Chance Me? (I'm new!)

Colleges & Universities A-Z Princeton University
1

<p>Hi everyone,</p>

<p>I'm new to CC, and I figured what better way to begin than to be chanced for my dream school! Please give me any opinions, advice, or whatever. I really want to increase my chances.</p>

<p>Objective:</p>

<p>SAT I: CR (670), Math (650), Wr (780) - 2100
ACT: Socre not reported yet (predicting a 28ish)
SAT II: Math II, Mol. Bio, World History (haven't taken them yet, but predicting high scores)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Rank: 3/452
AP: World History (4), Lang/Comp, BC Calculus, US History, Biology, English Literature, Psychology, French, Chemistry, Physics -- (note that I am taking half of these now, predicting all fives, and if my school decides to cancel chem and physics, those will be taken at CO School of Mines under dual enrollment)
IB: None
Senior Year Course Load: AP English Lit, Mutlivariate Calculus/Differential Equations, AP French, AP Psychology, Chemistry and Physics (either AP or dual enrollment)
Major Awards: no major awards (yet to hear back about National Merti and too early to tell AP awards, but I am predicting those); I will be published in the "Journal of Plant Physiology" for some research on Arabidopsis Thaliana (does that help?)</p>

<p>Subjective:</p>

<p>Extracurriculars: Pre-Medical Club (President for two years until the sponsor left), NHS (junior now, running for office next year)
Job/Work Experience: Doing an internship at University of Colorado - Denver this summer, and next year applying (will probably get) internship at Children's Hospital - Denver
Volunteer/Community service: 500+ hours at The Children's Hospital, will be tutoring for NHS
Summer Activities: International travel, internships listed above, volunteering listed above
Essays: I am a very strong writer, so this shouldn't be a problem
Teacher Recommendation: Again, still a junior, but my two recs have VERY high opinions of me (both are PhD's, one is a prof at University Colorado - Denver and the other was accepted to Princeton but couldn't afford it)
Counselor Rec: Don't have it yet, but he loves me
Additional Rec: Don't have it, but will probably be from either my volunteer supervisor or one of my internship supervisors (probably the latter because they have a higher prestige-- MDs/PhDs)
Interview: Want to do one, will probably go well</p>

<p>Other:</p>

<p>Applying for Financial Aid: Yes
Intended Major: Molecular Biology
State: CO
Country: USA
School Type: Public - Competitive
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: middle
Hooks: Medical experience in hosptial, internship, independent research
Strengths: Curriculum, academics, EC (I think?), GPA, etc.
Weaknesses: SAT/ACT are a little low, but it was my first shot with no prep (could easily be raised if I decide to retake), not a ton of EC within the school</p>

<p>Okay, so that actually doesn't look as good as it did in my head. I mean, I can really improve the test scores though. I took them with no prep at all, and with a little practice I could definitely raise that to be more in Princeton range. And I know I can seem kind of arrogant with the whole "predicting high scores," but I am usually pretty objective about my own performance, and my predictions typically come true when it comes to academic things like this. I think my experience in medicine and science are pretty "hooky," but there's probably a million other applicants like that, huh?</p>

<p>Well, I'm still a junior, so there's still time to improve, right? Please give me all your advice!</p>

<p>Thanks so much!</p>

<p>Sarah</p>

2

<p>You definitely have potential.</p>

3

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Do you have any advice on how to improve it before next year?</p>

4

<p>Your test scores can go up a bit, but you have an entire year ahead of you to do that. I had a 2040 on the SAT and a 30 on the ACT my junior year, and by the beginning of my senior year, I had a 2270 and a 35 (so you can do the same thing)</p>

<p>the main thing: get involved, and really show your passion about something</p>

<p>really, just make yourself stand out (essays, ECs, leadership, involvement, etc…)</p>

<p>also, good recs</p>

5

<p>Oh! I forgot to mention that I play piano as well (although, regretably, not for my school; I started lessons a little late and am not yet adequately ready to play for the orchestra/theater but I am a VERY quick learner and am progressing pretty quickly).</p>

6

<p>Thanks for the help! Do you think if I really show my passion for medicine (I’m a total medicine nerd, if you couldn’t already tell) in my application and do well on the essays that I would have a good chance?</p>

<p>Should I definitely retake my SAT and ACT then?</p>

<p>Again, thanks for helping!</p>

7

<p>It’s wayy too early to tell. Right now, I would say your application is kind of weak (just as it is, not counting any predictions). If you want more accurate (but still completely inaccurate since none of us knows very well what Princeton will actually take) chance assessments, I’d recommend reposting when you have more solid stuff to mention.</p>

<p>Just keep doing what you love and doing it well; that’s all any of us can tell you to help you get into Princeton.</p>

8

<p>Okay, thanks for the advice. :)</p>