I was deferred from Princeton a few days ago. While my academics were a little low and scores low, I had support from a rowing coach (not a likely letter, but he told me he was pulling), submitted an arts supplement with a music resume and private teacher rec, am a legacy, had my aunt (who also went to Princeton and did the alumni interviews for them for 10ish years) write a rec for me, and I believe I wrote good essays. Should I go ED2 somewhere else where the school is a target and I have a little coach support? I would definitely prefer to go to Princeton more than anywhere else, but I fear that if I don’t go ED2 anywhere, I could end up screwing myself over.
You’ve probably already seen these stats, but here they are:
https://www.princeton.edu/news/2017/12/13/princeton-offers-early-action-admission-799-students-class-2022
Historically, Princeton (and others, including H) have traditionally deferred most students. See article in the Daily Princetonian from Jan. 2016
http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/article/2016/01/editorial-fewer-deferrals-and-more-decisions
I don’t know if things changed in this year’s cycle, but my point is you can’t count on RD. Is there another school you can see yourself happy at that has ED2 (and that you can afford)? If so, by all means apply ED2. Are there schools where you can still row that you can apply RD (and that you can afford)? Do you have a safety in your back pocket?
Sorry about the deferral - it’s really, really competitive out there, even for those who have some kind of ‘hook.’
Good luck & keep us posted.
@4Gulls I do have another college that I would be happy to go to in ED2, and several safeties (though I don’t really want to go to them). I guess it really comes down to either going ED2 and losing Princeton, or going regular and have a greater risk of losing both schools. Thanks for your thoughts.
@wannaberower
Hey dude, im in pretty much the same spot as you. I won’t be able to provide you with much advice except sort of the same thing that the prior poster said: don’t apply EDII if there is a school less competitive than the one you would EDII at and that you would also be happy at.
Unfortunately, this did nothing for me. I’m trying to decide whether or not to EDII at UoC. I have my best chance, for a variety of reasons, of gaining admittance at UoC. However, it isnt my first choice of school and I havent had the time to visit other schools. Like you, I fear that by not EDII-ing, I will end up having to go to a safety or a school that is just worse than UoC.
In one sense, it’s better to be safe than sorry. On the other hand, one must believe in oneself.
My sense is that when a legacy is deferred, it’s a gentle way to let the family get used to the idea that junior will not be attending their alma mater. I would move on if you like an ED2 school equally. If you love Princeton, just go RD at the other schools but it sounds like you gave them every reason to say yes and they could not.
@wannaberower A 1410, unless URM or stellar (like internationally recognized) awards / ECs is just too low. Your odds won’t improve in RD. I’d move on to that ED2 school.
@gardenstategal @psywar you guys bring up good points, and I’ve reached out to the coach at my EDII school telling them I’ll apply EDII.
And @18YearsASlav if this helps you at all too, a big argument my coach made for going EDII was for quality of life. Since I’m a lightweight rower and a cellist, he mentioned that rowing for Princeton would consume everything, and I probably would stop playing music, and academics would make it harder. But by going to a D3 school, I could still row at a great program without having to worry about weigh-ins, and I could probably continue to pursue music. If you are doing multiple ECs now and want to continue them, then maybe EDII would also be a good idea.
Good luck, and thanks all of you.
@wannaberower , it sounds like the stars are aligning and that this may be the way the universe is getting you to the best place for you. You sound like you have a great attitude and that wherever you end up will be lucky to have you!
Good luck!
Move on and don’t look back. Listen to Gardenstategal!
While it is impossible to say with any certainty, my thought would be that if you are a legacy and had coach support but were deferred, it is likely that there was something in your application that admissions found concerning. Did you contact the coach at Princeton to see if he knows why you were deferred?
I agree with @Cantiger on this. Typically a “legacy with coach’s support” would be accepted, not deferred. I don’t like saying it but, in this case, I’d interpret the deferral as a rejection.