good start, but not even close to enough information to predict your decision. Also, I’m seeing a lot of people who are quite convinced that showing interest is a significant factor, and I’m going to have to disagree with that for the most part. Applying ED is unquestionably a significant advantage as it is a much smaller pool in which much fewer qualified students will be squeezed out. But with regards to showing interest to affect regular decision outcomes, Carleton admissions people will tell you quite directly that it is almost a non-factor. </p>
<p>Honestly, I’m pretty certain the important factor that hasn’t been brought up yet is what type of curriculum an applicant takes. A 4.0 is great, but if that’s an unweighted gpa, it is important to know how rigorous a schedule you are taking.</p>
<p>I don’t understand how a 32 is in the 75th percentile, but a 31 is top 2%. But I know next to nothing about ACT. That just stuck out to me.</p>
<p>Carleton appears to not be just an average college, so why should it accept students with just an average ACT? Yes, there appear 
to be uber-geniuses on here and there is an obsession with high test scores, but I think the advice to try a retake is sound.</p>
<p>I Need Advice–31 IS a wonderful score. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to re-take. Scores often go up on a second try; if not, you can happily go with the 31. Good luck!</p>
<p>Son was waitlisted last year with a 2330 SAT and 4.0 GPA. Coming from a magnet school with wonderful EC and great recommendations. He showed interest by visiting and interviewing (we traveled from Virginia) and wrote thank you’s etc. We also had legacy. Not sure what they wanted but it did not work for us. My son never looked back and is currently loving his school.</p>
<p>hokiefan–Some things just defy explanation. Where did your son end up going?</p>