<p>Hello guys,
I was considering about applying to Princeton early decision next year. The thing is, my school's salutatorian is probably also applying there. We have pretty much the same standardized test scores (almost all perfect 800 SATs + SAT 2s across the board, (yuck, I know)), same awards , and are both into the science/math areas. His grades are a lot better than mine, as he has straight A's throughout high school, while I have like 3 A-'s and a couple of B's. Although I am somewhere in the middle of the top 10, my gpa is like 4.50 while his gpa is like 4.66. Being that we are both pretty similar applicants in terms of stats and are from the same school, would it be in my interest to apply early to another school where, let's say, weaker students from my school are applying? Does the fact that there is another student from my school also applying early to princeton hurt me at all in the admissions process? Thanks for any replies! I am really having a huge dilemma here, and any help will be GREATLY appreciated.</p>
<p>yikes, i had worse SAT scores so i dunno. just do something that basically NO ONE has done. that's why i did.</p>
<p>i guess it worked.</p>
<p>Apply ED.</p>
<p>10 char.</p>
<p>Based on anecdotal evidence, it is highly unlikely that Princeton will accept both of you and your rival unless you are attending super duper prep (Andover, Exeter, Gilman ) /highly-acclaimed public school (TJH, Blair, Hunter ). Your schools GC should know this and should devise a strategy to help you & your rival (friend) get into top college. There is no shame in doing that. Ask an audience with your GC ASAP.</p>
<p>I think the thing you should worry the least about is another applicant from your school. You are not competing with him or her. You are competing with roughly 2,000 kids in the early round for around 600 spots. Everyone can tell you of a HS that got zero into Pton 3 years running then 4 in one year. Fear what you don't know (the other 1998 ED applicants), not what you know!</p>
<p>Finally if you really want Pton, the best way is early. The question is how bad do you want it. Enough to burn an early application?</p>
<p>Alumother said it best:</p>
<p>Apply ED</p>
<p>Due largely to the schools push for diversity in students body in terms of race, gender, and location, and also due in a larger sense to ** politics and finances **, it is extremely unlikely that Princeton will accept multiple students from a less known regional school. As the previous poster put it, you cannot control what you dont know. But at least you can control yours, knowing who are applying where from your school within. Especially these days, college admission requires a careful planning with ED/EA/SCEA strategy. Without this careful planning, you might be left out and regret later. Talk to your guidance first before you waste your ED card !!!</p>
<p>i don't think you should worry too much. two people from my school got in this year RD and my school is not well known (no one has gotten in to HYPS before this year).</p>
<p>You are missing the whole point!!! If he is the better student of the two, he does not have to worry about anything. According to his post, hes the one who might get shafted, not his rival. Your post is irrelevant.</p>
<p>Apply to Princeton. They can take more than one kid per school. Besides, you really want to go to Princeton, right? Apply to the college YOU really want. </p>
<p>Also, a little note: please don't try and put Gilman in the same league as Exeter and Andover. I'm at Andover, and the smartest kid from Gilman in his grade came here and now lives down the hall from me, and he's an idiot compared to most of the kids here. They have phenomenal lacrosse, though.</p>
<p>Yeah, if you really want to Princeton, apply ED. But if you dont mind other top school like HYMS, Columbia, UPenn , you must decide carefully, considering your rival might be also applying ED. You do not want to waste your once-in-a-life-time ED card for nothing.</p>
<p>Objection: Not so long ago, Gilman was as a feeder school for Princeton. Also, considering the size of class, I wouldnt hastily dismiss Gilman.</p>
<p>Yeah, they got awesome LAX!!! ;)</p>
<p>Haha, someone is quite a fan, huh? I didn't know about the Princeton relationship and I can't find any mention of it on the web. (Wikipedia never mentions anything about it at all, and you would think someone would bring it up given how big of a deal it is to be a feeder to PRINCETON: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilman_School%5B/url%5D">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilman_School</a>) </p>
<p>Anyway, it must not have been THAT recently, no? <a href="http://www.meehawl.dyndns.org:1080/Webstore/Education/Getting%20Inside%20the%20Ivy%20Gates.html#top100%5B/url%5D">http://www.meehawl.dyndns.org:1080/Webstore/Education/Getting%20Inside%20the%20Ivy%20Gates.html#top100</a>
It looks like times change.</p>
<p>Anyway, this isn't meant as a front to you. I am just very curious as to how you would be able to back your claim up, since it would be very interesting if Gilman was actually a feeder to Princeton. </p>
<p>Princeton feeder or not though, I still don't consider them at Andover/Exeter level :)</p>
<p>Guys, thanks so much for all your responses. Both me and this kid happen to be asian males from a New Jersey town. Some luck, eh?</p>
<p>oops double post</p>
<p>XGod forsakenX puahahah, a fan? u gotta b kidding me. I live in Potomac why should i stand up 4 Gilman, which locates way up north from hither. I am saying that Gilman is an excellent private HS, just like Andover which ranks dismal 9 on your list. ahahaha get a life foolio :) b4 u get drawn, hanged, and quartered</p>
<p>OP: aha ! same race same school, another good reason to be careful with ur planning- Use ur "ED" card wisely :)</p>
<p>I think it's a question of how much you want Princeton. Like I said earlier, Princeton can take more than one person per school no matter how isolated and remote and unknown you feel it is (and I doubt your high school is actually that bad). Yes, it does hurt your chances if you believe that your "rival" is applying for Princeton as well with his better grades and all, but there are many factors that are still up for grabs: essay, interview, etc etc. Use your "ED card" on the college YOU want to go to most.</p>
<p>When it comes to college admission, self-interest governs all, my friend: you must look out for yourself and yourself only. I am not saying that you should employ deception and subterfuge, but you got to be smart and cunning. You should be aware of what other top students are doing: where they are applying and what ED/SCEA cards they are using. Let us just assume the following scenario: when you know your rival is preparing SCEA to Harvard, then it is in your best interest to avoid Harvard and use your ED card to other top school. Hence, you are maximizing the chance. We all know about the proven advantage of ED. Of course, as a fellow-classmate, you wish him well and nothing but success in college admission :)</p>
<p>It falls down to presentation. Grade and SAT numbers are 1 page on a 10 page application. Your essays, and EC's will mean alot. A gorgeous essay can make up for that little grade gap. It all depends on how you present yourself. Assume that everyone in contention for the slots has the exact same statistics, because they probably will. Then it boils down to how you all can better twist words into beauty.</p>
<p>if thats the case..all your power is in the presentation of your transcript..your ecs....but most importantly your essay and your interview..look for the thread "How to impress adcoms with your essays" its really a good thread and it should help you out a lot</p>
<p>I agree with the last two posts. Don't assume that your classmate will automatically be favored in the admissions process. If you present yourself very appealingly on your application, you have just as good of a chance as he does.</p>
<p>If Princeton is really your first choice, go for it. What's the point of applying ED to a different school if it isn't really your first choice?</p>
<p>you dont have too much to worry about, if your in the top 5 percent of the class it pretty much looks the same. he might have a very slight edge but better essays by you could change that real quick. courseload matters too, if yours is harder he doesnt stand a chance.</p>