<p>Ctyankee et al: Use a search engine to find Carleton College’s Common Data Set. Click on the 2008-09 data, and scroll to page 8. There you will find a chart listing factors considered in admissions decisions. Interviews are considered, an applicant’s level of interest is not. Hopefully this puts a period on this discussion. I’m not sure why there is a contradiction in the website (post 41 by Ctyankee) and the common data set, but my D’s experience and the stories I’ve heard from others strongly suggests that interviews can help applicants. How much help, I simply don’t know. </p>
<p>Some other thoughts. Perusing the chart on page 8 of the Carleton Common Data Set reveals that there are only three aspects of an applicant’s file that are very important, and all are related to academic performance in high school: class rank, rigor of high school curriculum, and GPA. There have been many threads about college comparisons, and the chart being referenced here can be found for all colleges. There are significant differences between and among colleges that stand out. For instance, at Carleton, standardized test scores, character and personal qualities, and volunteer work are important, and an interview is considered. At Grinnell, standardized test scores are very important, an interview is important, character and personal qualities and volunteer work are considered. I’m not sure what to make of all this, but I think it is fair to write that all college admissions processes are not the same, and at Carleton there is no substitute for a strong high school academic record.</p>
<p>As a final observation, my youngest D, who is currently engaged in a college search, was informed by an admissions officer at an LAC (not Carleton) that letters of gratitude for those conducting admissions interviews were placed in an applicant’s file and were considered (presumably as a positive reflecting character) when acceptance decisions were being made. Interesting to think about …</p>