Thursday, April 2, 2009

Headed to Harvard


Coleman Carter, the likely Tascosa valedictorian, got some good news Tuesday. The Eagle Scout extraordinaire was accepted to Harvard University.

Carter was one of 29,000 to apply for acceptance in the United States' preeminent unversity for the Class of 2013. Only 1,660 were accepted, a record low. That total represents 80 countries. About 95 percent of all applicants were rejected.

Carter had taken eight hours of college work at Harvard, in suburban Boston, last summer, but that didn't necesssarily mean anything as far as getting in as a full-time student.

"It didn't guarantee a spot," said his mother, Edie Carter. "Coleman said he knew of only one other there who also got in."

Carter applied and was accepted by several other Ivy League schools, plus Duke and Vanderbilt. But Harvard was his top choice. He will major in international business with an emphasis in math or economics.

"He's had this dream to go to Harvard since he was a little bitty boy," his mother said. "As a parent, you want your child to pursue their dreams. By Tuesday we were at peace with everything. He had done the best he could do. If it was not meant to be, it was not meant to be."

It was meant to be. I had written a column on Coleman in September when he reached a rarity - obtaining all 121 merit badges offered in Scouts. An Eagle Scout needs 21 merit badges and most average around 30. It takes a combination of many things to earn acceptance in Harvard, but that sure didn't hurt.

On Wednesday, April 1, Carter was greeted with a sign in the Tascosa parking lot that morning: "He's no fool. CCC is going to Harvard!"

3 comments:

Travis Erwin said...

Congrats to Coleman.

Unknown said...

Harvard should be honored to have such a great kid attending!

KF said...

Way to go Coleman! Best wishes for a successful future.