<p>anyone else?
help would be appreciated.</p>
<p>Yea, I have to agree with the so-so 20% chance. Not that you couldnt manage at a school such as Princeton...I'm sure you could..but to tell you the truth Princeton is a crap shoot, and nothing is a gaurantee. Especialllllllyyyyy since your from the Boston area, an extreeeemeeely competative area for admission to Princeton. I know people with much worse scores than you who have gotten in to Princeton or other Ivys, and people with much better scores who have been rejected. Honestly...I feel as if they throw a bunch of papers at the ceiling and see which one sticks. </p>
<p>That being said it doesn't appear as if you are as well rounded as you could be. All of your extra curriculars completely center around judaism. While it is good to show a strong commitment to something, colleges like to know that you took advantage and experienced many different things through out high school, and they like to see that you have stuck to the same things over a long period of time (shows commitment, dedication, passion, etc). I read that you asked someone what you could do to make your resume look better; however, if you begin new, rather random activites your senior year...it might appear to be fishy. At my school we call it the "Senior Panic"....When Seniors sign up for basically every club imaginable just to put it on their college apps. Honestly, if you love doing your judaic activities, continue that, have fun, and take pride in all that you ahve accomplished. If perhaps you've akways had this burning desire to take up underwater basket weaving..now is the time...carpe diem!</p>
<p>I would actually argue that your passion with one area suggests a genuine liking for it, not just college padding. Unlike a lot of the posters on this thread, I think this will, in many ways, set you apart from your competition.</p>
<p>On the other hand, there is merit in making sure your essays establish your passion with Judaism in the correct context. It's easy to be overly political/extreme in essays revolving around religious/geopolitical issues, but you've got to show that you're a normal, decent kid who happens to have found a cause worth believing in and working for. Also be careful not to let the essays be a description of the things you do; it's an essay about YOU, and be sure to tie it back to yourself. Just make sure you do the most you can to reflect yourself as much as possible.</p>
<p>CautiousPessimism,
Seldom have I gotten a response as helpful as yours!
Thanks!</p>
<p>Forget well-rounded. They don't want well-rounded; they want superstars, students who bring with them to the campus rational passion for an important, otherwise unrepresented perspective. </p>
<p>Your stats are fine; they give you a ticket to this sweepstakes. </p>
<p>You have a distinctive hook. What I'd do now, if I were you, is start writing my essays. The degree to which they are tight, well-reasoned, unique and passionate may well make the difference. Write, rewrite, get feedback, rewrite, let them sit, polish them, get feedback, rewrite, let them sit, polish them, etc. You'll know when they're as good as you can make them.</p>
<p>I'd also show determined interest. Correspond. Visit often. Meet professors in the departments in which your interests lie. Speak with admissions staff. Inform yourself. Participate. Contribute. Give the school as much of a preview as possible--without becoming perceived as a pain in the ass--of the value of the asset it will get if you're admitted.</p>
<p>None of this guarantees admission, of course. All you can do is make the moves that maximize your chances of admission. But having done so, you're obviously in much better shape than otherwise you would be.</p>
<p>Do the above and I think you'll have a great shot at being one of the chosen few (pun intended).</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Apply ED;
Submit your application on the first day apps are submittable;
Use the Princeton app, not the Common App;
Work with three teachers who write well and know you well. Give them all the info on you you'd hope they'd include in their letters of recommendation, and be appreciative; you want them to want to go the extra mile for you;
Don't post anything here--or anywhere else--that you wouldn't want the Admissions staff to read.</p>
<p>Thanks JoeBobHalley :) your comments were very helpful!</p>
<p>But do you mean to tell me that admissions staff tend to go on CC?
eeeeek! I've had so many political arguments on this forum that I might come off as undesirable :(</p>
<p><<but do="" you="" mean="" to="" tell="" me="" that="" admissions="" staff="" tend="" go="" on="" cc?="">></but></p>
<p>I've read posts suggesting that that does happen. But, more generally, always evaluate the upside gain vs. the downside risk, whether it involves posting here or anything else.</p>
<p>Orrican, hey nice to meet you, or should I say in Hebrew "nayim mayod!" I am of Israeli origin as well (at least on my father's side, he was born in Haifa back in 1954), and I have a lot of relatives over in Israel today since my dad's brother resettled in Netanya 20 odd years ago. My cousin is going into the Israeli army this year, and hopefully I will get to visit him before he starts basic training. My two other cousins have also gone through the army as well. </p>
<p>I'm glad you're looking at Princeton. I was accepted there this year and will entering the Class of '10 this fall. It appears you have a lot of accomplishments to your name, and you have very impressive test scores (even better than mine). I think your resume looks pretty solid, especially the #of EC's you have. However, I think joining some other kinda of clubs/organization of other ethnic/racial groups just to show that you are very open and interested in many different cultures would be a good thing for you to do. I don't know if you have or not, but you should try doing a good amount of community service. I know a lot of Jewish groups and organizations do a heck of a lot of community service, and committment in that arena will only add more highlights to your app. </p>
<p>In addition, a surefire way of impressing an admissions officer is to heavily research Princeton, its programs, the various aspects of life and show them how you feel you will fit into the whole Princeton world IN DETAIL. Tell them what classes you want to take, what professors you would like to meet (researching the professors always gives bonus points) and what extracurriculars you would like to do that Princeton offers and why. Tell them about your work ethic and your learning style, if you're a very independent learner tell them about that, and tell them what about YOU fits with what PRINCETON stands for. It will only mean the best. </p>
<p>Finally, don't worry about what ignorant media-brainwashed crackpots say about Israel. I put on my application that my favorite website was "Ha'aretz Online", so I guess they didn't take offense. Princeton is a very balanced university, and a recent article in the Daily Princetonian will prove that: <a href="http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/archives/2006/04/04/opinion/15055.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/archives/2006/04/04/opinion/15055.shtml</a></p>
<p>All I can say is to keep your grades up, and the way you look in your application, your recommendations, and your interview (if you get one) can decide whether you're in or you're out. Otherwise you're lookin good. </p>
<p>P.S. If you have an IM address, I would enjoy talking with you. It's very rare that I meet Israelis anymore.</p>
<p>thanks tokyorevelation9! your comments were very helpful </p>
<p>My IM is orrican. I'd love to speak to a fellow Israeli :)</p>
<p>Hmm...Orrican - I say just do what you love and don't just try to 'fit' into what you or others may speculate to be the Princeton image...just be yourself. I got through high school fine that way, without thinking, oh man, i better go and join this club or pick up this sport cause its gonna look awesome on my application, and I just got into Princeton this year. Just have fun with it, and if you have found something purposeful to you, don't stop doing it if you don't want to even if other people tell you you should. I mean, why stop doing something you absolutely love just for college? Would you want to go to that school if they didn't want you for who you are? And anyway life is about waaay more than college, its about doing what you love and enjoying it and that kind of ****. just don't take it too seriously i guess.</p>
<p>Well, LaRemedito, what you suggest is what the college world should be ideally, but unfortunately, nothing will ever become ideal. I advised Orrican just to build upon what he already has, and I never told him to change himself to try to fit into a "Princeton image". I told him to emphasize the aspects of his academic life and personality and explain to Princeton how these aspects connect and integrate him with Princeton academic mindset, which is already extremely diverse. Showing an admissions officer persuasively and articulately why you would work well and fit into the life of the school is always a good approach. Research and familiarize yourself with certain school policies, programs, extracurriculars, etc. and tell Princeton why these things work within your idea of the best possible education. If you read any literature about college applications they will say almost the same thing I do. I did those things, and I made it through without compromising my individuality, rather accentuating it through my highly clear and researched approach for my application.</p>
<p>orrican, I'd say you have a pretty good shot at Pton. Academics- and EC-wise, you probably have ~ similar profile to me. What I'd advise you now is to concentrate on your essays - there's a good reason why they ask you to submit 3 essays. And I second JoeBobHalley: go ED.</p>
<p>you’ll make it in</p>
<p>@9434260
you know this is a 6 year old post…</p>