Chance me for Princeton SCEA
Homeschooled entire life due to parents disliking school system
GPA: 3.94 UW
Stats:
ACT 33 (35 R, 31 M, 35 W, 31 S)
AP Scholar with Distinction 2 years in a row (Self-studied for seven APs)
750 SAT II US History
640 SAT II Math I
Extracurriculars:
Research published in Knowledge@Wharton
Research assistant at Georgetown, credited in a professor’s upcoming book
Marketing intern, Princeton alumna supervised me
Founded an online magazine with a readership of 10k+
Black belt in karate, received an award for teaching
LoR: Editor in chief of Knowledge@Wharton noticed my work and wrote one, Princeton alumna wrote one (very strongly recommending me), Georgetown professor
As I didn’t attend a school or co-op, I got all these scores and extracurriculars on my own (self-studying, reaching out to editors and professors, etc)
Do you have anybody who taught you who can provide insight as to how you are as a student? The LoR of the editor of Knowledge@Wharton isn’t useful, since they only know your work, not who you are.
Somebody else may have a different idea, but I was thinking that a LoR from your Sensei may not be a bad idea, since they can talk about how your personality, how you behave in social settings, how it is to teach you, etc.
However, as to the matter at hand - acceptance rate to Princeton SCEA was 13.9% last year, and a chunk of that were kids with assorted hooks (15% were legacies). So your chances are slim, unless you have done something at the national or at least state level. Unfortunately, you have not, and your ACT scores are at the bottom of the mid 50% range, while your Math SAT II scores are pretty low (53rd percentile), and your History scores are just OK (82nd percentile), for a selective college .
What were your scores on the AP exams?
So it’s an extremely high reach, and I wouldn’t “waste” your early admissions chance on this slim possibility.
@MWolf I worked directly under the EIC for two months after being noticed- he spoke to my personality and how we developed a mentoring relationship. We stayed in touch for a year after I did research with him. Scores on AP exams were:
Environmental Science: 4
World History: 3
US Gov: 5
Comp. Gov: 5
Human Geography: 5
English Lit: 5
Macroeconomics: 4
Also mentioned in the “Additional information for homeschoolers” section that my school district didn’t let me participate in local extracurriculars. I’ve been interviewed by some larger publications for my work founding the magazine as well.
I’m assuming you’ve already submitted your application. All you can do is wait and see. Princeton is a reach for all applicants. With test scores on the low side, even more of a reach.
Be sure you have your match and safety schools applications in place.
I agree that Princeton is a reach or a high reach. However, IMHO you should only apply ED to a school if you are sure that it is your first choice, and either you are fine being full pay or the NPC results look fine to you and your parents. If Princeton is clearly your first choice, then I don’t see any problem applying there ED.
However, you certainly need to make sure that you are applying to at least one and preferably two safeties, and you need to spend some time finding safeties that you will be happy attending.
Congratulations on your accomplishments. Certainly apply to Princeton and give it your all, but your standardized test scores will likely be a negative in your application. Your ACT is at the 25th percentile for Princeton ttps://admission.princeton.edu/how-apply/admission-statistics and the Math SAT II score is low.
Princeton’s acceptance rate is in the single digits and the school must be considered a reach for any unhooked applicant. Spend the time you need to find and apply to match and safety schools that appear affordable (run net price calculators) and that you would be excited to attend.
Princeton does not offer ED, it is restricted early action
I think because of your homeschool history, your standardized test scores (including AP scores) are carrying more weights than “typically” schooled students. As others have stated, your scores unfortunately are on the lower end for Princeton applicants. But you seem to have good ECs, and hopefully you have done the CA essay/supplemental essays well. I hope you have match/safety schools as well.
Good luck!
I think you have a unique profile. Don’t get caught up too much on the test scores (they might not be the highest, but they are decent). Nonetheless, Princeton is a reach for everyone, yet a Princeton acceptance for you would not be a shocker. Good Luck!
Your chances are below average due to poor standardized test scores and lack of significant ECs (not sure of how earning a black belt in karate is viewed by admissions officers).
Your username–“homeschoolivy”–suggests that you may not have a reasonable grasp on your qualifications and the standards for gaining admission to ultra selective colleges & universities such as the Ivies.
Apply to Princeton, but also apply to several more realistic colleges & universities which are affordable & of interest to you.
I know another home school student who applied to Princeton EA, and they have a near-perfect (1550+) SAT, 3 near-perfect (750+) Subject Tests, and multiple national and even international awards, in addition to publishing research in an international journal and starting a major initiative. In years past, home school students I know who got into Princeton also had near-perfect SATs and Subject Tests, serious major awards, and glowing rec letters from college professors. Unfortunately, because you (and I) are homeschooled, you have to have very high standardized tests to prove that you are academically qualified.
Intended major doesn’t affect an applicant’s chances of getting into Princeton. The school doesn’t select students by major like many colleges do. Unless they are applying for the engineering program, the application only asks the applicant to name several preferences.
An admissions officer at another school told me that 70% of kids change their majors before graduation, and I think too many students select colleges because of a major and ultimately graduate from another one. We see they these forums filled with high school students who have already decided that they are going to be doctors, lawyers and especially investment bankers, and I bet if you check on them 10 years later, most of them will be doing something else.
The exception would be engineering (I wouldn’t recommend selecting a college without an engineering program if the applicant might want to become an engineer).