Chance me for Princeton?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Currently a sophomore, intending to apply for Princeton this fall (so as a junior) and major in Mathematics.

Rank: 9/964
UW GPA:4.0, W:5.1522

AP tests: WHAP-4, Calc BC-5+5, Stats-5, Physics 1-5, USGOV-5, and Bio-5 (currently taking AP Language & Composition, AP Physics C: M+EM, and AP Chemistry).
SAT: M:800 CR:670 W:750 (I know, CR sucks…); intending on improving this

Now, here’s the kicker: I don’t really have many extracurriculars. I suck at sports, so no varsity sports. I can’t handle the responsibilities of leadership, so StuCo and the like are out of the picture.

Past: I took Brain Bee (a science competition about the brain) and made it among the top 20 AZ finalists.

Present: I do take Boy Scouts (Life Scout), but I’ve been attending less and less, recently. And I am also competing UIL Science because it coincides well with my schedule (unlike UIL Math). I also tutor mathematics, if that demonstrates any interest (as I’m already done with AP maths). Ever since I’ve moved from AZ to TX, I’ve been having less and less time for extracurriculars, as I have a baby brother to take care of.

Future: I’m intending to go into more mathematical pursuits, such as internship under a math professor, competing in AMC (maybe even up to IMO), and studying some advanced mathematics (like Lin Alg-> Cal III/IV ->ODEs/PDEs -> Topology ->Real/Complex/Functional Analysis), and I’m currently applying to SSP.

Overall, time is a very finite resource for me, and there is only so much I can do besides studying and watching my brothers (but I could just be making excuses for myself). I’ve applied to TAMS (an early residential college STEM program) in the hopes of giving me more time, but I’m just worried that Princeton will perceive my sudden expansion of extracurricular activities as desperation (maybe it is). I’m just really doubtful I’ll improve my chances significantly this late into the game, but suggestions won’t hurt, I guess?

2

First: none of us are Princeton AOs and therefore we cannot offer you your chances because Princeton is one of the most selective schools in the country and is pretty much a crapshoot as far as admissions goes.

Can I ask why you are applying as a junior? You are going to have to have an incredibly solid and believable reason.

This worries me. How are you going to handle the responsibilities of independence in college?

Also, you need to get that CR up. Again - why apply as a junior? You have a whole year more to work on making yourself more well-rounded, accomplished, and ready to take on the responsibility of college.

3

I’m just thinking, “If I’m going to be just a bundle of random test scores and ranks, why not apply early? It’s not like I can improve much as a person, in one year.” Excuse my pessimism; 7% is not only just a crapshoot, but also a nightmare.

4

“It’s not like I can improve much as a person, in one year.” I completely disagree. One year can drastically change you as a person if you know how to manage your time. I am a senior, and in the past year alone I’ve started working on an independent, funded research project, written professional research papers, founded multiple organizations, discovered new academic interests, not to mention raised my test scores significantly. If you don’t have a legitimate reason to apply as a junior, use the extra year to develop yourself both academically and personally. Schools like Princeton will definitely value leadership and extracurricular involvement, so you would improve your chances if you spent your last year getting involved in more outside of the classroom activities. Coming off as desperate is better than coming off as apathetic. Your coursework and test scores are decent, so you are a strong applicant in that respect, but without the extra push your chances aren’t great.

You mention your future plans, and while the fancy words sound impressive, plans in the abstract are worth far less than concrete accomplishments. Perhaps you could contact some local mathematics professors and become involved in their research. In the end though, the decision is yours, and I wish you the best of luck in your application process.

5

I definitely agree with @whitespace and @violingirl15. I don’t understand completely the benefits of applying as a junior. High school is not just a time to prepare for college and worry about admissions: it’s a time to explore your passions and develop your social skills. There’s no need to feel a rush to get to college.

And there’s no such thing as “too late.” It seems you definitely have an affinity for mathematics, so why not join or create a mathematics club? That way you can have a leadership position in something you enjoy.

Also, there’s no such thing as desperation, unless maybe you’re starting 10 clubs the beginning of your senior year. Colleges realize that you probably aren’t going to be doing much freshmen year and sophomore year is more of a transition into the “big-kid” high school where you have to start worrying about your resume for college admissions. I’ve created my own service project/non-profit and started a club at the beginning of this year (I’m a junior), and I’m not freaking out. Colleges aren’t going to be harsh and say, “Oh no, this kid’s only doing it to beef up his resume” or “It’s too late for this kid to join a club, so we’re just going to ignore his involvement.”

Trust me: use the extra year and grow not only academically, but also just as a person. Junior year for me has been one of the most eye-opening years for me: I’ve developed a stronger identity and confidence for who I am. I’ll admit I’ve had my fair share of lows, but overall, I have more confidence in what I want to do with my life.

But remember: High school is not just about where you’re going to college. It’s about a lot more than that. Grades don’t define who you are and they shouldn’t: your passions and interests should play a major role in that.