<p>I just got back from Princeton today and WOW I was completely amazed with the campus and the college itself. I also visited "peer" schools like Harvard, Yale, and UPenn and would turn down any of them without a second thought for Princeton. So, I was just wondering if being from a "nowhere city" in Nebraska at a public school where no one wins any national awards (Siemens, Intel, TASP, or anything close) or goes to any top ivies (the best college anyone has gone to in our schools history was dartmouth) will give me a boost in the admissions process. I mean I have the highest SAT score in our schools history (2340..I know our school sucks), won 4 state championships at Economics and Science Olympiad competitions, and have taken the most rigorious schedule at my school (am val). So, will Princeton be more generous when reviewing my app given my dearth of EC-based opportunities?</p>
<p>I think you have a pretty good shot at Princeton based on what you said. You will definitely be a competitive applicant, but I don’t think Princeton will be more generous on you just because you come from “nowhere”.</p>
<p>You’ve got a definite shot. Rumor has it that the previous head of admissions was more into “geographic diversity” than the present one, but still, I believe that underrepresented states get a little bit more love. Make sure in your essays that you slip in that you made the most of the educational environment into which you were placed. Good luck!</p>
<p>Ya actually I just heard the same thing about the current dean. Idk…but is being from Nebraska something that could potentially push me over the edge? I think I am a border line applicant for Princeton (no major national awards is kinda killin me =/ and test scores are kinda on the highish end for Princeton)…so could this make a different between being accepted and denied.</p>
<p>Take your shot; that’s all I can say. You’ve got as good a chance as anyone. If someone from NJ had the exact same profile as you, perhaps you’d get in and they wouldn’t, but who knows? Good luck!</p>
<p>Your essays will be critical. They need to tell the story of who you are. Why, in the middle of Nebraska, at this high school, are you this kind of student? And don’t say anything pre-fab. The truth. From your mouth.</p>
<p>To directly answer your question, I really don’t think geography plays a significant role, unless you are from Montana, Wyoming, or the Dakotas. I mostly fit your profile, except from Oregon (you also have nicer competition awards, but a slightly lower SAT score - I also had an amazing interview, which you haven’t had the opportunity of effecting yet) and got rejected. Focus on presenting yourself in the content of your environment, ensure your essays have no hint of arrogance - intentional or accidental - as the current administration is trying to shy away from the “Princeton” stereotype, and hope the committee chooses you.</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback. You probably know more about this than I do, but I do take question with part of your analysis though. I am not sure that you have to be from “Montana, Wyoming, or the Dakotas” to get a boost from geographic diversity-though the boost geography gives may indeed be minimal. In fact, for the class of 2012, both North and South Dakota sent one student. This is the same for Nebraska, so I doubt that there is much of a difference between these three states. Now, Wyoming and Montana both had not students matriculate, so its probably better to be there than in the above states. Btw, Oregon had 8 students enter Princeton for that class…so it was actually closer to a “normal” state than one that is underrepresented.</p>
<p>All the same, your profile does sound similar to mine and kinda worries me that you were rejected. I guess I just need to rely on luck and some amazing essays that I plan to write (lol ya that probably isnt gonna happen).</p>
<p>I think generally admissions people consider what people have been able to accomplish given their setting and opportunities.<br>
The short answer is, yeah, I do think you have an advantage. From the vantage point of Princeton, NJ, Nebraska may as well be North Dakota or Wyoming. Maybe one person in the office has ever been to Nebraska. Almost as exotic as Mali.</p>
<p>Oh, well I’d heard that it was only the four states I mentioned. If Nebraska’s representation was that bad, though, I do think you’d receive some sort of boost.</p>
<p>And don’t worry - I still got into Yale. Just write good essays and impress your interviewer.</p>
<p>I see some of you talking about geographic diversity - does that also apply to international applicants?
I mean, would you say there are applicants from certain countries (such as the states you mentioned) that Princeton would be more interested in accepting?</p>
<p>Would it really help?!?! I have always thought that being international in general is bad. Maybe I’m wrong tho as I have not investigated this at all.</p>
<p>International students (other than asians etc.) that come from underrepresented nations are somewhat like URMs; The only problem is with financial aid… but not for need-blind schools like Princeton, Yale, Harvard etc.</p>
<p>If I got it right, one of the admission officer is from Nebraska, cuz he did the info session when i visited and talked about trying to apply for a program at bermuda by playing his nebraska card.</p>