How exciting-another chances thread

Colleges & Universities A-Z Princeton University
1

<p>It was a dark and stormy afternoon (well, not really) and I was going nuts reading all the awesome stats and ECs of those applying to Princeton (I really was) so I thought I'd find out about my chances ED and RD. It's a long list, but I hope it's detailed enough. Thanks for making an insane applicant semi-sane again.</p>

<p>Asian male, Kansas City, KS, reasonably affluent suburb.
Top 3-5% of class at excellent public school.
GPA and class rank, not including senior year (which I expect to be all As)
GPA: 3.96 (only Bs were 1st semester freshman year in Pre-AP Biology and Pre-AP Algebra II)
Weighted class rank: 13/about 400
Principal's Honor Roll all 3 years and expected to continue
Academic Awards (given if you do well in a particular class):
Sophomore Chemistry, Computer Programming, Overall Math Excellence (10)
AP Calculus BC, Spanish 3.0, Physics (11)</p>

<p>Tests:
ACT: 34 (retaking in October), 9 on essay :(
SAT: 2270 (M 720 CR 770 W 780), 9 on essay :(
SAT II: Chemistry 770, Math IIc 760, American History 760
PSAT: 210
AP: European History 3, Eng Lang & Comp 4, Calc BC 4, Calc AB subscore 5, Chemistry 3, American History 5</p>

<p>My English teacher thinks I'm quite the eloquent writer when I want to be, so I think my essays will be well-written and hopefully memorable. Recommendations should be pretty good as well (all my teachers either like or love me)</p>

<p>ECs:
Black and Veatch Explorer Post (engineering club) since freshman year. </p>

<p>Co-founder of model rocket club (10,11,12)</p>

<p>Member NHS (11,12)</p>

<p>Member Spanish Honor Society (11,12)</p>

<p>Volunteer work at hospital during summers of 03,04,05</p>

<p>Shadowed doc for half of summer 05</p>

<p>Student government class president (11), student body VP (12)</p>

<p>founding Member/officer of Teenage Republican club (11, 12)</p>

<p>Senior schedule:</p>

<p>AP English Literature
AP Statistics
AP Biology
AP Physics
Advanced Studies in Spanish 4 (weighted credit)
String Orchestra
AP American Government</p>

<p>I've taken the most challenging courseload possible since freshman year. This concludes my uber-question/hyperactive fit. </p>

<p>Again, thanks for your help!</p>

2

<p>You're stats are pretty strong, 2270 and a 34 are very respectable scores. However, i don't really see anything that would set you apart from other candidates. Your rank is a bit on the medium-lower side, but I don't think it should hurt you. All in all, you have as good a shot as anyone else, but I don't see anything that would give you the upper hand. With that said, good luck!</p>

3

<p>Don't retake the ACT... colleges will see you as way too obsessed with test scores and will think that's all you care about. Not a good picture in terms of admission chances if you do that, since both your SAT and ACT are already excellent. Nothing too exceptional EC wise, but like hobbes said, as good a chance as anyone just no upper hand. You're kind of one of those "murky middles"- hope for stellar recs, write great essays, do something to set yourself out. I hope you get in, since you clearly want to go, but, then again, don't we all want to go to Princeton?</p>

4

<p>I'm not sure about the exact number, but my weighted gpa is closer to 4.4 or 4.5. Also what's keeping me from getting 1st rank non weighted and maybe 1-3 weighted is that screwup first semester freshman year. I read in some other forum that Princeton doesn't really look at freshman grades, is this true? </p>

<p>What would you suggest in terms of "sticking out?" It's quite scary for me that with 7 ECs I have nothing to set myself apart. O_o</p>

<p>Resteroni, one question: I've already registered for a retake of the ACT (my college counselor really wants someone to get a 36). Is retaking going to look bad enough that I should cancel it and burn my $43, or is it just not going to help me?</p>

<p>Thanks for your truly honest input. This is the first time I've really been given something other than unbridled optimism and it's great to get advice from people who know what they're doing.</p>

5

<p>If you've already registered to retake, go for it. If your score goes up, it obviously won't hurt your chances. If your score goes down, just don't send the new scores to Princeton.</p>

6

<p>I'm also working on taking a medical terminology class at our local community class, and I've registered for a "mini medical school" at the University of Kansas Medical Center, though I'm not sure if I'll make it into that....thanks again for your help!</p>

<p>Another activity for the list:
Science Olympiad (11,12): Won Chem Lab at regional level, 3rd place at state</p>

7

<p>"What would you suggest in terms of "sticking out?" It's quite scary for me that with 7 ECs I have nothing to set myself apart. O_o"</p>

<p>I would suggest that in one of your essays or short answers, you talk about one of the activites, the one you are most enthusiastic about. Talk about how it affected you. I think maybe you could talk about your experiences as the co-founder. Also if you have any travel experiences, mention it. </p>

<p>So yea... just gotta write those essays well. That's the only way for the admission officers to really get to know you.</p>

8

<p>Who would you recommend I have write recommendations? I have possibilities in English, physics, math, biology and history who seem to be quite enamored of me...</p>

9

<p>I'd say physics teacher... who can talk about your more academic side including those engineering clubs and what not... and history teacher for everything else...</p>

10

<p>Ask the teacher who knows you best OUTSIDE the classroom, as a person as well as a student. The teacher i am asking is a really good friend of mine. Yes, i got an A+ in his class, but more importantly, i always chat with him outside of class about non-academic stuff, like the soccer team or how i'm doing in track. He knows me as a person. The other teacher i am asking was my english teacher at one point, but she is also my journalism teacher and yearbook advisor. She knows that i am smart, but she can also write about my involvement in yearbook and other non-studious activities. My supplemental rec is from my track coach, because track is my greatest passion and i have put so much time into it. Put these recs together and you get a great idea of who i am both inside the classroom and outside the classroom, which, i believe, is the general idea. You say your teachers are enamored of you... that's excellent. Now try to pick the teacher who knows you best and can gush about not just your great grades, but your great personality as well.</p>

11

<p>Thanks for your help. I'm leaning toward my physics teacher more now. He's a bloody genius and I enjoy talking to him about various "cool" physics, such as "what is mass?" etc, and we even talk about investing!</p>

12

<p>That sounds like a great choice! :D Good luck</p>

<p>And if you decide to apply early, then feel free to join our small army of EDer's on the ED roster thread! We're 30 strong and growing... ;)</p>

13

<p>From the number of pages on that thread it seems like a lot more than 30 :), but I think I'll be joining shortly, once my college coordinator signs off on ED. Who knows, maybe I'll see you at Princeton and we'll reminisce about our CC days...I've been a member for barely a week and I'm already addicted...</p>