Is Princeton an unattainable fantasy for me?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
1

<p>Hey guys!</p>

<p>I would really, really like to go to Princeton. However, things aren't looking good. I'm a Korean kid living in Connecticut (two anti-hooks right off the bat). However, it gets worse. Much worse.</p>

<p>I'm gonna be a senior in 4 weeks. My UW GPA is 3.70. My weighted is 4.44. That probably conservatively puts me in the top 15%. My poor GPA is due to my freshman and sophomore years; I got all A's in basically all AP's junior year.
This is partly because I took ridiculously advanced courses, biting off way more than I could chew. My standardized test scores are decent (SAT: 2360, SAT II's: 790 Bio, 800 French, 800 Math II, 750 USH). I really like math, and my transcript shows that. I took Precalc freshman year , Multivariable Calc Soph year, and Diff eqs junior year). However, I got a B in the Precalc and BC course I took from CTY Online)</p>

<p>My AP scores are good: I became a national AP scholar this year,
with 5's in French, Calc BC, Bio, Chem, two Physics C's, Lang, Gov and Stat.</p>

<p>Here's the real problem, though: Out of the 5 science courses I took, I only got an A in one, AP Physics C. I got B's in Honors Physics, Bio, Chem, and AP Chem. </p>

<p>My EC's aren't too bad:
I qualified for AIME twice
I semifinalled in USABO and USAPho
I did Awesomemath at Cornell
Went to nationals for Science Olympiad, got several state and national medals
Was treasurer of math club soph and junior year, and treasurer for science club junior year
Saw statewide success in both National Ocean Science Bowl and National Science Bowl
Tournament chess player: USCF around 1550
Represented school in HMMT, Mandelbrot and other math competitions
Started chess team in school (failed miserably at tournaments we went to though, as not that many people in my school like chess)
Wrote several articles for school newspaper
Taught chess at local library</p>

<p>There's one last, thing, which I'm praying will help me. I'm moving to Princeton for senior year, and after much research and discussion with the guidance counselors over at the high school, I have been accepted to the Princeton University high school program. This basically means that I'll be taking a legitimate undergrad course, with PU students, during my senior year. I'm taking one in French, as my B's excluded me from taking math or science courses (ARGH!). I got an 800 in French, and am taking French courses at PU. Will applying to PU as a french major help?</p>

2

<p>major doesn’t matter for admisson. will you be convincing about french? if you like pu so much, you should apply, though it’s a big reach. for most people it is.</p>

3

<p>You have a strong chance, although you’d be a lot better off if your GPA were higher… That’s okay, you’re still in the top 25% of the applicants I’d say. Your SAT scores will definitely help, especially the subject ones since Princeton puts more importance on those than most colleges.</p>

4

<p>You’re in the ballpark – that’s it. But I contend with randombetch’s pronouncement of “You have a strong chance”</p>

<p>The avearge chance is about 7%. To say “Strong” chance means more than 7%?</p>

<p>To imply 15% chance is more than doubling one’s chances.</p>

5

<p>If I’d put a bet I’d want 1 in 4 odds</p>

6

<p>One question: Why the disparity between your class grades and your performance in competitions or standardized tests? Were your teachers simply hard graders, or did you slack off in the classes? If the former is the answer, then I would talk to your guidance counselor (from your old school) and get her to write a note about it in her letter of rec. It’s just that colleges often think “slacker” when they see a high SAT/low GPA combo (relatively speaking, of course); however, I think your accomplishments in national competitions should help somewhat. That said, being Korean puts you at a disadvantage from the get go, so prepare yourself. Best of luck to you.</p>

7

<p>Eh. Freshman year was kind of demoralizing. I didn’t do very well. That sort of carried on to sophomore year, which is why I’m in the soup right now. I really, really want to go to an Ivy, because of the financial aid packages. My family is in a disadvantaged economic situation, in spite of the fact that we live in an affluent area.</p>

8

<p>The thing that really galls me, though, is that I’m going to see Princeton everyday. It’ll be frustrating, to say the least.</p>

9

<p>If you’re doing a PU course (I’m in the area and was going to take a class or two, but didn’t due to scheduling conflicts. However,a lot of my friends are taking or haven taken classes there), I would wait out for RD and apply with an improved first semester transcript, as well as the Princeton class under your belt. I’m assuming you’re going to attend PHS. There’s a lot of competition for Princeton in local high schools. Schools like Princeton High School, West-Windsor Plainsboro North, WWP South, The Lawrenceville School, PDS, Hun, Peddie, Stuart, maybe Pennington, send almost 100 kids to Princeton each year. I know that PHS sends around 20 each year at least. I would try to make ground at your new school before applying SCEA, because it’s going to be muddled with tons of kids in the area who already have strong standings in their schools. Doing well in your semester PU class may help your chances RD.</p>

10

<p>Hmmmm. I wasn’t going to apply EA anyway. Would an A in a PU course help significantly, or is it just something?</p>

11

<p>Yes, it would… but getting an A is kind of hard at Princeton, but it’s not unheard of for high schoolers. Also, it’s not for credit, remember that. It’ll show up on your transcript.</p>

12

<p>Hmmm. Okay.</p>

13

<p>A in a Princeton class definitely should help you in my point of view, I’m not sure how the adcom treats it but if you get an A that means you beat at most Princeton students, which says a lot about whether you can handle the rigor.</p>

<p>Although it shouldn’t be hard considering high school classes are a joke and you’d have a lot more time to focus on the Princeton class.</p>

14

<p>Hmmm. I’m a little afraid that my app would seem conflicted. Science EC’s but a humanities course at PU.</p>

15

<p>Go on GChat…</p>

16

<p>Agh, sorry, just missed me. I’ll be online today.</p>

17

<p>I think you have a great chance at some schools just a hair below Princeton. Chicago, Dartmouth, if you are very into languages consider Middlebury.</p>