Could I be a Princeton Girl?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
1

<p>Among the ivies, I like Princeton. I have this reason that I have to go</p>

<p>to an ivy, so I was thinking Princeton should be my first choice.</p>

<p>I don't know why but I like Princeton. Maybe it's the name. sounds preppy.</p>

<p>I heard Princeton's more like a "literature" school and</p>

<p>I do like literature (American literature has some bizarre stuff)</p>

<p>but I was worried that I might not fit in there. I'm a down to earth,</p>

<p>not-really-sympathetic, not-really-enthisiatic, girl.</p>

<p>but I think I'm clever and creative. I don't have much integrity, I'm more</p>

<p>like "the end justifies my means" person ;) Not that I cheat or anything.</p>

<p>any ideas?</p>

<p>Oh, I get along with ppl just fine, but the type I hate are</p>

<p>"oh-this-super-boring-topic-is-SO-interesting-you-gotta-here-this", and </p>

<p>"students-MUST-stick-to-rules".</p>

<p>I go crazy when someone talks about this Inca people that wont come up</p>

<p>on the test, and wouldn't really affect you at any rate 'cause they're all</p>

<p>dead anyway. </p>

<p>I don't get along with science people either, esp. science "guys".</p>

<p>I don't find calculating and lab work so sexy, that's why, perhaps. </p>

<p>I think I AM nice to them, but they hate me too. Maybe it's my unconscious attitude.</p>

<p>How ARE Princeton people??</p>

<p>I heard Princeton people are really "into" what they study and studious and</p>

<p>all that. I am not that. Maybe I want to be that. I don't know.</p>

<p>Anways, I want your honest opinions.</p>

<p>Here is my long info.</p>

<p>Asian, Female, attend International School in China </p>

<p>====================Stats========================= </p>

<p>GPA : 4.00/4.00 Unweighted (no rank available)</p>

<p>SAT :
<old>
Verbal--690
Math----780
Total---1470 </old></p>

<p><new>
Critical Reading---740
Math------------770
Writing----------770
Total-----------2280</new></p>

<p>SAT II : Math2C 770 Physics 770 Literature 760</p>

<p>AP Courses :
9th grade - none
10th grade -
AP Micro Economics 5
AP Macro Economics 4
AP US History 5
AP Geology 3</p>

<p>11th grade -
AP Physics 4
AP Literature 5
(Below are AP exams taken without courses)
AP World History 5
AP Language 4
AP Psychology 5</p>

<p>12th grade - none (school does not offer AP in Senior Year)</p>

<ul>
<li>Plus :
I have loads of courses that are not AP so I have like
40 ~ 50 credits every year
(about 20 credits for Honors Courses and AP)</li>
</ul>

<p>===================Extra Curriculars==================</p>

<p>Social Activity and Other
- Jr. Reporter for a National Junior News Paper
- Selected to participate in an Environment Camp sponsered by
a corporate Tissue Company
- Tuturing Job (total apprx 60 hours)
- Visited Orphange (10 hours)
- Donated Blood 14 times, Volunteered for Red Cross (1 year)
- Published a book I wrote
- Own a Patent
- Translated a book
- Performed in Charity Concerts
- Participated in An International Youth Assembly
(2 years in a row, once as coordinator of my committee)
- Participated in Harvard MUN</p>

<p>A Member in :
Habitat for Humanity
Key Club (Secretary)
Literature Club (President)
Crafts Club (President)
School Choir
School Orchestra (piano)
School Editorial
Band (drum)
+ Also was a Captatin of a Debate Team</p>

<p>Awards :
- 1 International Essay Contest 1st Prize
- 3 National Essay Contests 1st Prize
- 3 National English Language Contests
(Gold Medal, Silver Medal, Bronze Medal)
- 2 Speech Contests (Bronze Medal, Silver Medal)
- School Editorial Recieved Silver Medal in a National Contest
- School's award for Drama and Essay Writing</p>

<p>=================Personal Info=====================</p>

<p>Aiming for Ivy (there's a reason I have to go there, and I wont tell)</p>

<p>Not really a Leader Type (this worries me, since Ivies say "We educate Leaders!")
: I've never been president of class, only several leadership positions</p>

<p>Not a Super Altruistic Vonlunterring Type
: I hate little kids, have no sympathy for poor folks, not the perfect "postive-cheerful-enthusiastic" girl
I don't think I can really write a MOVING essay about my volunteer
work, though I've been fairly committed to Red Cross</p>

<p>Not really Athletic
: I only like "riding" stuff Bicycle, Skate Board, Roller Blade, Motorbike...
I nearly got a black belt in this martial art thing when I was nine, but ended
up with a red belt.
I may start again (martial arts)</p>

<p>I like Music (no intention of going pro)</p>

<p>I don't know, sometimes I'm afraid I'm not ivy material,
I have no "GREAT" drive, not really eager, not really enthusiasitic
not that I'm an artsy freak, or a gloomy person, or anything weird, just
normal me.
I'm no "intellectual", I study when I have to, but
I don't read a lot, don't read newspapers
don't care about what some boring guy in history said, don't care for
documentaries, don't care what boring critics said about this boring movie
I read stuff like Gossip Girls, and I like it though you guys might say it's corny</p>

<p>=================My Aim Schools==========================</p>

<p>major : Communications (advertisement/media)</p>

<p>Harvard
Princeton (Early)
(I know these above two don't offer my major but I WANT to go there)
Stanford
U Penn
Cornell
Williams
Brandeis
U Chicago
Northwestern
U Michigan, Ann Harbor
UCLA
UC Berkley</p>

<p>I know I need more safety schools, I want suggestions?
Any school with good Communications Program?
Some school that fits me?
I would like a big school, with small classes, in a suburban location</p>

<p>=====================================================</p>

<p>Thanx</p>

2

<p>You gotta find a passion, if it's not about being something wacked out (which is FINE!) then make it about being ordinary. Bad word, but can't think of how else to describe it. </p>

<p>There is no such thing as boring or dumb people, only geniuses you haven't met yet. </p>

<p>You have to have something that drives you to get in to the ivies, anything you love doing, you seem to have alot of english awards, maybe you love editing, or typing, or writing, or duckcalling, something that you can write about to protray yourself as you.</p>

<p>Your stats are fine, the problem is that most everyone's stats will be great. What makes you stand out is finding something you love or enjoy doing. Don't focus on what you don't have, look at your EC's, find something you do have, whatever it is. It doesn't have to be big. </p>

<p>When are you planning on applying? Cause EA deadline for Princeton is tommorow...</p>

<p>HOpe that was helpful - if you want it, go for it!</p>

3

<p>oh but if you are not 'intellectual', not passionate and seem disinterested in so many things, why do you think princeton should accept you? I don't mean to be critical, but i think that's something you should ask yourself if you are keen on princeton. </p>

<p>"I go crazy when someone talks about this Inca people that wont come up on the test, and wouldn't really affect you at any rate 'cause they're all dead anyway."
Somehow that doesn't sound too great. It's true, a lot of things are not tested in exams, but I don't quite agree that the knowledge is therefore useless. I'm not too sure if doing things purely for the sake of accolade and results is your attitude, but if it is, i doubt it's what a school like princeton is looking for. </p>

<p>anyway, i'm sorry if i perceived you in a wrong light. good luck if you are indeed applying to princeton!</p>

4

<p>hey thanks a lot! :) I will try to look for my passion.</p>

<p>Thanks, really.</p>

5

<p>I am at a loss reading your information. I don't see why you want to go to Princeton. And if I can't see it, an admissions counselor won't see it. You say, "the name sounds preppy," and, "Princeton's more like a "literature" school". Um, actually, so are a zillion other schools. Don't apply to the school for the name, apply to the school because you WANT to go there. You said that Princeton doesn't even offer your major. WHY IN THE WORLD would you ever want to go to a school that doesn't even offer your major? I truly don't understand. </p>

<p>As for your list, you do need some safety schools. The international pool is a tough pool to come from. </p>

<p>However, your scores and grades are excellent. You want to major in communications, right? So why wouldn't you apply to one of the world's best communications schools early, rather than Princeton, a school that doesn't offer your major?</p>

<p>Sorry for my rant, but it seems that you are applying for all the wrong reasons. Don't apply because of the name. Apply because you want, truly want, to go that school for the next four years of your education.</p>

6

<p>Thanks for your advice.</p>

<p>I want to ask, what ARE the reasons for ppl applying to Princeton?</p>

<p>It's not that students study the entire school webpage or live on the campus</p>

<p>or anything.</p>

<p>Maybe I'm being too cynical but I bet not all kids that go to Princeton go </p>

<p>there because of their "great" drive.</p>

<p>I think, the routine situation repeats years after years:</p>

<p>Smart kids with matching requirements send their apps to ivies and couple</p>

<p>of other good schools, then pick Princeton since it's the best they could </p>

<p>get, or they just seem to like the school and apply there. Don't you see this</p>

<p>happening at least 30%? I don't know, but that's what I think, and I think </p>

<p>some ppl in CC is kind of being hypocritical. Not all people have solid goals</p>

<p>and all that enthusiasm. </p>

<p>It's not like "You have no drive and you're applying to Ivy? AHH! Sacrilege!"</p>

<p>I really appreciate your advice though, ppl do give good, sincere advices.</p>

<p>I think I have a strong interst in media, writing, and reading bizarre and new</p>

<p>stuff. I like making up stuff.</p>

<p>Just wanted to ask, and if ppl were really applying with a purpose,</p>

<p>What IS the reason?</p>

7

<p>To be perfectly honest - yeah, that is why I'm applying. I'm finishing up highschool at a local state university, and besides the fact that the classes are ridiculously easy, the kids here couldn't care less about them. Two big reasons.
The main one though is because of the unique way Princeton has of teaching.</p>

8

<p>I think a big plus for Princeton is its environment. Maybe tie your love of learning into it? If it wasnt so close to home i would probably have apped there. Legacy, alumni givings, and maybe can even get recs from a professor at IAS or something. But going to college like literally right across the street has its drawbacks :)</p>

<p>And please stop double spacing lol.</p>

<p>p.s. I think your weakness will be in essays. Princeton require what 7 essays? I would suggest get some outside help with it but you either need to know some ppl who are really good in English or else pay a load of money. Seeing you are in an international school in China i would say you probably are not short on money :P In addtion, dont say that you hate subjects you cant relate to cuz frankly unless you are going to be doing research 90% of the stuff learned in school is useless. It is not about the material, but the learning process.</p>

9

<p>Wait a sec- you want to go to a school that doesn't offer your major ... Something's amiss.</p>

<p>If you want to do communications then seriously go to a school that offers it. Its all about what you want to do in life. College is part of the process and definately not the summit. If all your after is prestige then by all means- apply. However if you get in and you don't like it- don't expect much sympathy from me.</p>

<p>Also- if as you say- 30% ??? of applicants don't really have enthusiam ... well chances are that 30% also takes up 30 out of 87% that are rejected.</p>

<p>I'm applying because its really strong in my major area. I also visited the place and I liked it quite a bit. Eating clubs were sexy. People are nice and those I met I got along with pretty well. What more can I ask for?</p>

10

<p>For the most part, you've been telling people what you DON'T like, people you CAN'T stand, activities that you DON'T do, how you DISLIKE learning...</p>

<p>I do agree with you that a number of applicants do apply just for the name/prestige, but from that pool, how many will actually get in? And if they do actually get in just from their credentials, then it's more likely that they'll pick a school that they KNOW something about, like for a REASON, or that OFFERS their major. It's entirely asinine to simply attend a school because the name is pretty/preppy.</p>

<p>As for your question, the usual reasons that people apply are
1) they visited the campus, learned about it, fell in love
2) they found out information about it, found numerous aspects of it that fit into their own mantra/goals, decided it would be a good fit
3) the usual good Princeton reasons: undergraduate focus, good financial aid, the number of amazing professors, the ambience of the campus and dynamic of the student body</p>

<p>So let me ask you, in your post you said "I know these above two (Harvard and Princeton) don't offer my major but I WANT to go there", what exactly ARE you reasons for wanting to go there???
Also, as for "Aiming for Ivy (there's a reason I have to go there, and I wont tell)", I hope at least you really do know your "need" and have thought it through.</p>

11

<p>is this a joke?</p>

12

<p>Looks like as if you OP is saying something about a certain lack of ethics. Remember- history judges us by not just what we did- but the manner of which it was done.</p>

13

<p>filmxoxo17, yes pretty sure it's a joke. Ahem... troll alert.</p>