You can't put "Did I get into Carleton?" into Google and get a helpful list of search results, you can't find an article answering that question in Wikipedia, and there's no option to phone a friend for an answer. Though you might argue that we're squarely in the Era of Instant Gratification, consider us in the Admissions Office at Carleton old-school in our decision to mail all admissions decisions. No texting, tweeting, fancy webpaging, facebooking... just good old-fashioned mail. All of our letters should be out the door in time for an April 1 notification... and here are some shots to prove it.
Sort of looks like we didn't admit anyone A-M... don't worry, we did!
Dean Thiboutot signing one of the admit letters, as he does with each letter.
Thanks, USPS, for handling the mail! (Don't worry, if you live abroad we've got you covered.)
Filling up tubs, one by one, slowly but surely. April 1, are you here yet?
PS - Thanks for all your comments and questions about the exact mail date. We're not going to spill the beans, but rest assured, you should hear from us by April 1, with plenty of time to consider all of your options. And if you don't hear by April 1, send us an email!
Comments
I applaud Carleton's policy to notify prospective students via the mail instead of through a website log-in or email.
Thanks for the feedback. The variability in time zones and computer access is enough to dissuade us, but it's also good to have something tangible, no matter the decision.
I think it's very cool that (at the moment) the third search result to the "Did I get into Carleton?" query is this page.
On the previous blog entry you said you were looking into the answer to that question. So, I assume that when you say "(Don't worry, if you live abroad we've got you covered.)" you mean covered by "something tangible" and not e-mail, right? Or does the non-definitive statement mean that you are either still looking into that question or would rather not commit to anything right now?
Oh, Pins and Needles, how we wish we could calm those nerves! Your name sounds excruciating. As for international students, I'm still waiting for a definitive answer, but we've got a few different solutions to the "mail takes forever to get to me" problem, and we're figuring out which will be the best for you and for us. We have been known to send emails before to some students to compensate for the mail, but I'm not 100% sure what we'll do this year. It's a delicate balance of wanting you to receive something you can either squeeze with excitement or rip up with frustration (haha, we kid... sort of) and also wanting you to receive that decision as soon as possible.
If my son is not admitted, I am still imploring my daughter to consider this school.
I heard some applicants in my country are getting FedEx letters and I heard nothing about it... Are all decisions mailed by FedEx? =)
Awesome - thanks for the support. Let us know if you have any questions about Carleton.
Nope, not all decisions are mailed by FedEx! We love the USPS.
I'm sorry if this has been answered already somewhere, but can you tell us if the financial aid packages will accompany acceptance letters? Thanks!
Super question! If you told us you intend to apply for aid (on your Common App or in a subsequent email or letter), you'll receive financial aid information with your acceptance letter. If you told us you won't apply for aid, you won't receive financial aid information. Make sense?
Thanks to Carleton, my daughter checks the mail without my asking! No more, "it's SO far."
Glad we could contribute to the daily distribution of family chores! :)
"Nope, not all decisions are mailed by FedEx! We love the USPS. "
This is the truth. Vague, but true. Our love (for the USPS, but also for applications and their respective applicants, for rigorous classes and long-lasting friendships, for the smell of Malt-o-Meal and the whir of frisbees across the Bald Spot...) remains undiminished. However, let us be clear: while all admissions decisions leave Northfield on a USPS truck, some admissions materials are also sent through FedEx. The USPS decisions left our office earlier this week, as you can tell from your CollegeConfidential comrades who are posting about decisions they've received.
The FedEx envelopes are hand-entered into the FedEx website over the course of many days. We send the tracking information to the student email address on file, mostly so that you're aware to expect something from FedEx, especially if you aren't the one who usually checks the mail. After we've entered all of the FedEx information, we'll then send an email to international applicants, notifying them of our admissions decisions. That entire process might not finish until late next week, but it is almost certainly going to be faster than relying solely upon the USPS and your local mail service. You'll still get your decision by mail.
Bottom line: don't assume anything about your admissions decision until you receive that admissions decision.
I'd just like to say that it makes me exceptionally happy to read this blog and find someone (or rather, an entity) that seemingly loves USPS as much as I do.
How many applications did you get this year?
Hi Curious - we received about 5,000 applications and our acceptance rate was about 30%. Thanks for asking!
Any chance you'd care to offer some odds on being accepted off the waiting list?
Hi Hopeful Dad - right now we have no idea how many students we'll offer spots to from the waitlist. In order for waitlisted students to be considered for admission, they must write to us to let us know they want to remain on the waitlist. Usually we'll end up with about 300 students on the waitlist, and if we need to, we'll typically start offering admission after May 1 when we know if we have any spots in the class.
Hi. My son still has not heard about his application to Carleton (today's mail, April 1, has already arrived). He applied regular admission, following a trip to Northfield and an interview on campus. We're in Chicago and expected something by now, and I'm wondering what if anything to do. Thanks, Rick
Hi Rick in Chicago -
Your son should call our office (507.222.4190 or 800.995.CARL) to ensure his application was complete and the decision was put in the mail. - Jaime
Got it sorted. . .the letter was mailed March 21 and believe it or not, the letter was RETURNED to Carleton for an unknown reason. Admissions had our address correct, so this must have been one of those anomalies you look back on (long after the event) and smile about. :)