Taste of Carleton
Apply for Taste of Carleton and get ready to discover one of the top ten liberal arts colleges in the country! Participants in this three-day program will explore our beautiful campus, attend classes with our #1 ranked professors, and learn more about our admissions process and generous financial aid. The best part? You won’t pay a dime. Transportation, housing, and all program costs are on us.
Program Dates and Application Timeline
Program Dates: September 28 – 30
Application opens: Monday, June 2, 2025
Application Deadline: Friday, July 25
Decisions Released: Mid-August
Why TOC?
Taste of Carleton (TOC) gives high-school seniors a fully funded, first-hand look at life in a residential liberal-arts community. By bringing together students whose paths to college look different from the norm, we enrich classroom discussions and strengthen Carleton’s commitment to academic excellence, curiosity, and community engagement.
Who should apply?
TOC is designed for college-bound students who have talent, curiosity, and limited access to resources that would help them explore colleges like Carleton. If travel costs or guidance-counselor availability make it hard to visit campuses, TOC may be a good fit. Applicants must currently attend high school in the United States.
What do we mean by “students with limited access”?
Students who might benefit from TOC often share one or more of these circumstances (this list is illustrative, not exhaustive):
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First in their family to pursue a four-year degree
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From households where paying for college travel is a significant hurdle
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Attend rural, small, or under-resourced schools with few advanced courses or college-planning supports
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Live in communities that rarely send applicants to selective liberal-arts colleges
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Balance significant work or family responsibilities alongside school
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Use English as a second language at home
If any of these describe you and you are eager to dive into rigorous academics and an engaging campus community, we encourage you to apply!
What happens at Taste of Carleton?
TOC participants experience campus as if they were Carleton students. Plus, we provide support with the college admissions process. You’ll be able to:
- Attend a class that suits your interests: anything from Principles of Psychology, to Genes and Evolution, to Latinas in Hollywood
- Take a campus tour and engage with current students
- Learn about Carleton’s financial aid, student support resources, admissions process, student life, and more
- Get your questions answered by current students at a Q&A session.
Questions?
Contact our office at 507-222-5939 or email toc@carleton.edu. We look forward to hearing from you!
I really enjoyed the freedom in out-of-class scheduling to allow us to explore Carleton on our own and at our own pace, as if we’re real Carls.
I think the people I met were what made this experience amazing for me; everyone I made were very welcoming, friendly, and passionate. I loved Carleton’s student environment and the beautiful campus.
The experience, collaboration, learning, all of it was pretty beautiful. Combined with the campus setting made it an excellent trip.
I loved being able to attend a class and just be on campus. It gave me a nice feel of the environment by just blending in. I also appreciated the freedom to control what I did. I went to different buildings and sometimes had conversations with actual students. I also enjoyed being able to talk with other TOC attendees about more than Carleton.
During TOC, I felt that I belonged the moment I stepped into the Sayles Cafe and the libe. Having lively conversations with other Carls made me feel like I hadn't left my friends in California. Students assured me that even with the challenges of culture shock, I will be able to step out of my comfort zone knowing TRIO and the rest of the community are there to support me.