Give me a Princeton '18 chance ?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
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<p>Although I'm still a junior this year, I'm really interested in Princeton's molecular biology and biochemistry departments. I'm an Asian from NJ that is thinking of applying SCEA, so I might get a slight bump for being in NJ and applying SCEA but the Asian part won't help whatsoever. However, Princeton's small yet undergrad-focused program is very appealing for me, and I love the senior thesis, where I can create and submit my own research. I don't have any legacy/athlete or major hooks, but please do take a look at what I've got and what I can improve on this and next year. Thanks !</p>

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<p>GPA: Currently at 4.0 UW and 4.4 W</p>

<p>Standardized Testing:
SAT - 2220 currently (first time, will give again and will hopefully rise)
SAT II - 800 Bio M, 780-800 Math II (just gave Dec 1), going to give Chem in June</p>

<p>Class Rank: My school doesn't release an official rank, but there is a "Valedictorian Award" given out at the start of senior year, and my chances of winning that would be at around 60%</p>

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<p>Freshman Year Courses: Honors English, Honors Algebra 2, Honors Spanish 4, Honors Bio, Honors US History, Orchestra</p>

<p>Sophomore Year Courses: English II (no honors offered), Honors Precalc, Honors Spanish 5, AP Bio (5), AP World (4 - teacher didn't prepare us well), Orchestra (Section Leader)</p>

<p>Junior Year Courses: English III (no honors offered), AP Calc AB (forced to drop from BC due to scheduling issues), Honors Spanish 6, AP Chem, AP US History, AP Econ (Micro/Macro), Orchestra (Section Leader) [Note: There is a limit of only 4 APs, dumb I know]</p>

<p>Senior Year Courses (Proj): AP Physics C, AP Spanish Lang, AP Statistics, AP Gov, AP Lit, Research Class/Program, Orchestra (Section Leader)</p>

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<p>Awards: USABO Semifinalist x2, some school awards, volunteering leadership awards</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
NJ Science League Team: Founder/Pres - a few awards (1st place state, etc)
Merck Science Team: Team Captain
Euro/Fed Challenge: Nat'l Semifinalists
JSA: Best Speaker, likely Vice Pres next year
Model UN: minor award, likely secretary next year
Chem Club
Varsity Tennis (11,12) (broke my foot last year =/)</p>

<p>Summer Activities: leadership program (9), research at hospital - paper for publication in final editing stages (10), hopefully some more lab research this summer - applying to SIMR, NIH, etc (11)</p>

<p>Community: Obama and Senator Campaign volunteering (50+ hrs), 900+ hrs volunteering at youth center (mentoring/tutoring of children, also run annual fundraisers & camps) -- will probably be major focus of essays</p>

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<p>Thanks for taking a look at my stats and current achievements. Please do let me know if there are any weaknesses that I can improve on until next year's round of applications, or any other app suggestions. Thanks !!</p>

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<p>bumppppppp</p>

3

<p>Your SAT and GPA make you a competitive applicant, but that’s about all anyone can truly say, as it’s virtually impossible to predict with certainty anyone’s chances as so much of the applications process is subjective and comes down to how an admissions director “feels” after reading your teacher recommendations, guidance counselor report and essays, and compares them to all other applicants. </p>

<p>In addition, every college tends to look for something different every year. For example: one year, maybe too few students are majoring in X, and Admissions needs to actively pursue students who might be interested in majoring in X. Then, the following year, it changes to Y. So your chances actually vary from year-to-year depending upon on a number of variables, some of them totally out of your control. When the time comes, you need to just send your applications out into the universe and hope for the best.</p>

<p>Please read this five part interview with Janet Lavin Rapelye, Princeton’s Dean of Admissions, for a detailed look on how Admissions works at Princeton and other select colleges. Best of luck to you the rest of the year and in the college process!</p>

<p>[Part</a> 1: Answers From Princeton’s Dean of Admission - NYTimes.com](<a href=“http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/24/guidance-office-princeton-answers-1/]Part”>Part 1: Answers From Princeton's Dean of Admission - The New York Times)
[Part</a> 2: Answers From Princeton’s Dean of Admission - NYTimes.com](<a href=“http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/25/guidance-office-princeton-answers-2/]Part”>Part 2: Answers From Princeton's Dean of Admission - The New York Times)
[Part</a> 3: Answers From Princeton’s Dean of Admission - NYTimes.com](<a href=“http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/26/guidance-office-princeton-answers-3]Part”>Part 3: Answers From Princeton's Dean of Admission - The New York Times)
[Part</a> 4: Answers From Princeton’s Dean of Admission - NYTimes.com](<a href=“http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/27/guidance-office-princeton-answers-4/]Part”>Part 4: Answers From Princeton's Dean of Admission - The New York Times)
[Part</a> 5: Answers From Princeton’s Dean of Admission - NYTimes.com](<a href=“http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/28/guidance-office-princeton-answers-5/]Part”>Part 5: Answers From Princeton's Dean of Admission - The New York Times)</p>

4

<p>I agree with gibby. You are a very competitive applicant with good test scores and strong ECs. No one can really tell you more than that, you just have to apply and see what happens. Good luck!</p>