The Carleton Undergraduate Bridge Experience (CUBE) is a six-credit course that begins online the summer before you arrive and continues in the fall. The CUBE program has two goals: prepare you for your quantitative courses, and get to know Carleton better. Students who complete the full program (summer and fall) will earn six credits towards graduation, which can provide a helpful cushion later on.

Through online activities in the summer, you will:

  • Get to know other students in the Class of 2029 and become more familiar with Carleton offices and culture before arriving in September
  • Work directly with a Carleton faculty member and older Carleton students to review quantitative skills that faculty say all students need to succeed at Carleton (not just STEM majors!)
  • Get started with Microsoft Excel and collaborate with others on a Carleton data analysis project, and present your work at the CUBE Fall Poster Session
  • Network with alums and explore how quantitative skills are important for all majors at Carleton, as well as a wide variety of careers and day-to-day decisions

In the fall, CUBE participants meet once a week to present their posters, continue building their quantitative skill foundations, and get to know campus in person. For more information, see our Frequently Asked Questions. Students who are the first in their family to attend college are particularly encouraged to apply.

The 2025 CUBE application is now open!

If you get an error message when trying to apply, please read this FAQ. 

Quotes from previous CUBE participants –

“I felt more prepared and less scared about starting college this fall.”

“It is an amazing way to get your academic brain in gear and ready for the school year.”

“I think it is an amazing way to gain insight into the Carleton culture.”

“I definitely improved on my time management and use of technology.”

“I developed presentation skills through CUBE.”

“A lot of students in CUBE have become my friends outside of the classroom.”

“I think that the people I met in CUBE helped me really feel more comfortable on campus when I got here.”