[International] What are my chances?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
1

<p>Hi,
I am a rising senior from Turkey and I will be applying to Princeton this year. My intended major is computer science and I think my ECs are more than enough to prove my passion towards this field.</p>

<p>I don't need financial aid. What are my chances?</p>

<p>Stats:
EDUCATION
One of the best schools in Turkey and I am in IB Science-Math specialization
GPA = 70/100 (Please note that it is a over-mediocre grade in my country and it will be stated in my transcript)</p>

<p>SAT reasoning scores:
Take 1: CR:550 M:710 W:500 Total: 1760
Take 2: CR:570 M:670 W:570 Total: 1810
Combined: 1850</p>

<p>I will take MathI, MathII and Physics subject tests in October.</p>

<p>TOEFL scores:
Take 1: 95/120
Take 2: 108/120</p>

<p>LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES
I am the co-founder of Turkey’s one of the best known and prestigious gaming providers, which is involved in setting up and selling servers, organizing online and offline events, and developing gaming solutions such as anti-cheating software and unsupervised gaming systems.</p>

<p>I was also the co-founder of two other organizations which used to be the best in their field (online and offline gaming).</p>

<p>INVENTIVE PROJECT COMPETITIONS
An International Design Olympiad, Finalist 2010
A prestigious national competition, Regional finalist 2010
Another prestigious national competition, Winner (Gold Medal) 2009
Another prestigious national competition, Winner (Special prize -equivalent to coming third) 2010
Another prestigious national competition, Finalist 2010
Another prestigious national competition, Finalist 2010
Two or three is going to add here and I applied to get a patent in the field of computer science and waiting for its result.</p>

<p>I had over 15 awards before starting to high school</p>

<p>HANDS-ON COMPUTER EXPERIENCES</p>

<p>Blink!, Developer 2010
An online gaming and messaging application, which enables its users to communicate and collaborate to organize events while using a simple and self-explanatory interface. Blink! System consists of a client side application, which the user interacts with, and its server-side application which controls all the on-going transmission. Blink! Infrastructure is provided by Bilgeoyuncu and it is integrated with OMYS, GameSec and Interactive Online Gaming Solution.</p>

<p>Armarium Infragilis, Head Developer 2010
Advanced encryption/protection software which is hiding any specified data into any file while keeping the carrier file functioning correctly as though nothing has been changed on it. I’ve applied to get a patent for the method that my software is using and currently my method is pending for a patent.</p>

<p>GameSec, Head Developer 200
The only online anti-cheating solution/software which is actively being used by Turkish gamers during online tournaments. GameSec’s two-sided reporting, memory signature recognition and partial screenshot systems prevent gamers from cheating or bypassing the application while still playing.</p>

<p>OMYS, Developer 2010
An unsupervised gaming solution, enabling gamers to organize matches without having to need a referee. OMYS has the ability to work integrated with GameSec and Interactive Gaming Solution. As soon as the match ends; scores, statistics, demos and screenshots are automatically published on Bilgeoyuncu.com’s Interactive Gaming Solution panel.</p>

<p>Interactive Online Gaming Solution, Developer 2009
A system which is enabling its users; to access all the history, statistics, screenshots of other gamers, to communicate with each other and if the user is a server administrative, to control his/her server completely.</p>

<p>COMPUTER SKILLS
Advanced knowledge of C#, Java, Delphi and C/C++
Reverse engineering experience, Win32Asm programming knowledge
Web programming experience in PHP
Database administration knowledge in MySQL and MSSQL
Experience in Windows and unix-based operating systems, and extensive knowledge of the inner workings of an operating system
Broad knowledge and experience on computer hardware </p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

2

<p>Your ECs=amazing. I wish I had the programming skills of you.</p>

<p>Academically, your a “meh”. Your SAT is definitely not tier-1 university standards. You’re Asian, so really, you need a 2200+, maybe you could get away with a 2100 with the types of ECs you have. However, I take it that you’re not a native English speaker, so a lower SAT is acceptable, I suppose. But then again, the types of ECs you have are very academic, and your low GPA and SAT runs contrary to them. </p>

<p>Advice: Improve your SAT score. I understand reading and writing isn’t as easy for you as it is for native speakers, but at least get an 800 in the Math section. Also, show your class ranking when applying. It’ll prove that a 70/100 is the equivalent to 3.9-4.0 GPA at a public American high school.</p>

<p>Good luck. You should do fine.</p>

3

<p>@supersizeme
Thank you for your reply. I am aware that I am not academically prominent but I am hoping my ECs and my essay to compensate my scores. By the way I am not Asian. Turkey is located in Eurasia, near Mediterranean and thousands of kilometers away from India and China. :)</p>

4

<p>In the eyes of the Adcoms, you’re an Asian. I know Turkey has long fought for a place in the EU, and still aren’t a part of it. Ethnically, you’re considered Asian. The fact that your country is struggling to be recognized as a European nation also implies that it is more Asian than it is European. Turkey is also the only “European” country that is predominantly Muslim, even though they are largely secular. This, again, suggests that Turkey is a very Asian country, as Asia is home to every other large Muslim nation. </p>

<p>All that aside, what ethnicity are you likely to check off on the exam? I highly doubt Turkish people would be considered Caucasian, even if they were to tick that choice off.</p>

5

<p>The reason Turkey isn’t being allowed into the EU has nothing to do with whether its considered “European” or not, its b/c its economic and monetary positions are questionable (to the likes of Germany at least, who are the economic be-all-and-end-all powerhouse of the EU). </p>

<p>One only has to look at say, the commitment from Britain’s PM about gaining Turkey entry into the EU made recently (and the reservations the EU actually has about the country), to see this.</p>

6

<p>I think it’s silly to keep harping on whether applicants from Turkey are considered Asian or not, and then proceed to make judgments on their success of application based on that. </p>

<p>I don’t think admissions committees categorise applicants into such broad geographical classes - they merely express an inclination towards a diverse body, which would include students from under-represented countries. These may very well include Asian countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia or even Vietnam, or even Kazakhstan. </p>

<p>Adcoms don’t segregate applicants into different geographical classes and set markedly different standards for applicants from these different classes. Please don’t overplay the significance of geographical origin, especially when the applicant, coming from Turkey, is likely to be much less a sufferer of the “Asian” phenomenon than compared to applicants from say China and South Korea. </p>

<p>Sounds like a case of stereotyping to me.</p>

7

<p>@Trelawney
I couldn’t agree more to your opinions. I don’t think that adcoms follow stereotypes and make judgements only based on the applicant’s origin.</p>

<p>@StarryEyes101
The reason that Turkey isn’t allowed into EU is as you said, economical and administrative. Turkey has a population of approximately 75 million and if Turkey is allowed into EU, then it will have a huge effect on the decision-making process. Number of delegates representing a country in European Parliament is propotional to the population of that country.</p>

<p>@supersizeme
It’s correct that approximately 1000 years ago, ancestors of current Turkish population came to the place where currently Turkey is located. To be precise, 1071 Battle of Malzikert. In the following 1000 years, Turkish population got mixed with the surrounding population and lost its “Asian” properties.</p>

<p>By the way, your way of stereotyping can’t be more superficial:</p>

<p>Quoting you: “The fact that your country is struggling to be recognized as a European nation also implies that it is more Asian than it is European.”
You are saying that Turkey is not a European country and trying to be recognized as one. You imply that Turkey is trying to be something that it’s not. How can this make it more Asian? Trying to be someone that you are not is a bad trait. Is this the logic you are following in this sentence? If so, what a fallacy.</p>

<p>Quoting you: “Turkey is also the only “European” country that is predominantly Muslim, even though they are largely secular. This, again, suggests that Turkey is a very Asian country, as Asia is home to every other large Muslim nation.”
I agree the first sentence. But, Turkey, being predominantly Muslim doesn’t suggest that it’s an Asian country. You should look up the origins of Muslim belief and also Turks. Africa is home to lots of predominanly Muslim countries, so are they also Asian countries or is Turkey an African country? I am just following your faulty logic here.</p>

<p>While Turks were migrating from central Asia to where Turkey is located today, before 1000 A.D., they met the Muslim belief and became Muslim. Originally, Turks were not muslim, they were shamanic. ([Shamanism</a> - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamanism]Shamanism”>Shamanism - Wikipedia))</p>

<p>In short, Turkey’s intentions of being part of EU is strictly economical and strategical. Living in Turkey, I can easily say that, by observing, no one here has a problem with being considered Asian or European. People here know their origins and their current geological location, and they are aware that being considered on a continent or the other does not change their current identity.</p>

8

<p>“You are saying that Turkey is not a European country and trying to be recognized as one. You imply that Turkey is trying to be something that it’s not. How can this make it more Asian? Trying to be someone that you are not is a bad trait. Is this the logic you are following in this sentence? If so, what a fallacy.” -OMGMIT</p>

<p>That, honestly, made no sense. Turkey is located in the land mass of Eurasia, and that is undisputed. If it is not officially recognized as part of the continent of Europe, what other continent could it be in? It obviously isn’t a part of its own continent, so it de facto becomes part of Asia. </p>

<p>Furthermore, what would Turkey gain out of joining the EU? As we’ve seen with the recent meltdown of Greece, the downfall of the EU is very probable. The Euro is facing possible inflation as well as the potential of many member nation’s economy’s going down the drain. </p>

<p>Besides, your last paragraph proves yourself wrong. Turkey wants to be recognized as a European nation solely for its economic “benefits”, not because it has some sort of cultural or ethnic tie to the continent. The history of the Turks is very different from that of the rest of Europe, and is generally not considered “Western”.</p>

9

<p>“Turkey wants to be recognized as a European nation solely for its economic “benefits”, not because it has some sort of cultural or ethnic tie to the continent. The history of the Turks is very different from that of the rest of Europe, and is generally not considered “Western”.”</p>

<p>I agree that Turkey doesn’t have a common cultural background with the EU countries, I never said that it does. I think there is a misunderstanding between you and me. Turkey doesn’t want to be recognized as a European nation in a cultural manner. It just wants to get into European Union for the economic benefits (no customs tax, free roaming etc.). And the reason that it’s not accepted into EU is not its geographical location or its cultural background. Don’t you think EU would immediately deny the Turkey’s request of joining EU, if the reason was something undisputable and unchangeable like geographical location.</p>

<p>Since 1949, Turkey is the founding member of Council of Europe. In 1963, Turkey became an associate member of European Economic Community (which is the predecessor of EU). In 1992, Turkey became a member of Western European Union. In 2005, formal accession negotiations started with EU and currently on-going. I can’t see any immediate rejection here.</p>

<p>By the way, the EU accession intentions of the government does not project the thoughts of the whole nation. I can say that majority of the citizens is unwilling about joining EU.</p>

<hr>

<p>I think we should not keep this discussion going here, as this thread is under Princeton category.</p>

10

<p>Fair enough, this doesn’t belong here. </p>

<p>But as a final word, I must say this. Citizens in members nations of the EU are for the most part, against Turkey joining the EU. First, for the obvious geographic reasons. Fight as you may, you must come to terms with the fact that Turkey is not a European nation, if we are strictly talking location. However, that’s not to say they are a middle-eastern nation, they’re not. That being said, they can serve as a great “bridge” between Europe and the Middle East, as the country pertains qualities of both cultures. However, a bridge isn’t part of a body, and Turkey shouldn’t be thought of as European because of this. </p>

<p>And also, if most Turkish citizens don’t want to assimilate into Europe by joining the EU, what would they consider themselves? Simply Eurasian. </p>

<p>Anyways, I’m sorry this thread became hot-blooded, I just enjoy debate. Good luck with you college application process. :)</p>

11

<p>I also enjoy debates and I certainly enjoyed this one. :slight_smile: Thank you for your good wishes.</p>

12

<p>Well, what exactly are your “national competitions”? They would look impressive if they were rigorous e.g. math Olympiad. Also, your SATs are a bit low… “one of the best schools in the country” does not corroborate with a 1850 SAT score. But, do not despair because you still have time; I took my SATs in the fall of application year and got into Princeton. Just be sure to allocate your time properly and have a plan.</p>

13

<p>They are not math competitions but they are the most prestigious physics and computer science project competitions in Turkey. I also attended the finals of some international computer science project olympiads. Even though my school is one of the best schools in the country, the highest SAT score in my class is 2060.</p>

14

<p>If you are really good at Computer science why can’t you have a 750+ math…</p>

15

<p>Your TOEFL is quite high, but what happened to your SAT CR?</p>

16

<p>Even though they both require logic and analytical skill, they are not exactly the same thing. Being good at one doesn’t necessarily mean to be good at the other. I am good at math and in the reasoning test I solve all math questions without any hesitation, but in the end my mistakes are from carelessness.</p>

<p>I don’t know why I am more successful at TOEFL than I am in SAT CR.</p>