Chance for admission to Princeton?

Applying to College
1

<p>I visited Princeton today and totally fell in love with the atmosphere. I met some of the students and felt like I could be friends with them completely, very deep and intellectual people. Do I have a chance at getting in? I'm also looking at UPenn, Dartmouth, and Cornell. </p>

<p>--Academics--
GPA unweighted: 3.96
In the top 10% of my class
All honors and APs.
Total 5 AP Classes for the next two years
Taking 2 APs independently
SAT's (as of now) CR: 750 W:710 M:770
Just took PSATs, I think I did really well, hoping to be a National Merit Scholar or something close to that</p>

<p>--Extra Curriculars--
Varsity tennis team freshman year
Record: 51 wins to 5 losses
Second singles freshman and sophomore
Player of the year Sophomore year
1st singles Junior year
Captain junior year</p>

<p>Fencing, but just for fun. I don't compete or do anything super seriously.</p>

<p>Show Jumper (equestrian)-Professional license at 17
Train horses
Qualified for Marshall and Sterling Finals
Unfortunately before going to finals, I had to get rid of my horse so that my family could afford to send my 10 year old brother to a special school for dyslexic children. I gave my 50,000 dollars in prize money from riding to him so he could go</p>

<p>My biggest thing at the moment is changing my state law for dyslexia and making it recognized as a learning difference. I have been working on this for two years with a learning specialist and a lawyer (graduates of Penn). My mom is friends with a journalist at Fox News and I have a space reserved to go on air with Mr. O'Reilly. </p>

<p>President and founder of the Operation Smile Club and County chapter
Math League- competitively.
National Honor Society Member
Tutor kids at the local elementary school in math, reading and spanish.</p>

<p>I'll be going on a three week medical mission to India and Pakistan for Operation Smile in february, then thailand and china for the summer for conferences and missions. </p>

<p>---Hooks? (if they even count as hooks, i'm not exactly sure what hooks even are..)---
-Grandfather went to MIT, did not graduate because of the war
-Great-Grandfather went to Amherst
-No one has ever gone to college in my family (aside from the two mentioned above)
-Buddhist
-Manager of my mother's family-owned department store (40,000 sq ft) hire, fire, schedule, open, close, customer service, shipping, buying, and problems. 7 days a week in the summer. open seasonally.
-Skip school to attend fashion shows, understood business at a young age, do my moms taxes :P
-Great Grandfather was the fencing coach at Cornell and the Olympic fencing coach
-Dad is bestfriends with an admissions guy at Princeton
-Going to Thailand with the Princeton admissions guy's daughter (one of my good friends). She also graduated from Princeton.
-India and Pakistan Medical mission with very close friend of mine, Georgetown graduate.
^^ Good letters of recommendation?
Do I have a chance? What will make my chances higher?</p>

2

<p>You have a really interesting resume and family history. What a noble thing to do, helping out the family financially, to come to your brother’s aid. You will be a competitive candidate in Princeton’s applicant pool-- perhaps slightly lower, given your SAT scores, but somewhat unique with your EC’s and awards. Like all Princeton applicants, welcome to the lottery… Best of luck.</p>

3

<p>Thank you, it’s been very hard giving up my horse…</p>

<p>I haven’t taken the SAT’s yet, they’re just practice tests… do you think if I keep practicing and get around a 2250 or higher i’ll be good? What would be a “safer” SAT range?</p>

4

<p>Half of 2400’s don’t get in</p>

5

<p>It would be pretty sad if being “best friends” with someone from admissions in Princeton counted as a hook. I like to think that sort of thing doesn’t happen…at least too often.</p>

<p>That being said, I think giving up your horse and $50k in prize money for your little brother is something that doesn’t happen everyday. You should definitely write one of your essays on that. Make it a feel-good story. Adcoms would love it.</p>

<p>And while it’s true that even 2400’s get rejected, upping your SAT can only help you. So yes, I’d say go for it.</p>

6

<p>yeah i guess the whole friends with an admissions guy doesn’t really count, i’m hoping he’ll just give me pointers about how to polish my application for schools like princeton.</p>

<p>anything you think i should strengthen or add to my application?</p>