<p>I was just wondering how to make my application as impressive as possible whenever I apply?? I'm only a sophomore in high school, and I just would like some tips ahead of time! How do I write good essays, or make my EC's as impressive as possible?? What do I have to focus on when I apply?? Any advice would be great! Thanks!</p>
<p>get excellent grades and test scores while doing what you really love outside of school. don’t underperform, don’t overload. treat your parents, teachers and counselor well. be a good citizen and engage in class discussions. nothing more than those few things, really.</p>
<p>oh yeah, don’t write mediocre, generic essays. write something meaningful.</p>
<p>As for the ECs, just do things you love! Don’t join extra clubs and sports teams just to show that you’ve been involved. The advice I have been given is to find a few activities you are passionate about and stick with them.</p>
<p>Something to consider…most students who are at Princeton are not “just students” - they are involved heavily in the life of Princeton. They may be student athletes, involved in the arts, part of debating groups, social justice initiatives, journalists for various publications, social committee members, student government etc. I believe that a key component of the admissions process is the ability of the admissions committee to see where you will fit and how you will contribute to the university. Great grades, test scores and essays are important but I believe this part is also crucial to the admission process. </p>
<p>Also FWIW, it’s still a reach school for pretty much everyone. Don’t put too much emphasis on trying to do everything perfectly - instead focus on what you will enjoy no matter where you land.</p>
<p>Look for experiences, hobbies, etc. that will make you distinctive. If you can’t look distinctive, you won’t get selected over the other 93% of people, no matter how good your grades are. Period.</p>
<p>That is the bottom line. </p>
<p>Also, I totally endorse the books Admissions Confidential and The Gatekeepers.</p>
<p>But especially that first one. The second one is redundant if you read the first one.</p>
<p> 4.5 GPA out of 5.4
Top 10% of class of 304
All Advanced Courses
President of Book Club
Member of French Club
Member of Interact Club (Volunteer Work)
Secretary of Debate Team
Member of Academic Decathlon Club
Member of History Bowl (History Competition)
Member of Science Olympiad (Science Competition)
Founder of Multi-Cultural Club
Member of NQYP (Tutoring Program)
Member of Drama Club
Class Secretary
EXPERIENCE
Presenting
Demonstrated strong communication skills through class speeches
Sales and Marketing
Created invitations for fundraising event.
Documentation
Drafted documents for internal meetings.
Interned for the Carl Sciortino for Congress Campaign (Summer 13)
Interned for the Don Berwick for MA Governor Campaign (Summer 13)
Tutor for the Boston Public Library</p>
<p>@ntouil
Joining 10+ clubs in high school will almost destine you for rejection from any ivy league.</p>
<p>Why? Because there is no way on Earth you can possibly commit to any one extracurricular, which dilutes the subjective part of your resume.</p>
<p>Pick the ec’s you like the most and stick to them.</p>
<p>
What tragically obvious advice…</p>
<p>PS I am repeat posting this in hopes that I can get some feedback before school starts. Sorry about bugging or annoying anyone!</p>
<p>I am aware that Princeton accepts a significantly higher percentage of applicants from Jersey than any other state/region. I am a true Jersey girl, born and raised. </p>
<p>I am considering applying early to Princeton. It has been my dream school ever since the second grade. </p>
<p>I do not want to waste my single-choice, binding EA though. I would just like a realistic opinion on whether I should bother applying early. If not, I intend on applying to Cornell’s ILR school, which I have heard is looking to attract more applicants. I already know I would like to apply as a sophomore to the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Relations.</p>
<p>I am not proud/satisfied by my current stats but is it what it is.</p>
<p>I am ranked 8/422.
My weighted GPA is 5.39
SAT II: 750 in Lit and 730 in US History
SAT Taken once- 2100
<em>**Plan on taking SATS and ACTs in the upcoming months. Average a 34 or 35 in ACT practice tests.
AP- 5 in US History and 5 in Gov, 3 in AB Calc and 3 in European History </em> Should I include my 3’s? </p>
<p>Will be taking AP Bio, AP Chem, AP Lit and AP Psych this year</p>
<p>Extracurriculars-
State President of the New Jersey Association of Student Councils- (the overall student council board for the state)
Overall President of the Student Council and Class VP
Chapter President of Future Business Leaders of America- Qualified for States- Second in Southern Region for Intro to Parliamentary Procedure, 6th in Business Law
Founded Action For Africa- a community service based club promoted at informing, impacting and educating students about what is happening in Africa
** Plan on starting a Bi-partisan political club- but that is still up in the air
E Rated Fencer
Youth Leader at Fellowship Alliance Chapel’s Youth Group
-A handful of insignificant clubs ie
community service- Key Club
Key Communicators
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Model UN</p>
<p>National Honor Society</p>
<p>Work Experience-</p>
<p>REMOVED </p>
<p>Awards-
February 13 Declared ‘XXX Day’ in my Township in my honor
John Hopkins CTY
Student of the Month
School and Regional Invention Convention-1st Place Winner</p>
<p>Obviously getting is almost like a lottery system with all of the over-qualified candidates, but I would like to know if I have any chance at all.</p>
<p>Can those who have been admitted to Princeton elaborate on what you did during your summers after your sophomore and/or junior years of high school?</p>
<p>@rachelyee You are not supposed to hijack someones else’s thread. Next time, please start your own (which you already did in the Chances forum).</p>
<p>You appear to be quite active and involved which is great. Your standardized test scores need to improve which you already know. The “Hourly Associate at Panera Bread” thing made me think of all the over the top resumes I’ve seen in my career (made me wonder how dressed up the rest of your post was). Keep it simple and keep it real.</p>
<p>Some of your awards are not worth listing ie. JHU-CTY or Student of the Month. Remember, it’s quality not quantity.</p>
<p>If you improve your scores, you have as good a shot as anyone which, unfortunately, I know is not saying very much. None of us can actually give you the kind of assurance that you are looking for. In the end, you just have realistically evaluate your options and then pick one and go for it.</p>
<p>@jersey386 Don’t hijack a thread that has already been hijacked.</p>
<p>The advice I have is mostly obvious and/or already said, because beyond that there isn’t much good advice to be given in general.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Take difficult classes and get good grades</p></li>
<li><p>Score high on standardized tests</p></li>
<li><p>Commit yourself to <em>something</em>. Anything. Not lots of different little things that you think will look good on an application (though having a <em>few</em> of those isn’t bad). It doesn’t have to be relevant to your potential major or anything else. It doesn’t have to be community service or an honor society. Pick something that you enjoy, obtain some sort of leadership position, and really go after it. They don’t care what it is as long as you demonstrate a passion for it.</p></li>
<li><p>Make your essays at least somewhat unique. Write about an unusual situation or anecdote in your life and tie it into some greater themes (while trying to avoid the horribly cliche). If you think 500 people are probably writing, in effect, the same essay that you are then you’re probably right. Doesn’t have to be anything radical, just a touch of uniqueness. Perhaps write about an experience you had in your favorite EC.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Princeton14 has it. Follow that advice and good luck. You don’t have to be superman(woman) but you need to have high scores, one or two ecs you love and excellent essays.</p>
<p>^ What the above two posters said, with emphasis on the essays. They should be really good: both in getting your point across and in revealing something awesome about yourself</p>
<p>okay thank you so much! I’m sort of new to this whole CC thing so I wasn’t really sure what proper CC etiquette was… also for Panera… that’s the term for the position that I applied for… which is ultra corny but don’t have a better term for my job, besides plain old cashier </p>
<p>But thank you for all of the advice and reassurance !</p>
<p>I think it is needless to tell prospective princeton students to achieve a high GPA and excellent SAT scores because they would. However, one thing I would stress is try to make the most out of your summers. Try to land an internship in your prospective major at a company during summers. Many large scale companies such as Lockheed, Boeing, Northrop, NASA (yes, I was an engineering major) hire high school seniors as interns and believe me it would look awesome on your resume. If not internships, try to get involved in research possibly in a nearby college and get close to professors.
I know volunteer activities, clubs and societies are good ECs but an internship or research experience can really make you stand out.</p>
<p>I know I can’t be alone in saying this, but research and internships in labs seems to be almost dime a dozen with Ivy League applicants. Not even just here on CC; I took a science class over the summer, and out of the 23 students in there (all high school seniors), I’d venture to say 15 of them had research positions (they all had connections through their parents).</p>
<p>I think having a research position anymore is more about who you know. I have all the credentials necessary to land a research position, but after spending a great deal of time my junior year trying to land one, I rarely received even an email back, and those were all “sorry, but we aren’t looking for anyone right now.” I’m not trying to take away from those who do have research internships, but I’m just adding my thoughts.</p>
<p>I think, in terms of extracurriculars, you just need to pick something, anything, and be good, no, great at it. It’s easier said than done. Pick basket-weaving for God’s sake but be amazing at it. I don’t know, I’m as clueless as anyone out there, but that seems to be what I’ve learned from lurking on this website for a year and a half.</p>
<p>
Sorry to hear that efeens44. But did you try visiting universities and talking to professors personally, willing to work unpaid, willing to do anything even secretarial type work. I remember when I first started undergraduate research I had to pursue my professor tenaciously to convince him to hire(unpaid) me. He finally saw some potential and hired me and I was pretty much typing equations on MS Word for him for the first couple of months.</p>
<p>And yes network and network as much as you can. Because for many internships and research, connections are the key. Some people are lucky to have already established connections through parents and relatives. But others have to just go out and get them…</p>