Legacy

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
1

<p>I'm probably going to apply to Princeton this fall. I have 3 generations of legacy at Princeton. I am just wondering if this will help me with my application very much. My family has never given money so I am not sure if this too will change the effect. Princeton would probably be a reach for me if I didn't have legacy and I am just wonder how much of a difference this will make. </p>

<p>I have:</p>

<p>Grades:
GPA (Unweighted) 3.9
QPA (Weighted) 4.7
Class Rank - 10th/500
Taken hardest classes offered each year.
Attend a large, very competitive, suburban public school (usually gets a student or two into each of the following: MIT, Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Brown, Stanford) </p>

<p>Senior Year Schedule:
AP BC Calculus
AP Chemistry
AP English Literature
AP US Government
AP Biology
2 Honors levels history electives taught by the two best teachers in the school
Concert Band during Lunch</p>

<p>SATs:
Math - 760
Critical Reading - 740
Writing - 700</p>

<p>SATIIs:
Math IIC - 780
US History - 760</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
-4 years of Percussion Ensemble. We played at the Music Educators National Convention my Sophomore year (one of 30 groups nationwide and only percussion ensembe) and the National Percussion Festival my Junior year (one of 12 groups nationwide) and will probably play at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association my Senior year. Keyboard Ensemble Senior year (group made up of the 3 best players out of the 60 in the program)</p>

<p>-4 years marching band in the Percussion Front.<br>
Senior year Percussion Front Captain</p>

<p>-4 Years concert band - Senior year Principal Percussionist</p>

<p>-District Band Junior Year (hopefull regional or all-state senior year)</p>

<p>-President of the Chemistry Club Senior year</p>

<p>-3rd place in a Western Pennsylvania Chemistry Competition Sophomore year</p>

<p>-Ultimate Frisbee team Junior and Senior year</p>

<p>-Volunteer once a week at a local hospital for about 4 or 5 hours</p>

<p>-Started a program in a local middle school that monitors the students' activity, gives them chances to play sports after school/be active, brings in a nutritionist to talk to them about eating correctly and teaches about how rewarding an active lifestyle can be. </p>

<p>-Every summer for the past 5 years have traveled for at least one week to another city to work at homeless shelters or on Habitat for Humanity-style trips.</p>

<p>-Attended Governor's School for Health Care summer between Junior and Senior years</p>

<p>Do I have any chance?</p>

2

<p>Yes, you have a good chance with your scores and community service. Alot will depend on your local competition--if you are from a large metropolitan area your chances diminish; from a corner of the Dakotas you are a rarer candidate. I see it's Pennsylvania---there will be many applicants.It is not clear how much the alumni connection will help, but if you back it up with great essays and tiger spirit,it can't hurt!! Try taking the ACT, some people do really well on it, it could be a boost.</p>

3

<p>As I recall, traditionally 1 in 4 legacies is admitted (as contrasted with the 7.8% RD admission rate of the class of 2010). </p>

<p>With your numbers and marching band experience on top of your deep legacy, I'd guess you have better than a 3 in 5 chance.</p>

<p>I've heard that in some years, a 2200 and marching band is better than a 2400.</p>

4

<p>I'm pretty sure the Legacy admit rate is 39 %, or 2 in 5. You and I are in the same boat, 2200 SAT legacies</p>

5

<p>yeah you've definitely got a pretty good chance.</p>

6

<p>You have some wonderful focuses (chem, pre-health, marching band) in your extracurriculars, but so will most/all of your competition to Princeton. You will need to show yourself in a unique light since nothing is quite singular about your application. Your numbers will definitely not keep you out but will probably not get you in, I think. Legacy does help at Princeton but I have heard it described as a tipping factor in a competitive applicant pool more than a consideration per se. </p>

<p>As an aside, if you do get in, the marching band is a really fantastic, talented and creative/crazy bunch of Princetonians : ). Good luck!</p>

7

<p>You have a good shot. None of your scores or grades will keep you out. Recs and essays are key. My suggestion is to pic an extracurricular/activity you excelled at/got awards in and then write one of your essays involving that. The science/art combo is nice - not a lot of people are "balanced" like that so to speak.</p>