MIT/Caltech EA or Princeton ED?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I've posted here once before, when I was just a "worriless" junior (ha, oxymoron); now that I'm about to actually apply, I need some serious suggestions as to whether apply ED to Princeton or EA to both MIT and Caltech.</p>

<p>Here's a semi-reposting of my stats:</p>

<p>Background
Location: New York State
School: Suburban and pretty decent public school (all 3 of our co-valedictorians went to Ivy's, and some other people were accepted to really good schools)
Background: the typical female Asian immigrant (moved to US a decade ago)</p>

<p>Stats & Scores</p>

<p>GPA & Rank: 4.0 UW, 4.8 W for junior year (beat school record XD, yeah grade inflation!!!), 1st in class of 250
SAT I: 2310 - 800V 780M 730W in 2 sittings (retake was a disaster, barely helped)
SAT II: 790 Physics, 800 Math II, 800 US History
APs: 5 European (10th Grade), 3 French Lang (nevermind...), 5 BC Calc (AB Class in school), 5 Physics B, 5 Physics C:Mech (self-study), 5 US His, 5 Psych (self-study), 5 Environmental Sci (self-study), 5 Human Geo (self-study)
Next Year's AP Classes: Physics C:E&M (self-study), English Lit, Chem, Bio, French Lit, Economics, US Gov't, Statistics, and maybe Computer Sci AB
Other Classes: Have been in a math program @ local uni for "gifted" MS/HS math students since 7th grade, so racked up a sizable amount of college credits. Quit it this senior year to pursue Calculus at a quicker pace. Taking Calc 2 this summer at uni. (pales in comparison to sophmores who get 5's on BC calc :p)</p>

<p>EC's and Awards</p>

<p>Volunteering (10, 11, [12])
175+ hrs w/local volunteer program in 2005, still doing a lot this year
"Volunteer of the Year" Award
President's Volunteer Service Award - Silver (175 ~ 249 hrs)
Advisory Board (11, [12])</p>

<p>Music (9, 10, 11, [12])
Concertmistress of Chamber group (11, [12])
Concertmistress of HS orchestra next year
President of Orchestra Board
A+ Solo Evaluation in Violin level 5/6 with different organizations (9-11)
All-County Music Festivals (9-12)
[Fingers crossed, Conference All-State Orchestra this year]</p>

<p>Science & Math
Science Olympiad (9 (MS Team), 10, 11, [12])
- Regional medals, and States 2nd place in Physics Lab in a very competitive SO state
Lab Assistant w/Physics Dept next year
Bausch&Lomb Award (highest sci award in school)
AIME Qualifier, highest AMC score in school</p>

<p>Other Important Stuff
Editor-in-Chief - School Newspaper (9-Contributor, 10-Editor, 11-EiC, 12-EiC), plan to convert into bi-weekly next year
Steering Committee - Youth Court (11, [12])
Treasurer - French Club (9-12), Co-President next year (what irony, with an AP 3)
Treasurer - FBLA, Bookstore Manager next year
President - NHS
Super Teen Award - NextStep Magazine
Varsity Tennis Team (9-12)
[National AP Scholar w/current AP scores]</p>

<p>I plan to go either engineering or medical (neuroscience), with some philosophy on the side. If I do go eng, I plan to also pursue an MBA. I think Princeton, Caltech, and MIT are the best choices (any other schools that are good fits?). So, will it be EA to MIT/Caltech or ED Princeton? Thanks so much for your input!!</p>

2

<p>you'll get in anywhere :)</p>

3

<p>match caltech
reach mit and priceton</p>

4

<p>The question is which colleges you like better. Do you like Princeton so much that you would forgo any other school for it, or would you rather have an "option" if you got into MIT or Cal Tech</p>

5

<p>Ineedsleep: I have a complex answer... I'm fine with going either way, but the student culture fits me better at MIT/Cal. However, I got waitlisted for Women's Technology Program at MIT (a competitive summer program)... and I have no idea why. I'll be happy at any of these three schools, unless an earthquake strikes California (as my earthquake engineer dad always warns -_-)</p>

<p>The shallow answer - I like the architecture at Princeton better. I'm a sucker for visual art.</p>

6

<p>Yeah I'm in basically the same situation as you, but with less stats. I'm going for the EA to many schools (MIT UofC CIT) rather than the ED to princeton, because I am not 100% confident that princeton is a better school for me because they won't let you double major.
If you are a woman as your s/n suggests, you will have a significant advantage at both MIT and CIT in the applicant pool and a (slight)disadvantage at princeton. </p>

<p>CIT wants to know that you love physics so make sure you jam that down thier throats. </p>

<p>Best of luck person who will leave one less spot for me!</p>

7

<p>Yea okay I'm a real sucker for looks as well...thats why Om going to Duke, but if you feel that you would be happier apply to Princeton. It's after all a great school (No Duh! lol) and since its science department is excellent as well, then go for it...well actually think hard first and thenn go for it. I actually nevered visited Princeton even tho I live like an hour and a half away, but I did like MIT's campus...but wherever you choose, I feel that you would have a good shot to get in anywhere.</p>

8

<p>Princeton: Slight Reach (Match ED)
Caltech: Slight Reach (Match EA)
MIT: Reach (Slight Reach EA)</p>

9

<p>I think you have good chances at all three but I think you are stronger at MIT and Caltech because of your gender, so I'd apply at both EA.</p>

10

<p>mikenthemaddog: "I am not 100% confident that princeton is a better school for me because they won't let you double major."</p>

<p>thats the exact reason why I'm nto EDing Princeton. I love the whole school, everything, but I want to do a double major so I decided that I wouldn't ED. Too bad they don't allow such a thing....what do you want to double major in? I want to do math and econ.</p>

11

<p>The salutatorian of our class is a legacy at Princeton, and he will undoubtedly apply ED. That will hurt my chances, won't it?</p>

12

<p>yea it could...but u never know. But I think that Cal Tech and MIT would def take you so you would have options</p>

13

<p>even if he would hurt you, a lot more people apply at princeton than just that one salutatorian in your class. one more or less applicant is irrelevant. if you have what it takes, you'll outshine whoever applies. </p>

<p>i think you're more fit at caltech than anything though. you mentioned yourself you go well with the atmosphere, and i personally believe that is more important than architecture. say you do get in to princeton. neuroscience and engineering both are not exactly breezy majors; you'll be so busy with coursework and social life you probably won't notice the beauty of the campus anymore.</p>

14

<p>Thanks for everybody's responses!</p>

<p>So the general consensus is to apply to Caltech/MIT EA? I do have a couple worries though (who isn't, when it comes to big college decisions :p). </p>

<p>First, my rejection from Women's Technology Program at MIT - is that a foreshadowing of a possible MIT rejection? </p>

<p>How about the over-representation of Asians at MIT/Caltech? </p>

<p>And finally, my lack of "prestigious" science/math awards, etc. - is my passion for math/science shining through with my current activities? </p>

<p>Thanks for addressing these concerns!</p>

15

<p>A talented musician! I like that :). I too was in the All State Orchestra (California). Of course, as a Princetonian, I would encourage Princeton ED, but it's your call. Just apply to whatever school fits you the best.</p>

16

<p>summer programs can only be a positive thing. i don't think being rejected (you were still waitlisted, so that must say something) would have any bearings on you as a college applicant, unless you were completely out of the ballpark - which isn't the case judging by your initial post. remember - their programs draw students from all over the country, some of whom aren't necessarily interested in attending the institution that hosts them. even if you did get rejected from mit, you applied to caltech ea too, so it's hard to say. most likely mit would just defer you. </p>

<p>er, from what i've heard, the asian population at mit is extremely varied (from the typical stereotype to the cool druggies to the actually interesting people, especially on the east side)... no worries there, i'm sure you'll find your niche somewhere, be it asian or not. i've only visited caltech once, and though it wasn't my place to begin with, i got the distinct impression that the asians seemed more... rigid. i don't know, someone from caltech please say something more helpful and substantiated.</p>

<p>prestigious awards... honestly, i wouldn't dwell too much on your achievements; at this point there's really nothing you can do. you're already a senior and embarking on any large projects would only show a short term, last-minute burst. i would focus more on the quality of your application. way too many hotshots with awesome usamo scores and all that other crap have been denied (an acquaintance from malaysia who set a record for his country in imo was turned away from mit). it says something about what colleges are looking for. princeton seems more of the type that would pay attention to such details, which was another reason why i encouraged you to apply caltech/mit ea. they seem less bureaucratic (plus mit has an awesome admissions team ^.~!).</p>

17

<p>To tell anyone, female or otherwise, that CIT is a slight reach is just stupid. This is an Asian female with great stats among MANY Asian females with great stats. The numbers are there but we have no idea what her recs will say and how well she'll pull off the application. Whenthe stats are there, that's all that matters.</p>

18

<p>Concerning math/science awards, I think the passion is slightly less obvious than it is for other MIT/Caltech applicants. It won't be a huge negative really; you'll just have to use the essay to demonstrate your passion.</p>

19

<p>math competitions aren't the only way to show your passion.</p>

20

<p>So... the question I have is: being the typical math/science leaning but still relatively well-rounded female Asian candidate, would I stand out more in the MIT/Caltech early applicant pool or the Princeton one?</p>