Ivy/Princeton Credentials

Colleges & Universities A-Z Princeton University
1

<p>Hi,
I am aspiring to apply to the more competitive elite schools, and I feel very lost and overwhelmed. I don't know if I am qualified, but any feedback would be extremely helpful. I am going to be a senior this September at a public high school.
Here are my "credentials":</p>

<p>unweighted GPA: 3.9 (maybe 4.0)</p>

<p>I have been taking the highest level courses our school offers for each grade. I have taken AP US History this past year and am scheduled to take 5 AP courses next year.</p>

<p>SAT I score: 2400
SAT II scores: Bio- 770; Chem- 730; Math 2- 730; US History- 760</p>

<p>I have been a part of the high school chamber orchestra for 3 yrs, plus next year. I am VP of the orchestra and plan on running for President next year. I have been playing the violin for 6 years, have been awarded several small scale solos and have been playing 2nd chair of the 1st vlns for 3 years, plus next year. However, I havent done anything outside of high school orchestra--how will this affect my chances?
I have also taught myself to play the guitar and currently play in a small band--something worth mentioning?</p>

<p>I am in NHS, Spanish Honors Society, Tri-M (Music National Honors Society), Science Honors Society, History Honors Society. I plan on running for office for NHS next year.</p>

<p>I ran track for two years, but never completed either of the seasons because of injuries. Is this something to mention?
I have played JV Golf the past 2 years and will play Varsity Golf next year.</p>

<p>I have more the 100 hours of community service, and I am volunteering at 4 different places this summer. I also have a job for 2 years, and I will get a second one this September.</p>

<p>Our school suffered major budget cuts the past few years; consequently, any after school activities are basically non-existent. Will my lack of participation in clubs affect my chances?</p>

<p>Thank you so much, I really appreciate the help. A lot.</p>

2

<p>I’m assuming your Spanish, in which case, assuming your essays will be good, you are almost certainly in.</p>

3

<p>no, im not spanish</p>

4

<p>also, spanish and hispanic are not equivalent…</p>

5

<p>“…assuming your Spanish…”</p>

<p><em>headdesk</em></p>

6

<p>im not spanish or hispanic!</p>

7

<p>Mention the self-taught guitar, the band, and the injuries. Maybe have your counselor include stuff about shortcomings in extracurricular offerings in the school profile they’ll send Princeton. Your scores will keep you in the running.</p>

8

<p>Your credentials sound like my daughters. You sound like a really good student but the Ivys are really hard to get into for anyone. You should apply to some of them but you should apply to plenty of other schools as well.</p>

<p>“I am aspiring to apply to the more competitive elite schools, and I feel very lost and overwhelmed.”</p>

<p>Are you overwhelmed by how to present yourself to the elite schools or are you overwhelmed by deciding which schools to apply to? My daughter was overwhelmed with the decision about which schools to apply to so I took her on a trip back East to look at some of the schools she thought she might be interested in. Ultimately she wasn’t accepted to any of them but the trip helped her decide on what type of school she wanted to go to, (small teaching college verses midsize university). The school she will be going to next year is not an Ivy but it is a really good fit for her.</p>

9

<p>thanks so much for all the feedback, guys. it’s really appreciated.</p>

<p>ray, thanks. i will definitely talk to my counselor.</p>

<p>pea, i’m not yet at the applications process. im still figuring out which schools to apply to. i’ve always wanted to go ivy, ever since i was younger, but im just now realizing that i probably won’t make it in. this kind of realization is kind of overwhelming, and disheartening. but i really appreciatiate you sharing your daughter’s experiences, thank you very much.</p>

10

<p>You seriously think you won’t make it in with a 2400 and 4.0? My friend had a 2250 and 3.8 and got into Cornell easily. Don’t doubt yourself.</p>

11

<p>i’ve heard of people with 2390’s and 2370’s getting rejected, even with EC’s.
njwhitekid-- did your friend have a lot of EC’s?</p>

12

<p>hey, thanks for the advice…can anyone else help out, please? any more advice?</p>

<p>thanks :)</p>

13

<p>why do you want to go to ivies? are you looking at any other top schools? hopefully you realize that all of the ivy schools are entirely different from one another, and aren’t simply applying because you like the name recognition. That said =) it looks like you have a good chance- great SATs, SAT IIs, GPA… your ECs are decent, could use a little beefing up. and definetely mention your self taught guitar… what is your intended major/ focus?</p>

14

<p>thanks =) im not a hundred percent sure where im applying; i just said ivy cause thats what i have my eyes on. im def. going to research and find other great schools too, though.
mm, im not sure. im thinking of going into medicine after-- so, bio or anything science-y? but i also loooooove literature and music, so i might do a double major or minor in one of those.</p>

15

<p>“also, spanish and hispanic are not equivalent…”</p>

<p>Spanish are Hispanic.</p>

16

<p>You have clearly demonstrated your interest in music (you can send in a supplement of your violin playing if you want to) but your medicine interest doesn’t come through so much in your ECs. Try volunteering at a hospital, or getting a research internship.
and, for the record, you can’t double major at Pton</p>

17

<p>yeah, i’m volunteering at the hospital and my pediatrician’s office this summer…plus the nursing home. i also have other medicinal creds, so i think that’s covered.</p>

<p>hm, i clearly didn’t know that about princeton. i’ll look into it, thanks.</p>

<p>thank you very much! i love the feedback.</p>