I am currently in 12th Grade in India. I aim to apply to Princeton in Early Action 2019 for Fall 2020. These are the Stats I currently possess.
Academic-
9th Grade - B Grade
10th Grade - 88% - 4.0 GPA
11th Grade - 65 % - 3.2 GPA
SAT 1380/1600 ; 730/800 Math; 650/800 English
SAT Math Lvl-2 760/800
Extra Curricular-
I have been in the School Basketball team for the past 4 years (except this year). I have also been one of the best players on the team for the last 2 years on the team.
We secured 3rd place in the West zone CBSE Basketball Tournament and was one of the finalists selected to Place for my state, Gujarat.
I have represented my House in the Inter-House Basketball Matches for the past 5 years. I am the captain of the team this year and was the vice-captain last year. We have finished first for 3 of the past 5 years. and runners up 2 years back.
I am active in doing community service with 90+ recorded hours and 500+ unrecorded hours.
I placed 11th in the international level of the International Space Olympiad when I was in 7th Grade.
I have represented my School in numerous debates and quizzes winning a lot of prizes too.
In spite of not being the face of the council, I was involved in a lot of council activities throughout the year including organising events and selections for various sports.
I have also attended a couple of Model United Nations with one of them being an Inter-House MUN where I won the best Delegate award in the newcomers group.
Courses-
I’ve got
12 years of English
10 years of Math
5 years of Science + 2 Years of Physics and 2 Years of Chemistry in Addition
4 years of Third Language i.e.Gujarati
6 Years of Second Language i.e. Hindi
4 Years of History, Civics, Geography and Economics
2 Years of C++
I’m an international Student from India and am applying into Computer Science.
Your SAT score is very low for Princeton. Take a look at Case Western Reserve University or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). Do you need financial aid?
Yes, I would require financial aid.
Btw isn’t 25th percentile SAT for Princeton like 1410
But even if that’s true you are below the 25th percentile? Your grades look as though they have moved down from 10th to 11th grade. A downward trend is problematic as it can indicate that when classes become more difficult or more challenging your grades reflect that you are possibly struggling. Upward trends show the opposite.
In my 12th grade, I am currently maintaining 85-90 % i.e. 4 GPA
Would it matter right now? cause in India, it is normal for grades to drop a lot from 10th to 11th grade due to the drastic difference in level of study
how are my extracurriculars tho
Your GPA and test scores are low for Princeton. The 650 SAT EBRW is well below the 25%ile per the most recent CDS (C9), and 730 math right at the 25%ile. You didn’t calculate your cumulative unweighted GPA, but it looks like it would be below 3.5, and only about 5% of matriculants had a GPA below that level (C11). https://registrar.princeton.edu/sites/registrar/files/2019-04/common_cds_2018-2019_0.pdf
Although you can obviously apply, you might consider finding schools that are better matches for your stats. For Princeton you also need to submit a graded paper and TOEFL results (if HS instruction is not in English)
What can/will your family pay per year of college/do you need financial aid?
I would require financial aid. But can I atleast balance a bit of my grades with extracurricular activities?
Princeton has been a dream for me. But the last year, I was more focused on basketball and improved my game a lot. I was even named the star defender of one of the tournaments I attended. Also, at 5’ 10’’ I have pretty much the skills of a point guard.
Any chance I can get in on the basis of my sport skills?
Thank you
No, generally ECs can not make up for a relatively low GPA and test scores. It could be possible if you were an athletic recruit, for example.
What other US schools are you considering? International students requiring financial aid should consider all US schools to be reaches. Do you have affordable options in India?
No. Princeton, like most colleges, does not report a combined EBRW+M. 25th percentile is 710 for EBRW and 730 for math. It is a mathematical error to add them together and say that the overall 25th percentile is 1430.
Regardless, you should assume that most of the accepted students in the 25th percentile are heavily hooked - recruited athlete to a key sport or a severely underrepresented minority.
The other thing to know is that the acceptance rate for international applicants to schools at Princeton’s level is about half the overall rate. So substandard SAT and GPA will not get you accepted.
Most accepted applicants will have great ECs and strong grades. ECs do not make up for weaknesses elsewhere
They’re fine.
I would prefer studying abroad.
Indian college studies are mostly centered around the theoretical side.
I would like to gain more practical knowledge.
Theory hasn’t really been my strong part but i’m improving it.
that’s what affected my 11th grade grades.
I scored 75-80 / 100 in Math. I got some of the proofs wrong but the rest application based questions are my forte.
But I scored 49/100 in Computers. Full in program writing and very less in theory.
I know C++, MySQL and will learn Java in the next few months.
I have backups but Princeton would be my primary option.
The second option I have got is the Community College option.
Btw I was selected for the State team once. Would it show me as an athletic recruit?
Unless the Princeton basketball coach is recruiting you, you need to let go of Princeton and focus on schools where you have a chance of being accepted. Because you are an international applicant requiring financial aid, from a country with many near perfect applicants, you are going to have to look at schools that are much less competitive. I’d encourage you to look in your home country and in other countries while compiling your list.
So can my extracurriculars help strengthen my Application?
I have pretty good letters of recommendations. One of them being from a prominent figure in the United states and he is related to the computer Science Side. I was in contact with him for doubts regarding a project he made and also about what careers to pursue.
Are grades the most important factor in admissions?
Sure thing but do grades constitute a prominent role in admissions?
What about ECs and stuff
Yes. Grades and test scores will be the first thing they look at. I think people are trying to be really nice in saying to you that you should look elsewhere. Princeton is one of the most competitive universities in the world. You will be up against kids who don’t need financial aid, who have 4.0s and 1600s on their SATs with national recognition and even international recognition in their ECs. And there will be enough of them to fill their class three times.
But still it doesn’t hurt to try, does it?
Any way i can improve my chances? There are like 2 months left for Princeton Early Action to Start.
No. Unless Mitch Henderson says, “I want you to play basketball at Princeton,” you are not an athletic recruit.
They’re certainly a key factor.
Bottom line, Princeton has 42 undergrads from India, so they are accepting, on average, 11 per year. Are you one of the top 11 applicants from the entire country?
https://davisic.princeton.edu/sites/davisic/files/2018-19_intl_students_by_country_level.pdf
In the 12th Grade, I am currently maintaining a 3.6-3.7 GPA and expect to improve it to 4.
Would it help me?
If you have to try, apply in the RD round. SCEA requires you to give up the opportunity to apply ED anywhere and/or EA to private schools, which IMO is too great a price to pay as you are not a strong enough candidate for Princeton.
My alternative is Community College so I think I can apply to Princeton in the EA round. I’ve heard people have a higher chance to get in the Early Action round.
Btw what is RD?