Do I even stand a Chance, or is it just a waste of money?

Colleges & Universities A-Z Princeton University
1

<p>So, I was wondering like what else should I do to improve the chances for Princeton other than my really bad SAT scores which i expect to improve. Or is it a complete suicide?</p>

<p>Race: Chinese
Gender: Male
School Type: United World College (I heard that they love UWC's, and I really hope they do...)
Legacy: None</p>

<p>IB Grades (May 2011)
Economics Higher: 7
Chemistry Higher:7
Maths Higher: 5
Biology Standard: 7
English A1 Standard: 6
Italian Standard: 6</p>

<p>Extended Essay in Economics: A
Theory of Knowledge Essay: B</p>

<p>Total: 38+3 = 41/45 [top 2.5% in the world based on last years statistics]</p>

<p>Rank: None (school doesnt do that), although definetely top 10% based on results. and definetely top 5% in the world based on IB scores.</p>

<p>SAT 1's: 1960, 1980
M-780, 720
W-600,590
R-580, 670</p>

<p>Composite Score: 2050/2400
1450/1600</p>

<p>SAT 2's:
Chinese: 780
Maths 2: 780
Chemistry: 770
Total:2330/2400</p>

<p>Extra-Curriculars:
Swimming, participated in national competitions in Singapore</p>

<p>NGO, Vice-President of NGO that operates out of school, its student set-up
Senior Website Designer for a now-defunct NGO that was succeeded by the new NGO that I am now Vice-President of. The college based NGO now has two overseas brances that were set-up within the year by me and a group of students.</p>

<p>Scouts (national and International representation at grades 8,9,10)</p>

<p>School/International Representation for Maths and Science at competitions (its not that good, but thats what the certificate says so I dont really care)</p>

<p>Internship at the government ministry where i helped out with alot of big events that included foreign country's. I was also deployed as a 'young ambassador' to help with another country</p>

<p>Volunteerism:
over 200 hours of community service at grades 9,10
consistent volunteering for grade 11 (it should amount to alot!)</p>

<p>Summer:
Internship at Government, Turned down a internship at a Standard Chartered because it coincided with the Government internship,
teaching a student in maths pro bono,
various conferences on world economics and foreign policies during internship</p>

2

<p>Looking at your SAT II’s and IB’s (though I dont’ know a whole lot about their scoring), I wonder why your SAT is so comparatively lower. I think you should try to bring it if you can, maybe focusing on the Writing for the most part and some on CR. </p>

<p>I don’t think it would be a complete waste of money, however. You seem to have some pretty neat EC’s, and you never know.</p>

3

<p>well, i’ve never really been able to ‘feel’ with the sats since english was never really my first language (im from a chinese speaking environment…), although i have always been getting A’s at english exams. self-contradictory i know…</p>

<p>any idea what can constitute as a magical spark for the ivies for asians? i studied overseas in italy on my own for high school (without tuition which is the secret formua for success in asian cultures), scored relatively high grades and was able to found an international college based NGO during my time there. oh, my school is probably one of the most diverse in the world, boasting over 80 countries in around 90 students. Princeton normally go’s there…it probably means nothing though…</p>

4

<p>Hey Hermann,</p>

<p>I’ve wondered the same thing. I’m like you: A typical smart but non nationally-award winning Asian, if you know what I mean. Yes, you have international contests, etc., but what adcoms at these schools are looking for is kids who are top tenners in things like the USAMO, National Chem Olympiad, etc…</p>

<p>The SATs need to go up for sure.</p>

<p>We have good chances at the middle tier ivies…just not HYP since no one can be guaranteed admissions at these schools</p>

5

<p>yeah, the sats are a bummer. i really have no idea how the sat co-relates to anything at all cept for whether you paid attention in grammar class!</p>

<p>i wonder, but do the universities know how hard it is to actually win a Olympiad medal? i mean, people can easily get the honorable mention thing, but to actually get the medal is really tough…I know someone who’s going to Cambridge to study mathematics, and all he could get at the italian olympiads was a bronze…</p>

<p>now i’m considering whether or not to apply to princeton early too, although it is highly likely that i would, because it just seems like a crap shot.</p>

6

<p>Unfortunately it’s tough, esp. for Asian applicants. The people at the adcoms do realize how hard it is to be internationally/nationally good at something, but they have enough of these high -achieving people to choose from! I don’t honestly know how I stand a chance with my decent ECs. Did you do anything national/international level? That would be a significant boost.</p>

7

<p>2050… nah…</p>