Chances for Princeton ED

Parents Forum
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<p>I think parents are generally more qualified to answer these than kids, so ignore this message if you'd like...</p>

<p>I just finished my essays today, Halloween...and they are due tomorrow. I am content with what I have written but am probably more insecure with the fact that I'm not a great writer. But, in any case...what are my chances?</p>

<p>Essays: Not horrible, I'd say. Not outstanding either.
Rich Indian kid from Texan suburbs.
SAT I: 1600 (taken May, 2004)</p>

<p>Chemistry: 800
Math IIC: 800
Writing: 750
Writing: 800</p>

<p>On my first try, I accidentally skipped 10 questions on last section. Should I tell the admissions officers this?</p>

<p>Rank: 1/480 for this semester. 5/480 for next semester.</p>

<p>Courseload: I am taking 10 AP tests this year, 5 AP Classes. Will have completed 15 AP Exams by the end of this year. Have already completed 5.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars (not so hot):</p>

<p>Varsity orchestra concertmaster (total people in orch program: 200...total people in class: around 60-70).</p>

<p>Founder of a community service organization, we have played for the town mayor and have been featured once on the news. We then joined a division of the Rotary Club.</p>

<p>Some state UIL solo and ensemble awards, regions awards.</p>

<p>Member of semi-professional symphony orchestra.</p>

<p>Current Events and Issues: have won state twice, have placed in state twice.</p>

<p>Social Studies: have placed in state once, have won state team championships once.</p>

<p>French National Exam: Placed in a range of 6th through 4th in the nation throughout high school.</p>

<p>French Symposium: Won first in some tests for my level, placed in top three in other events.</p>

<p>Student Council: Leadership and Student Attitude Committee, Letterman</p>

<p>Math and Science Club Sophomore Rep</p>

<p>Chess Club Vice President of Politics</p>

<p>With first place school scores, led high school to third place in nation in National Geographic Olympiad.</p>

<p>Business Professionals of America- 1st place Regional Extemp, etc.</p>

<p>Two year member of cross country and track (really bad member!)</p>

<p>Have traveled worldwide and have audited some college classes.</p>

<p>Have taught myself to read Devanagri script.</p>

<p>Participating in a project to find the impacts of the Euro on the dollar.</p>

<p>Wrote movie reviews for the college station eagle.</p>

<p>Worked at the center for international business studies at large university.</p>

<p>National merit Semi finalist</p>

<p>Some years of debate, but only one tournament.</p>

<p>Fluent in two languages, semi fluent in one.</p>

<p>Cousin went to Princeton. Actually, two cousins went to Princeton.</p>

<p>Three letters of recommendation, two from teachers, one of those so so I would imagine, the other nice.</p>

<p>Fan of John Updike, Andy Rooney, Garrison Keillor (sp?), NPR, etc.</p>

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<p>if im not allowed to bump this, let me know...bump for right now tho</p>

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<p>Mahajan, I don't know what to say when I read posts like this. What can you possibly mean by "what are my chances" as if do I qualify for Princeton? I think you KNOW you do. I mean your rank and scores alone are as good as it gets (though I don't quite get that you have one rank for this semester and already know yours for next semester, but whatever). You say that your ECs are not so hot when clearly you have exceled in some areas there as well. Do you really WONDER if you have a chance at Princeton? Of course you do! If an applicant like you does not apply who should? But does that mean you will get in? I have no idea! There are lot of amazing qualified applicants out there and they won't take them all and you have a lottery ticket, albeit and very strong lottery ticket, and the rest remains to be seen if Princeton wants someone with your profile in their class. But to wonder if you have a good chance, seems a bit odd to me. As well, other than some kids with a 1600, you also are val (I think?) or close to it and thus are not just a good test taker. We don't get to read your essays or recs so we don't know the whole of it to even predict your chances, but based on sheer numbers and ECs, clearly you are a strong applicant for Princeton, but uh, I think you know that.</p>

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<p>Mahajan...bumping is more appropriate when a post has been up for like a day and nobody has responded but yours had only been up for about 20 min. before you bumped it. Please be patient. Already you got one response, from moi (while you were bumping it).
Susan</p>

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<p>Sorry for the arrogance...I know you are an experienced poster (you remind me of Northstarmom and Sybbie), but my main fear lies in my essays and the fact that I have not sent anything in on time. My essays are pretty bad...and I probably shouldn't have listed so many ECs...most of them are honestly not worth that much. This is a serious thread and not a joke...I think it was a mistake for me to put it up, because now that I do read it, it is pretty ridiculous in the way it comes off.</p>

<p>Im sorry if I have wasted your time.</p>

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<p>Hah, you stink Mahajan. No way you're getting in!!! In your next life, maybe you'll be reincarnated as an Asian swimmer...then perhaps you will have a chance (but that's ok since no one will like you). Best of luck, the fact that you're a girl will help also.</p>

<p>ZZ3</p>

<p>yeah..the girl thing was random</p>

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<p>Mahajan, no, I did not think your thread was a joke and I know you are serious. I have seen many posts like yours on CC, and just do not understand when kids with stellar stats have these huge doubts and post "What are my chances" or "oh no, I had a 750 but have all 800s otherwise, how will I get in now?" I feel at times, that kids in that stratosphere have lost all perspective. You have got to know that your numbers and your ECs are strong, as I cannot see that you don't realize that. I mean what are we going to say, "too bad you did not do better in high school?" I am sorry you are not more confident. The other parts of your app, we are not seeing such as the essays and the recs. These will matter and so nobody here can predict your chances without those pieces. Further, as stellar as your stats are, Princeton is a crapshoot for kids who are outstanding like you are so none of us can predict if you will get in, only that you are safely in the pool to be considered. </p>

<p>I don't see some of your ECs as insignificant at all. I think being concert master is big, starting a community service agency is too, and a semi professional symphony orchestra....though these are not unique, they still show a serious level of commitment and achievement...as well as winning various awards or competitions in other endeavors. I am not convinced that a student must be utterly unique (as my own kid was not) so that does not concern me that much in your case. You have done good. You are surely going to get into SOME very selective schools and none of us can tell which ones will give you the green light. If you think your essays are poor, I would do a last minute revision tonight. They do matter. Then again, I don't know how poor they TRULY are because you also have said without much confidence that your test score was a problem and your ECs were not so hot and wondered if you could get into Princeton with such uh, stats, so perhaps your essays are also outstanding but you merely lack confidence and are saying that they are not too good, like you have come across on these other things. Just a guess. I do not see you as arrogant whatsoever, don't worry. I don't quite understand such posts but that is ok, as they are quite common on CC!
Susan</p>

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<p>PS, PLEASE do not point out on your app that you forgot to answer the last ten Qs on the writing SAT2 and thus the 750 as that would truly look BAD in terms of explaining what are stellar stats as if obssessed with testing. You have got to know that they take your highest THREE SAT2 test scores and you have 3 800s already so, I don't get your concern at all and in fact, think that your focus on that or pointing it out to an adcom would reflect poorly on you.</p>

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<p>look on the bright side. the role of the university is to educate. with your scores, gpa, ec's, and outside interests I would think Princeton would be more than happy to teach you how to write a good essay as you seem to have the rest of the educational process under control. good luck</p>

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<p>You are joking about this, aren't you? You have great credentials and your chances are about as good as anyone else with the same credentials. Princeton had a lot of fine applicants...good luck to you and let us know if you get accepted since you'll know sooner rather than later.</p>

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<p>l_j, that was a hilarious post. Mahajan, you're looking good. Why are your essays so bad? All of your credentials suggest that you ought to be able to write a good essay. Btw, no one cares about your cousins. It's a little late now if you're applying ED, but on your app I would focus on those ECs that help create a strong identity in two or three areas. Good luck.</p>

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<p>Thank you guys so much...this is a really supportive forum, and I am excited to apply (though I know how random Princeton can be at times). For anyone out there who is a Princeton alum, is it harder to apply to Woodrow Wilson School of Government than, say, politics? In fact, what is the difference between the two? I was offered a chance to select both of these options, but I am not sure...</p>

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<p>Have you posted this in chances? I'd love to see what the kids think of this. I have my doubts about an Indian girl who describes herself as "rich Indian girl".</p>

<p>Big doubts....</p>

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<p>um Cheers, Im a guy...ValdezVivas is one of my friends who is a little gay...he called me a girl.</p>

<p>but lol cheers, point well taken</p>

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<p>You don't get into the Wilson school (known on campus as Woody Woo) until you apply as a sophomore. Neither Woody Woo nor politics is going to earn you any brownie points with the adcom, because those are two of the most popular majors on campus. The important thing, if you are presenting yourself as considering either of those majors, is to demonstrate clearly that your studies and ECs have created in you a passionate desire to pursue it.</p>

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<p>Good luck....you qualify for a lottery ticket. That's how you have to look at this. You have either done well enough to get a ticket or you haven't. Once you get the ticket, the rest is a gamble. </p>

<p>Better hurry......it's Nov 1!!</p>

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<p>lol, i got the app in...for my major, i put woodrow wilson, economics, and chemistry. that will screw me, wont it (lol)? also, my ECs are focused around politics and music (another thing in which I have shown interest at Princeton). I have student council experience (as if that will help) and lots of international travel. </p>

<p>One last question: what are they looking for? One of my friends told me that if you are a URM over a 1400 you are in, and if you are an athlete over 1200 you are in. If they take so many people with hooks, what does it take to get in while being Asian?</p>

<p>Do Asians have to win National prizes and stuff, or can they have good schoolwide ECs, good recs, decent essays, and good stats? I'm just thinking aloud here: 500 students chosen, definitely more than 500 students recruited, taken as legacy, taken as URM, etc. </p>

<p>Also, last question: What is the typical Indian applicant? It is pretty funny but I have heard of the "typical" Chinese applicant with math and science scores pushing windows and a lack of athletics or student government (although this is very well not true in all cases)...is there a stereotypical Indian applicant?</p>

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<p>I don't think any of those generalizations are necessarily true....URMs or otherwise. You have to give them what they want....and what that is (at any given moment) nobody knows.</p>

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<p>I would just like to note:
-Mahajan and I talked for 2 hours about his last post yesterday
-Mahajan is about 5'1'' (correct me if I'm wrong, Mahajan)
-Mahajan looks like a rich indian girl
'nuff said</p>

<p>ZZ3</p>

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<p>Doesn't matter Valdez - the answer is the same.....nobody knows.</p>