Chance Me Please

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
1

<p>This is a general chance post. I am 16 now and a junior. I will put "potential" next to things that are likely b/c of my work and the other stuff has happened.</p>

<p>Subjective:</p>

<p>Ethnicity: South Asian American (Pakistani)</p>

<p>Age: 17</p>

<p>Schools: Large Public in IN (9)
Small Private in TN (10-11)
Medium Public in TN (12)</p>

<p>Family: MD (Dad), Master's (Mom), 2 younger siblings, 180K income (for financial aid)</p>

<p>Recs (Potential- I've talked to the teachers about what they will write): AP Euro History Teacher, AP Bio Teacher, Community College Professor (Very Good-They talked about mow I found motivation and became a role model.)</p>

<p>Essays (Potential) : One on being an agnostic Pakistani Democrat in Tennessee, One on how I used laziness as a "drug" and finally quit before my senior year</p>

<p>Intended Major: Physics or Chemistry (Solid)</p>

<p>Objective:</p>

<p>Grades (9-11): A-/B+ Range in All Honors Classes at Standard Pace and 2 AP Classes: AP Chemistry and AP Calculus BC</p>

<p>Senior Course Load and Grades (Potential): All A's (97% or better) in AP Biology, AP European History, AP English Literature, AP US Government, AP Macroeconomics, and AP Psychology at School and A's in Organic Chemistry with Lab and Calculus 3 at a local community college</p>

<p>GPA/Class Rank (Potential): 4.05 Ranked in Top 25% in 300 Students</p>

<p>SAT: 2400 ACT: 36 SAT Chemistry: 800 SAT Math II: 800</p>

<p>AP Exam Scores (Self-Studying for all besides Chem and Calc BC) (Potential):</p>

<p>5's in AP Chemistry, AP Calculus BC, AP Physics C-Mechanics, AP Physics C-Electricity and Magnetism, AP Computer Science A, AP English Language, AP US History, AP World History</p>

<p>Extra-Cirricular Activities:</p>

<p>Speech and Debate (10-12): State 2nd Place (10), 350 Tournament Points</p>

<p>Piano (9, 11-12): Gold Star Rating in Region (9), Did Well in Regional Festival (12-Potential)</p>

<p>Mock Trial (11): Lawyer- 2nd Place in Region</p>

<p>Young Democrats (10-11): VP (11)</p>

<p>NHS and Mu Alpha Theta Member (10-12)</p>

<p>Community Service (10-12): 200 Hours in Mosque and Science Center; Mathcounts Coach (12-Potential)</p>

<p>Math Club (9, 12): President (12-Potential)</p>

<p>Student Newspaper Member (12-Potential)</p>

<p>Cross Country JV (12-Potential)</p>

<p>Research (12-Potential): Work in Chemistry Lab with Community College Professor</p>

<p>Other Awards/Distinctions: Regional Math Test Top 5 (9, 10), National Merit Commended Scholar (12), National AP Scholar (12-Potential), Published Article in Local Chemistry Journal (12-Potential), State Math Problem Solving Test Top 10 (12-Potential)</p>

<p>Awards to be sent after initial submission of application (all potential): </p>

<p>Intel STS Semi-Finalist in Chemistry (Sent in Late January)</p>

<p>USA Physics Olympiad Semi-Finalist and AMC 12 Top 1% (Mid-February)</p>

<p>USA Chem Olympiad Top in Region and USA Biology Olympiad Semi-Finalist (Early March)</p>

2

<p>Any opinions please?</p>

3

<p>If all of the “potential” sections occur, you have a good chance. However, most college applications are due anywhere from October - December, in which you won’t be able to list Intel STS, AMC, USACO, USABO in your application should you get in. Also, those are very difficult competitions…I’ve done AMC/AIME since 6th grade and only made the USAMO once (10th grade).</p>

4

<p>Yes @rspence, app’s are due my mid-December to the end of January. BUT, to my understanding you can send “updates” to college admissions offices for major new accomplishments. If I’m Intel STS semifinalist, I’ll send my first update at the end of January. Then, if I am in the top 1% of AMC 12 takers and a USA Physics Olympiad semifinalist, I’ll send that update in late February. Finally, I’ll send my last update before decisions are released in the first week of march that will qualify me as a USA Biology Olympiad semifinalist and a USA Chemistry Olympiad Qualifier. I know it’ll be EXTREMELY hard to do all five of these competitions, but considering I do, will the admissions committee actually consider these “updates” into my application decision. If they do, do I have a good chance of getting in?</p>

5

<p>Out of curiosity, do you have an Art of Problem Solving account?</p>

6

<p>@Doctormagic, they will, <em>only if you are waitlisted.</em> If you are rejected, no hope.</p>

<p>The problem here is, seems like you haven’t done any of those competitions yet. Therefore you cannot put them on your application (just convincing them you’ll do them probably won’t work). You’ll need something else that’ll strengthen a Princeton application. Perhaps your piano or speech/debate.</p>

<p>I’m familiar with the AMC’s, and while getting in the top 1% and qualifying for AIME looks good, it doesn’t stand out at the top colleges. If you can make USAMO or even MOP, that will look impressive on any college application. Problem is, by then, it will be too late…also, USAMO is very hard to get into, especially if you haven’t taken the AMC’s before.</p>

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<p>@garfieldliker
the OP reminds me of a certain phantom of a certain color between black and white who used to frequent AoPS…could they be related?</p>

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<p>I am DoctorMagic on AoPS; I just made an account after you told me about it.</p>

9

<p>I am aware that I can’t just ask colleges to “hope” that I do well in these major competitions. I am putting in TONS of work into preparing for them and will continue to do so throughout the summer and my senior year. I am simply asking that IF I am able to do these competitions, will I not be allowed to submit them by the beginning of March as “significant developments in my high school career?” It is my understanding that colleges like Princeton allow you to send in major awards you win after submitting the app up through mid-March.</p>

10

<p>@doctormagic
Yes that’s correct, you can (and are highly encouraged) to send in awards as you receive them, since it shows that you are maintaining a level of academic competitiveness. For me, MIT and Columbia sent me congratulatory e-mails after I got Intel STS Semifinalist. Mid-March, I also decided to send in my status as a USABO Semifinalist, AIME Qualifier, and National Merit Scholar to H,P, and S. I’m not sure what effect that had on my app but I do know for H, it got me the opportunity to have an interview with an adcom about two weeks before decisions were released. I was probably one of the “borderline applicants”</p>

11

<p>@Doctormagic…good luck preparing for them. I prepared for AMC/AIME/USAMO for six years, qualified for AIME every year, but as I said, only made USAMO once.</p>

<p>Also, when I got waitlisted at Caltech, I was able to submit any additional rec letters or awards. To my knowledge, you can only submit additional activities or letters if you are waitlisted (this helps colleges know who’s still serious on attending). Idk if you can submit them at any other time…</p>