Do I EVEN stand a CHANCE?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi, I'm a Junior. I'm planning on applying to pretty selective schools. My Dream is Princeton, but I know thats alot of kids dreams so I have to keep myself grounded. Do you think I have a shot at schools like those? Keeping in mind that I will have strong essays, I'm pretty confident in those. </p>

<p>Current AP's: US Government, Comparative Government, US History, Latin Literature, English Language, Calculus AB, Art Portfolio
Next Year AP's: European History, Art Portfolio, English Literature, Calculus BC, Art History/Statistics (debating which of the two)
Advanced Honors: Physics II, Chemistry II, Biology
Everything Else (All Honors): Algebra 2, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, English 9 & 10, Latin 1, Latin 2, Latin 3, World History 1 & 2</p>

<p>(Self-teaching French for 1 Year so far)</p>

<p>Yearbook Editor for three years. Senior year, I will be Editor in Chief. (We have won several Gold Crown and Columbia Standard Awards)</p>

<p>I have been running my own Charity Dinner for the past four years every summer, which all proceeds go to organizations such as CARE or SAVEDARFUR.</p>

<p>I have been building a strong portfolio in art & design for the past two years. I would like to utilize art when I get older.</p>

<p>Design awareness shirts and signs for various international causes for sale
online through CafePress.</p>

<p>Started the SAVEDARFUR club at my school called STAND with other kids.</p>

<p>President of the Diversity Club.</p>

<p>Member of the Schools Diversity Committee. (Helped to organize various events over the years and art designer for shirts, etc)</p>

<p>MUN for two Years. (several awards, I love it and would like to continue in college if possible)</p>

<p>ArtClub President.</p>

<p>SAT: 2230 </p>

<p>GPA: 4.05 (Unweighted)</p>

<p>SAT Subject Tests: Mathh 2, Latin, US History</p>

<p>Volunteered Freshman and Sophomore Summers with Art Program Summer camps for children, and Arts and Creative aspects for children with disabilities.
Volunteered after junior year (planning on it): With the Democratic Party Offices where I live. Help to get lower class people to get out and vote, etc.
This summer I was selected for an Art Scholarship to the Art Institute in Chicago for a three week session on DRawing and Painting.</p>

<p>I am a minority. (Indian) (totally doesn't matter if you're indian I know.)</p>

<p>languages: English, Hindi, 5 years of Latin, learning French.</p>

<p>Senior Year Schedule:
AP Calc BC
AP Euro
AP Art History
Advanced Studies in ARt
AP English
AP Physics
Yearbook!</p>

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<p>Being indian does not equal being a minority. Unless you're talking American Indian (i.e. Native American)?</p>

3

<p>yea i'm aware. that's why i put (totally doesn't matter, i know) next to it.
but thanks anyways.
any other advice?</p>

4

<p>Doesn't being of Asian negatively affect admissions chances at schools that uphold affirmative action.</p>

<p>I know that wikipedia is not always to be trusted, but I found this page to be pretty interesting </p>

<p>Affirmative</a> action in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</p>

<p>So in a sense, I guess being Indian would count--although potentially in a negative way...</p>

5

<p>unfortunately, yes it does.
you have to look at the top schools diversity percentages in comparison to that of the nations. While only four percent of the US is Asian (including South Asian Indians, etc), around 20% are Asian according to statistics in Top Tier Colleges. Therefore, the whole idea of being a minority is effaced. More of one ethnicity is applying than the national average, thus there is no minority. Only when there is a shortage of a certain minority, is it considered affirmative action.</p>

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<p>how do you have 4.05 unweighted GPA?</p>

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<p>"Being Indian does not equal being a minority."</p>

<p>HUH?! Yes it does! In the U.S., at least. Just because a certain group may be overrepresented in higher education doesn't preclude them from being an ethnic minority. Asians only make up 4-5% of the population of the U.S.; they are definitely in the minority.</p>

<p>No one even touched your actual chances.</p>

<p>The thing is, even though you are Indian which is South Asian, I believe the majority of the represented Asian population is East and Southeast Asian. Either way, at some places Asians are still underrepresented, particularly South Asians. Besides, I don't think that will really affect your chances, as that's not how affirmative action works -- it doesn't work to <em>keep out</em> qualified members of overrepresented groups; it works to help underrepresented group members become proportionately represented in universities.</p>

<p>That said, at this point Princeton and many other universities of its caliber are a crapshoot. With acceptances hovering at 10% or less, they have many more applications from well qualified students than they can admit. I'd say that you are well qualified and have above-average chances -- as good a chance as any other well-qualified student.</p>

<p>If I were you, I would highlight the social activism activities you do (Save Darfur, the Charity Dinners, etc.). A lot of students take a zillion APs, do well on the SAT and have 4.0+ GPAs, but what really sets students apart are the activities they undertake and why, so I would consult with a counselor or someone else who can tell you how to best make that social activism and what you plan to do with your artistic abilities stand out in your application.</p>

<p>Best of luck.</p>

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<p>wow, thanks great advice.
yea everyone who applies to princeton already has great recs, strong sat scores, tough ap schedules, and high gpas.
i will definitely try to focus on art and social activism this summer and beyond.
thanks again!</p>

<p>yea, i'm not sure exactly how it works, but yes my school gives unweighted gpa slightly higher than 4.0. with that being said, my school doesn't even give us a weighted gpa. so i have absolutely no clue what my weighted gpa is.</p>