Welcome!

As director of admissions at Carleton, I review several thousand applications every year. I’m routinely struck by the guidance parents and loved ones provide young people during this (often confusing) process. Without your support, the college search would look very different for students. Thanks for helping them find their way to and through their college home.

Here, I’m thrilled to welcome you to this parents- and guardians-only community here at Carleton. You’re joining a dialogue that begins every January and continues right up into New Student Week in early September. I encourage you to sift through these conversations to understand how Carleton fits and supports your student. Review the conversations taking shape (or even those from last year). Ask questions. Share wisdom. Make connections. Swap notes and tips (e.g., where is the best birthday cake in Northfield?). This is a resource specifically built by parents, for parents. It’s intended to help you find what you need to know, so that you and your student make the transition to Carleton as smooth as possible. And yes, your students have an opportunity to join their own student-centered online Instagram community (they’ve already got an invite!).

Along the way, please don’t be shy about reaching out to parents of current Carls you encounter on this blog. They’re excited to connect with you individually. They, too, remember that some questions are best answered one-on-one, or even offline.

Thanks for all you’ve done and continue to do.

— Adam Webster ’00, Director of Admissions