Advice for SCEA Princeton Engineering

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
1

Hi! I am currently a junior that is heavily considering applying to Princeton Engineering SCEA. Any advice on how to improve my chances would be greatly appreciated.

I attend a NY HS that generally sends multiple students (~10% of 300 student class) to the Ivy League every year. However, ~10%, or 30 students, are accepted to Cornell from my school every year so that may be why the number of students attending Ivy League schools in general is high. The SCEA acceptance rate from my HS to Princeton is 18.75% (3/16).

Expected Major: Civil & Environmental Engineering @ Princeton Engineering SCEA

GPA: 3.90 UW

Coursework: Have taken most rigorous schedule in 9th grade & idk about 10th grade (either most rigor or very rigor)

10th: AP Stat (5 on AP), Science Research, Precalculus Research (double honors)

11th: AP Calc BC, AP Physics 1, AP CompSci, AP Lang, Science Research, College Level French, Regents US History,

-should I self-study APES this year to demonstrate knowledge in the environment?

Potential 12th: College-Level Multivariable Calculus, AP Bio, AP Econ (macro & micro one class), AP Lit, AP French Lang, Science Research, Facing History, (may take AP Chem if it’s recommended but I’d rather not take 2 hard core AP science classes)

SAT: Will take in December – Aiming for 800 Math & 750+ CR&W (will take Essay as well)

PSAT: Will be taking – Received 1370 (750 M 620 CR) last yr (goal is 760 M & at least 700 CR)

SAT 2s: Math Level 2 – Will take next month Physics – Will take next June

ECs:
1-Scientific Research (10-12): Began and led novel water research project at Columbia Engineering; Will be published in a journal, will receive a patent for my work, am entering competitions including: Siemens, ISEF-regional fair (will aim for ISEF), Lexus Eco Challenge, & I-SWEEEP
2-Varsity Cross Country (9-12): Captain, Scholar-Athlete, Varsity Award, All-Conference, All-County, 2x County Finalist, 2x Sectionals Finalist, held practices for team over Summer, made summer training plans for me and some teammates
3-Varsity Winter Track (9-12): Captain, Scholar-Athlete, Varsity Award, 2x Conferences Finalist, attended extra training sessions weekly, made training plan with coach specifically for me to succeed
4-Varsity Spring Track (9-12): Captain, Scholar-Athlete, Varsity Award, 2x Divisionals Finalist, 2x County Finalist, received coaches award for outstanding athletic perseverance and dedication
5-USATF Cross Country Junior Olympics (9-12): National Qualifier
6-USATF Track Junior Olympics (9, 11-12): National Qualifier (didn’t do 10th cuz went to India)
7-Debate (9-12): Leader, Mentor, 2016 Officer, 3x Trophy Winner, 2x State Qualifier (octa-finalist in 2016)
8-Sanskrit (9-12): Internationally Recognized Sanskrit Scholar (received certificates of excellence from UPenn & international organization for completing 3 year rigorous Sanskrit course), attend local classes & teach classes to roughly 30 avid locales
9-Volunteer Work (9-10): 300 hours at local hospital
10-Nature Tours (9-12): Began & lead hikes to various natural parks during the Summer for my family (Ex: Acadia, National Park, Cape Cod National Seashore, etc.)

Will likely get recs from my AP Calc BC teacher, debate teacher, research mentor, and track coach. My track coach volunteered to right for me for Cornell when I was only a freshman. My track coach loves me. :stuck_out_tongue:

My personal statement will likely discuss my love of running OR the env’t while my supplement will likely discuss my love of environmental engineering research and running.

I will also send 2 supplementary docs (assuming I actually have both): my patent info & my published paper

2

Overall, your application looks quite solid. Your scientific publication and patent will definitely set you apart. However, your application will be even better if you win an award in siemens or intel (siemens semifinalist or higher) and intel (at least be a finalist). Good luck!

3

Thank you very much! I want to demonstrate strong interest in environmental engineering (EE) and running as my academic and nonacademic strengths. However, I feel I lack a large number of EE ECs excluding the research. Nevertheless, the research is still impressive imo considering the likely publication and patent as well as the potential to do well in Siemens and maybe qualify for ISEF.

4

Bump

5

Bump

6

Son was an SCEA SEAS admit (ChemE) last year.

IMO, you look good - good academics plus sports and have a great EC hook, but I think to strengthen your chances:

  1. Better balance between math and humanities scores / grades, Prnceton can afford to admit students that are great at both
  2. Write essays that show an interesting person, doing the ECs out of passion vs. building a resume
  3. Try to weave in your outdoor activities into your essay, this is just a pet theory of mine... But I really think Princeton likes outdoors (talking about hiking outdoors worked for my son, and Princeton likes outdoors so much, the vast majority of freshmen are placed into a mandatory 5 day Outdoor Action program before classes start).

I know you are anxious, but strangers can only offer platitudes and generic advice. I suggest you apply to Princeton, do your best on your application, and make sure you apply to a good number of safety and match schools. HYPSM are all reaches for top students.

Good luck,
Psy

7

Thanks so much for the response Psy? How does your son find Princeton’s SEAS program? Does he have any major positive or negative thoughts about SEAS or Princeton in general?

8

Oops sorry meant “Thanks so much for the response Psy!”

9

Don’t submit your full paper – instead, submit a one page abstract. No one is going to read your full paper

10

Okay. Would it be recommended that I also send information on my patent? Or would this be repetitive since the info on the patent will be discussed in the paper?

11

@Rojobot he has been in school for just one week, and that time has been spent on Princeton’s OA hiking trip. He loves the experience thus far, but he’ll need a year or two before he could answer your question. :wink:

maybe ping @cantiger - I believe his son was a BSE that just graduated this year…

12

@Cantiger Do you have any advice on getting in to Princeton SCEA BSE and the experience as a BSE major at Princeton?

13

Also, does anyone have any info on the Princeton freshman profile specifically for B.S.E applicants?

14

I know math and physics preparation is considered extremely important for BSE applicants. AP work in those two areas would be a definite plus. For all BSE applicants, their applications are sent to a separate committee to ensure adequate preparation before they go to final committee for admission (we know this having corresponded directly with Dean Bogucki).

One of the things my son included in his engineering essay came from his visit to Princeton prior to applying. He specifically mentioned one of the projects that was on display at Princeton and how it intersected with some of his own interests (corroborated with his EC’s on his application). Your application needs to not only show that you are a qualified applicant, but that Princeton is uniquely a place where you could contribute. As a varsity athlete recruit he certainly had a “hook” with his application, however Princeton is cautious about ensuring that BSE’s who have other commitments can handle the workload.

Engineering at Princeton is very demanding. The integrated science version is even more so. The first two years for my son were somewhat tedious as he had a long list of prerequisites to complete. For students who are able to complete additional preparation in advance (he had some but would have liked more), there is the possibility of starting in more advanced/interesting courses. Choosing this route is always with a bit of caution as Princeton courses are taught in much greater depth than the corresponding AP course. Often students will choose to start at a course one level below their AP work. For example if you have taken AP BC Calc, you are eligible to place out of Calc 1 and 2 and go straight to Multivariable Calculus, however many students will only place out of Calc 1 and take Calc 2 for the extra depth and preparation. However, once the required courses are completed (generally by junior year for most students) the course work is fascinating and rewarding. Doing independent course work that junior year sets up well for the senior thesis, for example. You will have exceptional resources and support in pursuing the area that interests you.

Now in grad school, my son is especially appreciative of the challenge of his Princeton years as well as the research work he did there. For what it’s worth, when he interviewed for grad school admission, he was told that Princeton students are excellent researchers.

15

@Cantiger This is really great advice! For my senior year, I am able to take two science courses. The only AP science I will have taken is AP Physics 1. Next year, I can take AP Physics C, APES, AP Bio, and AP Chem. I’m leaning towards AP Bio and AP Chem so I’ve taken an AP science in all 3 major sciences, but I may replace one of those two courses with AP Physics C if it will benefit me more.

16

Which AP sciences you take may be affected by the type of engineering you are most interested in. For example if you want to do chemical engineering, AP Chem is a plus etc.

17

I want to major in Civil and Environmental Engineering. I can take AP Environmental Science instead of AP Chem as my 2nd science senior year, but having 2 free periods is also tempting. At the same time, I don’t want to have guilt knowing that the reason I didn’t get into Princeton may have been me not taking AP Environmental Science (or another 2nd science) senior year to fill up those 2 free periods.

18

My daughter is a new BSE freshman at Princeton; she applied indicating an interest in Civil and Environmental Engineering, though she is now leaning toward Electrical :slight_smile:

My opinion: Princeton expects many to change majors/interests during the first year, so I’m not sure that lots of specific preparation to follow a current interest is necessarily helpful for admissions. I suspect that if a large number from your school are applying to Princeton each year, your task will be to stand out apart from a basic level of excellent academics (which presumably most students applying from your school will have.)

Take every opportunity to use your essays to reveal/flesh out the interesting parts of you that may not be apparent from your transcript/resume. My daughter discussed a complicated family relationship in one. When she went to Preview, one of the greeters remembered her and mentioned that essay, which had nothing to do with academics and everything to do with revealing a character quality.

Doing the dorm dropoff thing recently and meeting many students made it clear to me that Princeton values bringing a wide variety of people together. High achieving and intelligent is foundational, but you need to show what is special/unique about you.

19

Thanks so much for your very helpful information! What would be other examples of interesting parts that wouldn’t be apparent from my transcript or resume? I’m thinking maybe my desire and goal to provide potable water to many, if not, all people in the world!

20

If you can, visit the E-Quad at Princeton and have a look at their CEE displays. There is quite an intersection between social justice issues, the environment and great engineering practice. Couple that with working toward and then in your application displaying the ways you are currently working to contribute to the world’s water issues.

Princeton wants to admit the kind of students who will put them on the map. It really doesn’t matter if it is research, major social contributions, business, athletics or arts. They want people who show leadership, initiative and who display excellence and innovation wherever they are.