I am a junior in high school and I’m starting to think more about college. Because I live in NJ and I’d like to stay near home, Princeton would be my top choice. Based on my stats, what do you all think my chances are at getting into Princeton ED? If not Princeton, which schools would be matches for me?
SAT (new) - 1420 (I plan on getting this up a lot)
ACT - 33 (Eng - 33, Math - 35, Reading - 31, Science - 33)
SAT II: Math II - 750, Chem - 730 (I am retaking this after AP Chem)
APs - APUSH (4)
APs junior year - AP Calc AB, AP French, AP World, AP Chem
Current GPA: 3.98 unweighted, 4.46 weighted
ECs:
President of Red Cross Club
Committee Leader in the Youth Council of Central NJ Red Cross
State-certified EMT, currently a volunteer for local first aid and rescue squad
Summer Research Intern at Princeton University (one-on-one w/ grad student, under a chem/bio engineering professor)
Published a new protein extracted from duckweed (Rutgers Waksman Program)
Science Olympiad Member
Tutor at High School (a part of the tutoring board ~ 5 other students)
Tutor at Middle School (will most likely be the leader of this next year)
French National Contest - Gold freshman year and Bronze sophomore year
Other Info:
Gender - Female
Ethnicity - Caucasian (middle eastern)
Income - < $50,000
Financial Aid - Yes (definitely!)
Languages - English, French, Spanish
Intended Major - Premed/bio/biochem
Your ACT score will pass the academic threshold for Princeton, but since it’s the average for the school, they’ll want to see what else you bring to the table (as they will for all high-scoring applicants). Nowadays, it’s not enough to have good scores. I’d even go as far as to say that essays and ECs will matter the most after the academic threshold is passed.
I agree with ^^^ and disagree with the first comment. Your ACT score is enough and if you want to raise your SAT then go ahead, but idk if it will necessarily do anything. However, if you really work on your essays and keep going with your extracurriculars, maybe try to do some more research, then you will really have a shot.
I would skip taking the SAT again. If you want to retest, then focus on the ACT. Try to get your hands on the Erica Meltzer ACT Reading and English book. You only need to raise your score 2 points to have a 34C. Good luck!
@lanam99 You have a good shot IMO. Your essays need to be great, and a LoR from the professor could really push you over the top (if at all possible get the prof - not the grad student - to write you a LoR, have the grad student give the prof detailed info on you of course for a better, more personalized LoR).
Last, make sure your lab work, your essays, and your ECs present a unified, interesting narrative about who are and what you love doing.
Don’t make the ACT into your main extracurricular. A 33 makes you competitive enough.
The main extracurricular is the summer Research Intern at Princeton and that you published a new protein extracted from duckweed.
Instead of spending your time aiming for a higher ACT score, spend your time trying to PUBLISH your research in a distinguished scientific paper. THIS accomplishment (and the fact that you did your research AT Princeton) WILL make your application stand out more than 2 points on the ACT could ever.
You look like a great candidate. Definitely apply to a great school (even if you change your mind about Princeton and end up wanting Yale or Harvard or some other school) early. I would say your ACT score is good enough, but it can’t hurt to take the exam one more time early in your senior year. I bet you will do Better without even studying just because of the extra schooling. Keep up the good work! The entire process is very complex and is more than just a test score.