Ok, what are my chances for Regular Decision?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
1

<p>I go to a boarding school in New Jersey that uses a 6.0 scale. 6.0 is virtually impossible to get and is equivalent to an A++ or a 4.0++, 5.5 is A+ or 4.0+, 5.0 is A or 4.0, etc. Getting above a 5.0 is pretty difficult.</p>

<p>Anyway...freshman year I had a 5.0 GPA, sophomore year I had a 5.3 GPA. Took all the honors I could. Junior year I studied abroad in China on the SYA (School Year Abroad, based out of Phillips Academy) program...lived with a host family, became fluent in Chinese, took classes at a Chinese high school but classes were taught by American prep school teachers (except Chinese, which was taught by some of the best Chinese teachers, 12 periods a week). This was the best year of my life, I learned a LOT, and I'm trying to emphasize this in my apps and write my essays about my experience in China.</p>

<p>Anyway...I got a 5.4 GPA this semester. The valedictorian in my class had a 5.7 and he got into Yale. I'm in the top 5% or 10% of my class of 128 (my school won't give us our actual ranks). As for SATs, I have a 2290 on the reasoning test (760V/760M/770W) and 770 in Chinese, 720 in Literature, and 640 in Chem (A+ in the class, but we all seemed to do not that great on the SAT II).</p>

<p>I do ECs like the school paper, literary magazine, model UN...and I have some activities like film production, after school chemistry, rec squash, cross country, basketball. I also started playing guitar half a year ago. I don't have any really big leadership/community service things.</p>

<p>I'll have two outstanding recs, one from my Chinese teacher and one from my Asian Studies teacher, whose classes I got 6.0s in. They love me and they think I'm one of the best students they've ever had.</p>

<p>I think my essays were pretty damn good, interesting, and original. I've been told I write well.</p>

<p>I think that's basically it. We don't have any academic competitions or really big clubs and societies that bigger public schools have. I regret not doing more freshman and sophomore years, but I can't change that now.</p>

<p>Do you think I have a chance? I'm applying to Berkeley, Georgetown, George Washington, Princeton, Penn, Tufts, Harvard, Columbia, and Northwestern.</p>

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<p>Also, I'd like to add that the GPAs I have written are unweighted.</p>

3

<p>Well, ECs are kinda crappy for Princeton. Good luck. Your unique situation could really help you. But no one really knows how to get into Princeton... :) So can't really say much other than, don't be surprised if you're rejected, and I bet you it would be because of the skimpy ECs.</p>

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<p>****.</p>

<p>I just visited today and I'm ****ing obsessing over it. I must go. >_<</p>

<p>My interview is on Tuesday...my last chance to do something big.</p>

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<p>I look around at the kids I see at Princeton..Harvard...Columbia...and I think to myself "***? How did these kids get in?" Some look smart and studious, but some of the kids just look ditzy and average. I'm not judging them on how they 'look', but on how they act and carry themselves. I find it hard to believe that some ditzy girls I saw today are geniuses.</p>

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<p>uhh, just make sure you don't say anything about "ditzy and average kids" during your interview...</p>

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<p>I won't. It was just an observation. When I read about kids on this site who apply to Princeton with all 800s and amazing grades and stuff, I wonder where the hell they are at these schools. </p>

<p>Also, would you say this site attrats the upper echelon of applicants? I mean, straight 800s can't be average, right? Is there any place that has information on the average applicant to a school like Princeton?</p>

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<p>definitely, CC is not very representative of the majority of applicants at all. to find stats about score ranges, etc visit collegeboard.com or princetonreview.com</p>

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<p>Ok...because reading this site depresses me and makes me feel like my chances are very, very low if I'm competing with these kids. </p>

<p>Those sites are great for finding profiles of the FRESHMAN class, but I'm looking for profiles of the APPLICANT pool. Is such information available?</p>

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<p>The only group that could provide that information would be the Admissions office, so I doubt you will find much there.</p>

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<p>I'm just looking for educating guesses, obviously. I know I can't know for sure.</p>

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<p>Bump.......</p>

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<p>Some of the other Ivies post such information, and based on that I believe the average applicant to Princeton would be roughly in the top 3-4% of their class w/ a 2100 SAT.</p>

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<p>How are they in such a high percentile but have a relatively low SAT? Maybe my school is just much more competitive.</p>

15

<p>Im copying this directly off FAQfarm.com</p>

<p>According to collegeboard.com the middle 50% of 1st year students scores on their SATs were: * Verbal: 680- 770 * Math: 690 - 790 So that is the area to try and aim for. If you are wondering about the test scores and other information about colleges collegeboard.com is a good place to get the basic information you may need.</p>

<p>If you want to double check me, the website is </p>

<p><a href="http://www.faqfarm.com/Q/What_is_the_SAT_score_required_to_get_into_Princeton%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.faqfarm.com/Q/What_is_the_SAT_score_required_to_get_into_Princeton&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>But as far as your actual chances go, I think that studying in China will definately help you, as it sets you apart from all other applicants... It also defines you as a person thats willing and determined to experience other places and situations. Your ECs obviously arent the best, but according to what you said, you couldnt really do much about that, as it was all that was offered. After you've subtly described your situation to Princeton, i think you have a fair shot. Just make sure you exaggerate your experiences in China. Good luck! z8D</p>

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<p>I think you're solid. You definitely show a strong interest in one field (Asian Studies), strong scores and academic record, and broad outside interests. Doing so well on the Chinese SAT II is incredible, seeing as practically everyone who takes it is a native speaker. No one's going to blame you for not having club/competition opportunities, but you took excellent advantage of the opportunites you did have. I believe what you say about your recs and essays, and if you really expressed your interest in Princeton in your app, I'd be far from surprised if you got in. (But then again, I'm not on adcom. None of us are.)</p>

<p>Everything else looks good, except maybe Berkeley. Did you take Math IIC? You didn't list a score, but you need a math SAT II to even apply to Berkeley. If the score trumps your Chem score, even better. Which school did you apply to at Gtown?</p>

17

<p>Thanks, frozen-tears.</p>

<p>I did take Math I (decided to take it at the last minute, the day before the test) but did not post my score because I'm really embarrassed of it. I got a 610. v_v Odd, because the night before I took an online practice test and got about 23 out of 25 questions right (I only did half of it) and assumed I would be solid. I've also always been quite good at math (A+ in Calc AB this year). Well, I guess I either forgot a lot of the stuff I learned a few years ago, I made lots of careless errors, or there was some error in the grading machine. I considered paying $50 for a score investigation, but I decided that I'd just work hard and calc and retake the SAT I to boost my math score up. I did not write my Math I score on any applications, but I know that the College Board sends all your scores to colleges. I just hope that the adcom will be able to see my grade in math this year and my SAT I Math score and know that my Math I is probably just a fluke.</p>

<p>I applied to the Faculty of Languages and Cultures in the College at Georgetown. If I go there, I will double major in Chinese and Philosophy. I considered the School of Foreign Service, but I decided a liberal arts education would be best, as I want to keep my options open.</p>

18

<p>Oh my god, I am SO relieved now. I just got back from my interview. It went GREAT! The guy was super-friendly and I think he really liked me. We talked for about an hour.</p>

<p>Now I wait :)</p>