Common App Essay: Transition to Adulthood prompt Transition to adulthood? What transition? If you had asked me at six what separated me from an adult, I would have answered that, contrary to appearance, I was fully mature. I felt distant from my peers and would have called them childish. Especially at my parents’ dinner parties, I would seek out adult company. No “kids’ table” for me: I would eat quickly and then sit quietly at the adults’ table, absorbing the...

At Carleton last year I visited six different classes, three in Math and Science and three in the Humanities. Of all of the classes I visited on various college campuses, these were the most consistently impressive. I was intensely interested in the material; I even felt compelled to take notes, an activity I usually dispense with in my high school classes. Seeing the students so excited about learning was a reliable sign that Carleton would be the right place for...

I was definitely looking for small, liberal arts colleges, staying away from the Ivies for their size, and so I visited a fair number of colleges. I may not have visited as many as most people, but for the ones I did visit, I spent two days on campus, dropping in on as...

I interviewed at Pomona College and really didn't feel like the interview meant much. My interviewer was more interested in talking about herself and her experience at the school than in asking me questions. I...

Speak to your recommenders early. Especially if they are your teachers, they will not only have other students asking for recommendations, but...

Social Dance is a big deal at Carleton. From Lindy Hop and West Coast Swing to Waltz and Tango to Contra, we have...

Passionate, supportive,...