<p>Ok, so I go to a great public high school that accepts a few kids to the Ivies each year. Generally, we send only one to Harvard/Yale/Princeton. In my grade, there is one guy that is definitely going to get in to Princeton. He is like a triple legacy, is SUPER smart, and plays hockey EXTREMELY well. So even though I have pretty good stats (maybe even a TINY bit better than him), I don't think my resume would be as good as his, especially with the legacy factor. Do you think I should try EA Princeton? Or should I set my sights on another school? I REALLY like Princeton but I think there would be no point if I know I can't get in. By the way, a similar thing happened to my brother a few years back. He was rejected from UPenn and another guy (legacy, donates a lot of money each year, etc.) got in even though he even had a few C's on his transcript! Anyways, I don't know if I should bother applying to Princeton now...</p>
<p>are you applying for class of 2017?</p>
<p>A legacy with grades on par with you will definitely get picked ahead of you if he applies EA with you. I know schools where 3-4 kids can get picked EA but if yours is not one of them, you should hedge your bets and find another EA school.</p>
<p>Last year, one student from my school had triple legacy to Stanford, he was the state speech and debate extempt champion, had a 4.5 weighted gpa and a perfect SAT. Sadly, he was not amongst the four students that was accepted.</p>
<p>Legacy isn’t everything. Just try your best. Don’t make conclusions just yet.</p>
<p>Depends on how you feel about taking a chance… if you apply w/o expectations they you will not be disappointed. Maybe the last minute the kid in your school would decide he wants to go to Harvard OR maybe they wont like his essay.<br>
Go ahead and take your shot! Maybe you will get lucky!
In my opinion it is not “PRINCETON” that is going to determine if in the end you will have a happy/successful life . If you are as you sound ( intelligent , mature, well adjusted) you will do well wherever you go. GD LK!
Marsha</p>
<p>You should apply if it’s your first choice. Otherwise, there are a lot of schools where you will have a (better?) chance. I doubt it would be the deciding factor.</p>
<p>You’re under the mistaken assumption that Princeton has some quota for admits from your HS. Whether or not you or this other guy get in – it won’t be because of any limit PTon feels it must adhere to. It doesn’t exist.</p>
<p>To assume one does, you assume that PTon “spreads the wealth” of acceptances among high schools. But for what purpose? Why should it bypass any great candidate because another has already been chosen from the same HS? Are they trying not to hurt people’s feelings? They will choose whom they want and in whatever quantity they want and from wherever they want. They could admit five from your school this year and admit zero for the next ten years. They won’t care – they aren’t beholden to anyone at your school – they want the best students for Pton, not to curry favor with HS counselors/principals.</p>
<p>What matters is the individual applicants. If you’re strong enough to be admitted, you will be. If the presence of this other applicant deters you from applying – well so be it. Then you really don’t want PTon that badly, IMHO.</p>
<p>Let’s be frank. Yours and everyone else’s chances are tough. You may well be rejected. But it won’t be because of this other guy.</p>
<p>I’d advise you apply EA if PTon is your first choice. Period. Good luck to you.</p>
<p>I would be extremely surprised if any college with as many applications as Princeton gets has the resources to even track the schools from which it accepts kids and then remembers to shut the gates on the remainder. From what I’ve read, that’s kind of an old wive’s tale propogated by kids who look for excuses for why they and their perfect application were found wanting… with all due respect to your brother. The question of “we’ve already taken one kid from there” would be too far down the list. Maybe if there are two really marginal cases, they might accept just the one. But, if this other kid is the sure thing you think he is (and, believe me, there are few sure things unless you have all the usual grades and stats and (a) your father or mother is a senator, and/or (b) you’ve starred in a movie that generates at least $150 million box office), I can’t see how his admission will weigh you down, especially if he’s drawn in as an athletic recruit (and there are fewer of those than you think - the Ivies have gotten much more competitive academically as they’ve become less expensive to poor kids relative to state schools). And if he’s not an athletic recruit, his hockey skills won’t count for much more than the kid who’s the All-city Chess champion - it’s just another kid who’s very good at something.</p>