Do my testing scores make me an 'out-right-reject'?

Colleges & Universities A-Z Princeton University
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<p>OBJECTIVE:
• SAT: 2110. (CR+M=1420)
• SAT II: Math II 780, Chemistry 690 (Ouch!)
• High School Academic Record:
Grade 9: 88%
Grade 10: 94% (CBSE BOARD EXAMS)
Grade 11: 91%
Grade 12: 90%
• GPA (Grade 9 – 12, by Josef Silny) = 4.25 on a 4.000 Scale.
• Class rank: Top 5% (Valedictorian - senior year)
• Country: India (International applicant, yeah I know)
• Applying for aid: *YES *</p>

<p>SUBJECTIVE:
--- ACADEMIC
• The Red Blazer for "Academic excellence over a period of 4 years" (Grade 7, 8, 9, 10)
• National Aerospace Olympiad - Selected among top 15 teams from India (Grade 10)
• Scholar's Award For Academic Distinction (Grade 9)
• Highest Marks in Physics, Chemistry in Entire School (Grade 11)
• NSTSE Awardee (National Level Science Talent Search Examination ) (Grade 9)
• Class rank Top 1% (Grade 9,10, 11 12 )</p>

<p>--- EXTRA CURRICULAR
• HANDBALL (National Level Handball Player)
Grade 12. Winner of the CBSE National North Zone Handball Tournament (Recognized by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports)
Grade 11. 1st in Inter-house hand-ball tournament. (Team captain)</p>

<p>• MUSIC – Violin Player (Orchestra)
In 2009, I released a music album under the label of MIDI International studios. Every single daily had my pictures, and said great things about my music. More than two thousand copies were sold in the first month of its release! (I consider this album probably as my biggest achievement.)</p>

<p>• PUBLIC SPEAKING AND MUNs.
Grade 12. Regional Finalist British Council Debating Matters India 2010 (Sub-National Level);
Grade 12. First in Annual Debate at St. Stephen's, Delhi University(National Level);
Grade 11. Second in the All-India Debate Competition at Sanawar , Kasauli(National Level)
Grade 10. Commendation for Best Delegate DPSMUN 2008 (National Level).</p>

<p>• WEB DESIGNING
Grade 9,10. I was the member of the team of students selected to design the school website. Out of the entire batch, only 4 students were selected for this. The selection was based on a competition organized by the computer department of our school. </p>

<p>• LEADERSHIP
I was elected the School Captain of my school for the academic year 2008-2009. As a captain I had to ensure discipline, encourage participation, and deal with everyday problems of the student body. As a representative of the students, I was expected to bridge the gap between the student body and the administration. </p>

<p>• Learned French (DELF - Alliance Francaise)
In 2008, I did a course of French from Alliance Francaise. DELF is an official qualification issued by the French Ministry of Education to certify French language proficiency of foreign students.</p>

<p>• *“MADDAD” <a href="Founder%20Member">Hindi for "Help"</a> *
In 2006, I co-founded an organization called "Maddad". It is a non-profit organization which aims at addressing modern day issues, and speaking out against unethical or immoral actions of the people in power.
One of our successful campaigns included a rally against the poor implementation of plastic bag laws, according to which the use of plastic bags in the city is banned. The Chief Minister of Delhi, not only applauded us for our constant efforts to make people aware of the importance of standing up for what you believe in, but also awarded us with a “ letter of appreciation.”</p>

<p>*** My Princeton Essay *<a href="Person%20who%20has%20influenced%20you">/b</a>: I wrote about my relationship with my violin teacher. When he came out of his closet and told the world that he was gay, he received a lot of flak and was removed from his position as a teacher in school. This shouldn’t be surprising given the orthodoxy that exists in India. I wrote about how I supported my teacher everywhere, wrote letters to the Prime Minister, members of the Parliament etc., and also testified in court in favor of my teacher. Ultimately, my teacher won the case against the school and was reinstated. </p>

<p>Thank you so much.</p>

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<p>No, you actually seem fairly strong.</p>

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<p>You are about the median score, so you are competitive. Obviously the higher the better though.</p>

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<p>dude, no offense, but nothing makes anyone an “out-right” reject. i mean you’ve already applied and there’s nothing you can do now, so JUST CHILL CHILL JUST CHILL. lol.</p>

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<p>^amen ~</p>

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<p>^^ I vaguely recall that being in some Indian movie song so lolz^10</p>

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<p>Not to be harsh, but they really do need to be higher. As an international applicant from a highly competitive country, your scores will not make you stand out amongst your peers.</p>

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<p>^ Agreed. The fact that you’re an international applicant AND are applying for aid does put you at a disadvantage. And it’s always been rumored that Princeton values objective academic stats a little more than its peers. If you look through the decision threads for the Classes of 2013 and 2014, a lot more people with 2300+ SAT I scores got in than people with <2250-2300. That’s just hearsay obviously, but it’s something to be considered.</p>

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<p>I agree with all the above posters. </p>

<p>About 400 applicants apply to Princeton from India every year. A highly competitive pool of applicants. Out of these 400, about 6-8 are accepted. </p>

<p>Considering that piece of information, I’m as good as an auto-reject. Thanks again, everyone. I’ll apply again to Princeton next year, with better scores. :)</p>

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<p>@ referee</p>

<p>haha, thanks for the advice. It’s just that sometimes this threads can be reassuring, but mostly (for me) they are counter-effective. </p>

<p>@froggyonice</p>

<p>I didn’t get the reference. :S</p>

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<p>Your scores are rubbish, but the rest is interesting… You have a slim chance, like almost everyone</p>

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<p>“Your scores are rubbish…”</p>

<p>Hehe, though in principle I should take offense, but in reality I couldn’t agree with you more.</p>

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<p>In context (an international, Indian, applying to P) they are… In the general population they are ■■■■ wow…</p>

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<p>@froggyonice: hahahaa. yup. you sure got the reference. it is from an indian movie! haha crazy desis :)</p>

<p>@SoHopeless: stay optimistic!</p>

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<p>Your scores are low, but Princeton even accepts 2000ers.</p>

<p>But the problem with your application is that apart from having low scores, you don’t have anything which distinguishes you. Your ECs are far too general. Handball stuff is interesting, but again, its NBD.</p>

<p>Most of the international students accepted are either top scorers (just take Idiosyncra3y’s case - near to perfect SAT score and top scorer in home country exams) or have international/ national recognitions in some field (some have both).</p>

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<p>@referee</p>

<p>I got the reference NOW. Eew, Salman Khan. :p</p>

<p>@Dreams</p>

<p>See, that’s the thing with my application. I haven’t mentioned stuff I’ve just ‘participated’ in. I’ve only mentioned the things I’ve spent a LOT of my time and have done well. Music, handball, debating, and social service are my main four ECs. French, and web designing are not as important. </p>

<p>I agree with you about having either high scores or some int’l recognition. I have two national recognitions, hand-ball as well as aerospace Olympiad but no int’l ones. :(</p>

<p>Are you a 2015 applicant to Princeton too? And let me (be presumptuous and) guess: 2300+ SAT? =p</p>

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<p>Most of the time, you need both.</p>

<p>Though national in India (which is quite a big place and has quite a few people and is known for its sciency emphasis…) is pretty impressive</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>P2015 - Yes.</p>

<p>2300+ - No.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>I would say ‘it depends’.</p>

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<p>@SoHopeless… from what i’ve gathered during the application process… nothing guarantees admission for internationals at the most selective schools. Same way, nothing can make you an outright reject.</p>

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<p>^ Na, there are certainly things that will make you an auto reject, thought they are far more serious than a 2000 SAT</p>