<p>Princeton is offering early decision this year and the deadline is November 1st. I am really interested to apply early, however I am worried about my SATs. I'll take SAT II chem in June, SAT I in October and SAT II Math and physics in November. Do you think my November test would reach the admission office in time? if not, would my only SAT II chem and SAT I score be sufficient? (I will note it in my application that I am taking the SAT IIs in November). Looking @ my situation, do you think It worth it that I apply early? Note that I am an international student from Afghanistan, applying for full financial aid.</p>
<p>I don’t know whether or not Princeton has told when it has to receive its EA scores, but could you take all three of your subject test in one day (in June, if they are all offered)? Even if you didn’t register for the three subject tests, you can still take all three and be billed later.</p>
<p>I think if Princeton is your first choice, applying early would be beneficial.</p>
<p>Also note that Princeton now only requires 2 subject tests, so you could consider taking 2 in June. Also note that Princeton’s early admission program will not be Early Decision, but will be Single Choice Early Action - you can only apply early to Princeton, but if accepted, you do not need to commit to Princeton until May 1.</p>
<p>I would not take SATs in November if you’re applying early.</p>
<p>Two reasons:
- What happens if you can’t make it to the test or you aren’t fully prepared? Most people take subject tests again once or twice. So it’s a risk to do everything on such a tight deadline. At that time you’ll have to do all your essays also.</p>
<ol>
<li>In my experience, Princeton admission is a bit difficult when it comes to updating SAT scores. After calling two times (once each month) because SAT scores I sent in Dec still wasn’t there in Feb, I was politely told to wait because they have many scores to process. In the end, it turned out they’d filed my scores in someone else’s file. This probably won’t happen to you, but this is just one of the many experiences people have faced when dealing with Pton admissions. They can be unhelpful sometimes so it’s good to have everything set in advance.</li>
</ol>
<p>Also, in my experience, for some reason internationals do better in the RD round.</p>
<p>That said, I think being from Afghanistan is a big plus. Don’t think there are any Afghans in Class of 2015. </p>
<p>What’s your GPA, course load, extra curriculars like? Can you give us more info?
Do you know anybody else in your country who applied to the US and were successful?</p>
<p>I don’t mean to hijack this thread, but does anyone think that I, a Hispanic (Puerto Rican) student with a 3.8UWGPA and 2290 SATI and 760Chem/780MathII can get into Princeton? Should I apply early then?</p>
<p>fromkabul,</p>
<p>What about taking your SAT IIs in October rather than November? I would think that would be fine. (At least that’s my hope as my son will be taking his 4th SAT II in October)</p>
<p>Gawain,</p>
<p>It depends on what else you’ve got going for you. But of course, if you want to apply early, you should.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your comments.
@ chesterstreet, my GPA is 4.00. About my course load, in our school all students have to take the same courses. I would say our courses are close to AP, but not that difficult. About my extracurriculars, Unfortunately, there weren’t many opportunities for such activities in our school. I had to work after school. I have also taught math, English and chemistry after school for a long time. Note that I graduated from school in 2008. and I want to study Chemical Engineering. I would say there is no Afghan @ Princeton now, or even ever!</p>
<p>What is your SAT score now? To be honest in my experience, there are very few who get into Pton (and Y,H, MIT) with a score below 2100. But you really need at least 2200— at Princeton your chance of acceptance will be 8-9% if you SAT is between 2100-2300. </p>
<p>If your score is above 2300, then you chance of acceptance is 15-20%
You need to work at least 2-3 hours a day on the SAT I. Do practice tests, learn vocab, repeat practice tests. Do them again and again. That’s the secret.</p>
<hr>
<p>Are you currently enrolled in a uni in Afghanistan? </p>
<ol>
<li>if you are currently enrolled in uni, then you may not apply to Pton (but I’m sure you know this— just to make sure). You can apply as transfer to other schools though.</li>
<li>if you aren’t in school now-- what are you doing? the thing is, it seems like you are trying to market yourself as the one and only coming from Afghanistan-- but have you shown in your app what type of diversity you’d bring? or examples of how you would enrich others’ experiences at Princeton, or at any college?</li>
</ol>
<p>If your answer is number 2, you should definitely start some project that shows your leadership and community service commitment. Have you done any community service? It’s really really important. Majority of acceptees have community service on their apps, whether they truly enjoy doing it or not. And for you, I don’t mean reading to the blind, or teaching orphans how to swim. I mean you need to show leadership potential-- start a charity, or a project that helps your society/community or become a journalist in your local newspaper, or write a book, or find ways to education the underprivileged about US and European issues, if you are thinking of ChemEng, then do a project on that, etc— which will show the admissions people where you come from, how you’ve taken advantage of your surroundings, and what you’ll bring to the campus.</p>
<p>In all honesty, admission to Princeton, other ivies and schools such as Stanford, MIT, Berkeley, Duke, UVA, Tufts, and liberal arts colleges such as Williams, Amherst, Wesleyan, Pomona, etc are VERY difficult. Don’t count on getting in. But I want you to know it’s possible. I’m also international, applied after I finish high school, began some leadership/community service projects that set me apart from other applicants and found myself admitted to ivies and many of the schools I listed above.</p>
<p>One more thing— Princeton has a smaller class size (1300 ish) compared to most other schools (1600+). This means it is able to admit fewer internationals. Not that there are not any-- there are quite a few, but it will be normal for some countries to send zero people to Princeton for multiple years, while sending several to Yale, Penn, Columbia, Brown, etc, every year.</p>
<p>Yeah it has a small class size but its yield is terrible. They admit around 2300 for 1300 spots because they know they’ll lose a ton to other schools.</p>
<p>Terrible is subjective, and relative.</p>
<p>My point still holds. They admit fewer internationals because of the small class size.</p>
<p>decillon</p>
<p>Princeton’s yield decreased after it dropped ED. Other than Harvard, most of Princeton’s competitors have had some form of early program, which increases yield significantly. For example, while Penn has a blended yield rate of approximately 63%, its regular decision yield rate is approximately 49%. I would expect that Princeton’s yield will rise next year, when it offers an EA option.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your comments.</p>
<p>@ Cheseterstreet, I am expecting to get a 2200 ish in November in SAT and 800 in SAT II math, chemistry and physics (i am preparing for these exams now). </p>
<p>I haven’t enrolled in any college yet. Currently, I am working in a private company as an assistant manager. I have been teaching English, Math, Chem part time for more than 4 years now ( with passion). I am the founder and president of a discussion club (you don’t find these kinds of club in Afg). But like you said, I’ll have to get involved into sth with more leadership and related to Chem E. The problem is that there isn’t any Chem E related activity that I could do in here! :(</p>
<p>Being an Afghan and just “living” is difficult. Until last year, we didn’t have electricity @ home @ all. There is no quality in the education in here. the culture is very poor and there is still war going on here! + many other very different experiences that I have had, about which I will talk in my app.</p>
<p>Btw, where are you studying now?</p>
<p>fromkabul- if you email Princeton admissions directly with your question, I’m sure they can tell you if the November SAT II score will arrive in time for Early Action. </p>
<p>I do not think admissions will expect any leadership in Chem E activities–those must be rare enough in the U.S., and non-existent in Afghanistan. Your work and teaching, as well as your general life experience, will offer a significant applicant profile. Good luck!</p>
<p>@ Fauve, Thank you very much 
I had emailed Princeton admissions. They said the October test will surely reach the admission office in time and about the November test score, they " are not sure". They also said:</p>
<p>“We will still consider your application. Check back with us as the application deadline gets closer; we’ll know better then if you will need to rush the scores or not”</p>
<p>So, what do you think? should I apply early?</p>
<p>btw, in order for me to make sure I get 800s in my SAT II Math and physics , I’ll have to take them in November. We have tests only in June, October and November. and I need enough time to prepare myself for SAT verbal section (as a non-native, I find the verbal section difficult).</p>
<p>fromkabul. Are you sure about applying early to Princeton? Not to discourage you from applying, but if you don’t have the test scores yet then it’s a risk.</p>
<p>There are some early action schools such as Boston College, UMass Amherst, UChicago, Georgetown which are easier to get into. In my experience it’s better to apply to an easier-to-get-into early action school and get in than apply to a more difficult school, get deferred and stay up late at night wondering if you have a place to go come April.</p>
<p>I don’t think you should apply until you have everything ready. Applying with everything not as perfect as you can will cause you to regret and keep thinking “what if…” if you don’t get your desired result.</p>
<p>And regarding SAT score— what is it NOW? I understand you expect a 2200 later on in the year, but what are your current SAT scores? That can give us a clearer idea of how to proceed.</p>
<p>Keep practicing your vocab!</p>
<p>By the way, you asked where I’m studying. I’m starting at P’ton in the fall.</p>
<p>@ Chesterstreet, You are probably right. I’d better apply regular to P’ton. I might apply to Brown Engineering early then. It’s easier and they offer generous aid.The thing is that my school list is limited to only those that are need-blind or at least need sensitive to international students, and these schools are all most selective schools.</p>
<p>About the SATs, I score 1950-2050 (I score lower in the reading section), and 750 in chem and 710 in math and physics. </p>
<p>Congrats on your admission to Princeton! You totally deserve it and I hope you help me make it to P’ton next fall as well.
btw, what are you going to major in?</p>