Katelin Carter ’24 always knew she wanted to go to law school, so she didn’t want to take on lots of student loans for her undergraduate education. During her senior year of high school, Carter applied to 20 different colleges—and was accepted to most of them—but Bridgewater College offered her the best financial aid package.
“My decision was based on money alone,” Carter said. “I was looking at taking on $10,000 per year in student loans to go to other schools. And I come from a family that doesn’t have those kinds of resources.”
Carter grew up outside of Philadelphia, Pa., and attended a large public high school. She said she initially had doubts about coming to a small, rural college for her undergraduate degree, but just a few weeks into her first year at Bridgewater College, Carter said her fears were allayed.
“I walk across campus, and everyone says, ‘Hi.’ They made me feel wanted and encouraged me to take down the wall that I’d always had around myself,” she said.
Carter also said that she appreciated that her professors had confidence in her abilities even when she was unsure.
“They saw that I had potential and took a chance on me. They helped me walk until I was able to do it myself.”
During her time at BC, Carter worked as a Writing Center tutor, first-year orientation leader and organized a banned book fair. She also completed summer internships in two county courts and a senior project that involved researching medication-assisted treatment programs in drug courts across the country.
Carter, who earned her degree in political science and professional writing, hopes to continue her work at the intersection of the law and substance abuse as a professional. And she is on the right track: She is currently attending the University of Baltimore School of Law. When asked whether Bridgewater prepared her to follow her dreams, Carter laughed and flashed a huge smile.
“Bridgewater has made a difference in the way I approach the world,” Carter said. “Plus, I’m going to graduate with no loans and am going to law school for free.”
– Heather S. Cole
Bridgewater magazine, spring/summer 2024
