Do I have a shot at Princeton?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
1

To give some background about my student profile, I am a middle class asian girl who’s a rising high school senior. After reviewing the resumes of other students with similar profiles as mine, I don’t feel very confident about my odds in being accepted into Princeton but I would like to get a second opinion on it.

Grades:
My school doesn’t do grades on a 4.0 scale (they do it on a 100.0 scale). Weighting works like this: CP’s are 1.0, AP’s are 1.15, and Honor classes are 1.10, leaving me with a weighted GPA of 106.5 and an unweighted GPA of 94.6. I have completed 9 AP’s so far and will be taking 5 senior year.

PSAT Score: 1500

SAT Superscore: 1570

Subject Test Scores: Math II - 800, Chemistry - 790

EC’s:

Here’s the part that I’m nervous about because I honestly haven’t done super spectacular stuff in this category (i.e. open a business, found a non-profit, hold executive leadership positions in a national organization, etc.).

  • Model Congress + Model UN School Clubs: Student Officer (1 year), Technology Committee Co-Chair (1 year).
  • Science Olympiad: Chemistry Specialist (1 year), Event Leader of X number of events (2 years). Won several medals at invitational and state level.
  • FIRST Robotics: mentor for middle school FLL team (2 years), one of four developers of an Scouting that led to the team winning the Charmain's Award (highest award possible in FIRST).
  • YouTube Channel where I occasionally publish music (I compose and produce music). After getting into the Vocaloid fandom a couple years back, I publish mostly originals and some covers on there as well as some more classical pieces. Currently, my channel is a year old and sits at 90 subscribers and around 20,000 views. Despite my relatively small audience, I've had people do fanart and covers of my stuff so yay.
  • Blender animations: Right now, I'm learning how to use the software blender to make 3D animations. So far, I've done one successfully, but it's a relatively new venture.
  • Extended Schoolyear Program: Every summer (except this summer due to quarantine), I volunteer at this program which is targeted to special needs students. One of the main reasons why I volunteer there is because I used to go to this program as a kid (was developmentally behind when I was younger and kind of bullied for it), so I try to be as welcoming and kind to the children I help when I'm there.

Other Accomplishments:

  • highest AMC10 Scorer of grade (didn’t qualify for AIME though … womp womp)
  • passed ABRSM 8 with distinction (a piano exam)
  • got 2nd place at Mid-Atlantic Regional Meeting Chemagination Competition
  • completed research for a DSAP clone that’s published on NCBI
  • participated in Morgan State University’s SAAMS program (extremely selective: only 30 chosen nationwide) and received several individual and team recognitions

Since I’m interested in becoming an actuary, I’m currently preparing to take Exam P in November and will add that if I pass (wish me luck ;-;).

In my opinion, I’m a relatively well-rounded applicant. Because I’ve exposed myself to multiple fields of interest, I think it’s definitely influenced how to view and approach the world. Still, from what I’ve seen, Princeton is looking more for ‘spiky’ individuals while I’m as round as a ball.

What are your thoughts?

2

@grapejuice149 You should probably post this thread on Princeton’s CC page, as the people there are more likely to be familiar with Princeton’s Admissions process. :smile:

3

Thank you—will do!

Edit: If you don’t mind, can you provide a link to the page?

4

It was unclear to me your class rank, which is the most important criteria they will use to judge your grades.

However there are several factors working against you: 1) Princeton does not have EA this year, only RD 2) The class size for entering students in 2021 will be about 15% smaller, due to the # of students who requested leaves and 3) ORM status

Read more about the deferral situation here:
https://www.dailyprincetonian.com/article/2020/08/deferral-gap-year-covid-2020-one-year

Overall I say that it is going to be a rough year for Princeton this year. I don’t think you would get auto-rejected.

5

To give some background about my student profile, I am a middle class asian girl who’s a rising high school senior. After reviewing the resumes of other students with similar profiles as mine, I don’t feel very confident about my odds in being accepted into Princeton but I would like to get a second opinion on it.

Grades:
My school doesn’t do grades on a 4.0 scale (they do it on a 100.0 scale). Weighting works like this: CP’s are 1.0, AP’s are 1.15, and Honor classes are 1.10, leaving me with a weighted GPA of 106.5 and an unweighted GPA of 94.6. I have completed 9 AP’s so far and will be taking 5 senior year.

PSAT Score: 1500

SAT Superscore: 1570

Subject Test Scores: Math II - 800, Chemistry - 790

AP Test Scores: AP European History (5), AP Chemistry (5), AP Computer Science A (5), AP Language & Composition (5), AP Calculus AB (5), AP Macroeconomics (5), AP Microeconomics (5), AP Biology (5), AP Spanish Language & Composition (3 oof).

EC’s:

Here’s the part that I’m nervous about because I honestly haven’t done super spectacular stuff in this category (i.e. open a business, found a non-profit, hold executive leadership positions in a national organization, etc.).

  • Model Congress + Model UN School Clubs: Student Officer (1 year), Technology Committee Co-Chair (1 year).
  • Science Olympiad: Chemistry Specialist (1 year), Event Leader of X number of events (2 years). Won several medals at invitational and state level.
  • FIRST Robotics: mentor for middle school FLL team (2 years), one of four developers of an Scouting that led to the team winning the Charmain's Award (highest award possible in FIRST).
  • YouTube Channel where I occasionally publish music (I compose and produce music). After getting into the Vocaloid fandom a couple years back, I publish mostly originals and some covers on there as well as some more classical pieces. Currently, my channel is a year old and sits at 90 subscribers and around 20,000 views. Despite my relatively small audience, I've had people do fanart and covers of my stuff so yay.
  • Blender animations: Right now, I'm learning how to use the software blender to make 3D animations. So far, I've done one successfully, but it's a relatively new venture.
  • Extended Schoolyear Program: Every summer (except this summer due to quarantine), I volunteer at this program which is targeted to special needs students. One of the main reasons why I volunteer there is because I used to go to this program as a kid (was developmentally behind when I was younger and kind of bullied for it), so I try to be as welcoming and kind to the children I help when I'm there.

Other Accomplishments:

  • highest AMC10 Scorer of grade (didn’t qualify for AIME though … womp womp)
  • passed ABRSM 8 with distinction (a piano exam)
  • got 2nd place at Mid-Atlantic Regional Meeting Chemagination Competition
  • completed research for a DSAP clone that’s published on NCBI
  • participated in Morgan State University’s SAAMS program (extremely selective: only 30 chosen nationwide) and received several individual and team recognitions

Since I’m interested in becoming an actuary, I’m currently preparing to take Exam P in November and will add that if I pass (wish me luck ;-;).

In my opinion, I’m a relatively well-rounded applicant. Because I’ve exposed myself to multiple fields of interest, I think it’s definitely influenced how to view and approach the world. Still, from what I’ve seen, Princeton is looking more for ‘spiky’ individuals while I’m as round as a ball.

What are your thoughts? Will I be auto-rejected? Do I at least have a chance of getting deferred?

6

I can’t chance you, but is Princeton affordable per their net price calculator?

Certainly apply, but make sure to apply to a handful of match schools, as well as at least one affordable safety.

Good luck.

7

You might also consider that there are other schools better suited to pursuing a career as an actuary. Princeton’s math dept isn’t really oriented towards that at all.

8

You sound like an amazing student; I think you’re qualified and have a shot. But please keep in mind the acceptance rate is very low even for amazing, qualified students.

Although a single anecdote isn’t proof of anything, I can report that my Princeton kid’s application included an essay embracing well-roundedness and breadth of interests.

Good point.

Excellent advice, of course, though I’ll add that low- and middle-income families typically pay little or no tuition at Princeton.

9

You definitely are in the “competitive” pool. Your chances are 0 if you don’t apply. Consider your state flagship honor’s program if it has one. Often those are rolling admissions. Consider REA at HYS, that may result in 1) acceptance which means you can just apply to reaches RD; 2) deferral which means you are in the ballpark for reach schools (but still have matches and safeties in your RD apps), especially Stanford which has a very selective deferral pool; or 3) rejected, which means you need to readjust your list for RD, especially Harvard which rejects almost no one historically in the REA round, and/or you have a defective LoR or essay given your stats that you may want to revisit for RD apps.

10

@sgopal2 Thanks for your input. I’m not sure what my class rank is so I’ll try and ask my guidance counselor about that one. I’ll be sure to check out the link!

11

@Mwfan1921 If by some miracle or another I’m accepted into Princeton, my parents agreed to help pay the cost of tuition. Aside from 4 ultra reach schools, I’m applying to 5 safeties, so hopefully things works out!

12

@roycroftmom Thanks for bringing that up. I’ll look closer into what their math department offers and see if it aligns with my post-college goals.

13

@TigerInWinter Thank you for your input! I’m so relieved to see that my eclectic interests won’t definitively bite me in the butt and that I have somewhat of a shot. Yay!

14

@BKSquared I’m glad to see that I’m at least competitive for these ultra reach schools. Before, I wasn’t sure if I even wanted to apply to ultra reaches like Princeton, UPenn, UCSB, or Carnegie Mellon in fear of getting auto-rejected, but I now definitely will definitely give it a go.

15

What are the colleges which you are considering as safeties? Many students miscalculate their chances, in either direction.

16

OP wrote that she is interested in becoming an actuary. If so, then why Princeton ?

Do you have any family members or close friends who are actuaries ? If so, consider asking them for advice with respect to courses needed.

P.S. As for your chances at the nation’s most selective colleges and universities, your profile is interesting & competitive.

17

An applicant’s race, athletic ability, fortune, adversity and legacy plays a huge role in Ivy admissions. You are lacking in those departments. You should focus on ivy peers like Hopkins, Berkeley, Rice, Amherst, CMU. If possible, use ED to your benefit.

18

@MWolf My safeties (hopefully) are UConn, University of Pittsburgh, Purdue, Temple, and Rutgers New Brunswick.

19

@Publisher If I’m accepted into Princeton, I was hoping to major in either Computer Science or Mathematics and hopefully use that as a competitive edge when I’m a working actuary.

I came across the field when it was briefly mentioned during a Macroeconomics class, but I don’t know many people outside the SAAMS program who are practicing actuaries.

Thank you for your thoughts on the last bit!

20

@1Rubin Yeah, I don’t really have much working for in terms of athletics and legacy, so I see how that can decrease my chances of acceptance. CMU is in fact another ultra reach I’m applying to, so hopefully I have better chances there