<p>Hey guys! I'm a junior right now and I'd LOVE to go to Princeton. If you guys could check out my stats and see if I'm on track that'd be amazing! If not, what should I do? Thanks!</p>
<p>Gender: Female
Ethnicity: Half black/Half Russian (lol yeah what...? I know)
School: One of the best public ones in Massachusetts
SAT: 2180 (690 CR 740 W 750 M) First time taking it, will take again
GPA: 3.93 out of 4.00 (unweighted)
Current classes and grades: APUSH (A-), AP Bio (A), AP French (A), Honors Math (A), Honors English (A) Regular Spanish (A)
PSAT: 99th percentile, probably the National Achievement thing (for African Americans or whatever)
ECs: Varsity swimming 3 years (1 out of maybe 5 blacks in league), Environmental Club, Water-Polo Club, Peer Mentoring Program, Guidance Aide for Freshmen, Special Needs Aquatics, French exchange next year
Work: Lifeguard and head swim lesson instructor all year
Awards: National Achievement for PSAT, 4th Place in National French Contest, Honorary Mention in City-wide MLK Essay
Others: Speak Russian fluently, Family income ~60,000, Neither of my parents went to college in the USA</p>
<p>i have three friends that applied to and interviewed with princeton so i am fairly familiar with what they want. you definitely need a higher SAT and gpa. my friend got deferred with a 4.4 gpa/2380 SAT (i do know someone that got accepted with a 4.7 and slightly lower SAT, though). they also like to see strong and dedicated involvement in a few extracurriculars rather than a ton of extra activities that you aren’t fully invested in. i would also try to take as many AP/honors classes during your senior year and take a few sat subject tests in the subjects you feel strongest in.</p>
<p>I truly believe they heavily factor in leadership, passion, extracurriculars, achievements, and essays once the academic credentials are met. Many of my friends with 4.0s and slightly higher SATs (we were all in the 2300 range, but they were like near perfect) and SAT IIs were deferred. The only differences in our apps I can speculate were our extracurricular achievements and our demonstrated character/passion in what we do. That and essays.</p>
<p>Its a hollistic approach; they factor in everything. Your test scores put you on the Ivy radar…but it’ll be your passions that distinguish you from the sea of 4.0/2400’s…</p>
<p>I think they may be intrigued by your background and not demand the high 2300 numbers many applicants need to meet.
IMO you have a reasonable shot.</p>
<p>As an African-American, you have a very good chance of acceptance. </p>
<p>Describing 4.0/2400 as a “sea” is an inaccurate assumption. Kids with 2400s have over a 50% chance of acceptance, and if you factor in a 4.0 and high SAT II’s, I can’t imagine it not going up significantly. There simply aren’t a lot of kids with a perfect SAT and GPA.</p>
<p>^81% of the valedictorians/2400s were denied at brown (forget what year.) So 50% chance of acceptance to an Ivy League as a 4.0/2400 is an inaccurate assumption as well. If Princeton wanted to fill up their school with nerds, they would- 3x over. But that’s just the thing: they don’t.</p>
<p>@OP: You have a strong chance. Great GPA, URM, decent SAT score, NM, …yeah. you’re basically a shoo-in. Good luck!</p>
<p>upennvetgirl727:You definitely don’t know what your talking about. Although the OP seems to be a strong candidate, no one is a “shoo-in” unless your a recruited athlete with a 2400. Also I don’t see your logic when you say a majority of valedictorians and 2400s are rejected, but the OP is a shoo-in. Being smart/valedictorian/2400 isn’t a minus, it’s a plus. And to schools like HYPS, its a requirement (being smart, not the 2400)</p>
<p>OP: Like everyone said, you seem to be on the right track as a junior. Your SAT score is below average though, you want it to be at least in the high 2200s to consider Princeton.</p>
<p>Biodude: Don’t forget, the OP is a URM, which does help quite a bit, especially considering her stats would be decent for anyone applying. The only blemish is that SAT score, which should be fine because of your URM status, but it can’t hurt retaking if you feel you can get 2250+.</p>
<p>I took that SAT in November just to kind of like see where I was at and I’m definitely retaking it in May and maybe even in the fall of my senior year if it’s not at least 2250. I think it will get there though, cause I’m doing a bunch of SAT prep right now and my practice tests look pretty good.</p>
<p>Hey, current Princeton frosh here. I’d say your chances are decent. While I don’t like to admit it, GPA IS an important factor in Princeton’s admissions process and while yours is by no means below par it could do with a little boost if possible. Other than that it seems that you are very involved in a lot of ECs, and while your SAT is not the highest it is on par with other applicants. The main thing I would stress is that you show yourself to be a passionate and dedicated, well-rounded individual – from my experience, it seems like Princeton really values someone who commits themselves to something they are passionate about fully, whether it be some academic field, some particular field of public service, music, dance, etc.</p>
<p>Yes you’re on track. If you have time, try to improve your SAT scores. Have you taken SAT subject tests yet? If not, do so soon, and do well :). Take up some leadership roles and demonstrate your amazing self on the essays.</p>
<p>Find a way to differentiate yourself from the pool of amazing students with amazing stats and amazing ECs. Sorry to say, but the “how” part is really up to you. But at least being a URM will help.</p>
<p>Yes, I’m definitely retaking the SAT and taking 3 SAT II’s: French next week, Bio, and Math II. I am expecting to get a 770-800 on the French, hopefully same on Bio and Math also.</p>