Carleton’s high achievers

Re: Carleton grades rising over decade, Oct. 8.

At Carleton University, the trend over the last decade or so is attributable to some key factors, including the higher entrance averages of all those accepted into our programs. Since 1995, for instance, Carleton’s entering grade average has increased from 75 per cent to 82.6 per cent.

The competition for many of our programs has dramatically increased. For example, there were 4,110 applicants for 899 bachelor of engineering spots this fall. Our services for students are extensive and growing. They include novel new ways to intercede and provide help when someone is struggling academically.

Our students are high achievers. Over the last few years, Carleton students in industrial design won first, second and third-place awards at the Ideas contest in Toronto. Carleton Model UN students won first, second, third and fourth places in a national competition. A Carleton chemistry student was named the Canadian Student Entrepreneur of the Year and a creative writing student received recently the Poetry Award at the International Book Fair. Sprott business students are winning international competitions. Engineering students are collaborating with Queens and Algonquin at an international solar house challenge.

Is it any wonder that these students received good grades while at Carleton? Excellent students are choosing our vital, dynamic university as the place where they want to study. They know they will benefit from extraordinary teachers and researchers while receiving superb support from an array of awardwinning services.

ROSEANN O’REILLY RUNTE,

President, Carleton University