I applied to Princeton under SCEA, and gave a physics subject test in November. I had to send to scores directly to Princeton, but I am very disappointed with my scores. I got a 700/800, which I feel doesn’t represent my capabilities in Physics, and I hope it isn’t a blemish on my application.
I just retook the test on the 3rd of December, but results won’t be out until after the SCEA decisions. Is there any way I can let Princeton know that this poor performance is just an anomaly? How should I describe it?
Thanks in advance!
(PS: Applying for engineering, so I’m EXTRA scared about this)
A 700/800 definitely is not a great score comparing to other applications. It wouldn’t add any values to your application. However, they are looking for overall capabilities. If you have great stats on others, it should not be a concern.
If you have other information for below, we can chance you further good luck!
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown):
ACT (breakdown):
SAT II:
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0):
Weighted GPA:
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable):
AP (place score in parenthesis):
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load:
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
Applied for Financial Aid?:
Intended Major:
State (if domestic applicant):
Country (if international applicant):
School Type:
Ethnicity:
Gender:
Income Bracket:
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):
PFAA emails? How many? When?:
To make an excuse will only draw further attention to it. Let admissions draw their own conclusions. Your acceptance or rejection is not going to be determined on whether you got a 700 or a 760 on a SAT II test. I’d leave it be.
don’t make up any excuse, even if it is true. In my view, I don’t like people have excuses. If you are applying regular admission and have a concern on 700 score, then just don’t submit it. 700 is a tricky score, not a good one and not a bad one. It contributes nothing.
I’m not sure how useful being chanced is now, since decisions come in 10 days haha
I personally feel I have a strong app including recos and essays, but this subject test thing has got me down.
I’m not trying to give an excuse per se, because I know there’s no excuse for a low score.
I’m just trying to acknowledge that I’m not satisfied with the score and it doesn’t represent my capabilities, and tell Princeton to hopefully not see it as a blemish in the app.
You got the score you got. There really is no explaining and P won’t be moved by your not being satisfied. You can’t “tell” them whether or not to see it as a blemish. It sounds cocky and under-informed.
What you have to do is rest on having done the best you could in your whole app, be satisfied you gave it your best shot. Understand that the competition is fierce, it’s difficult to predict how adcoms will view any positive or a negative, in the whole context.
Please heed the advice of @skieurope and others-- nothing good will come from any explanation you give. Leave it be. Princeton is examining thousands of applications, hurrying to make final decisions. Don’t give them an excuse to label you as a whiner. Even though that one score may not reflect your true abilities, the same is true for some aspect of most everyone’s application. Best of luck with this and your other applications.
good luck!