Please Chance me For Princeton and other Elites

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): N/A
ACT (breakdown): 32 (E 35, M 32, R 33, S 29, W 10)
SAT II: Math I 740, US History 770
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.25 (unweighted unknown)
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 9/295
AP (place score in parenthesis): AP Calc AB Subscore (5), BC (4), Eng Lang (4), Human Geography (5), US (5), World (5), AP Physics B and Chem did not report
IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: AP Statistics, AP Environmental Science, AP Comparative Government, AP English Lit, AP US Government, Health&PE, ITE 119 dual enrolled, AP French, and AP Euro self-study
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
Eagle Scout, Congressional Award Silver Medalist, Military Child of the Year 2014 Top-5 Finalist, Rock the Statue Green American-French Embassy Semi-Finalist, Gold Level Presidential Volunteer Service Award, AP Scholar with Distinction, National Merit Scholarship Commended, West Point Leadership Award, VA Boys State Lt. Governor Party Nomination Runner-Up, National Honor Society (Sec.), 2015 US Senate Youth Program Virginia Delegate</p>

<p>Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
Varsity Swim Team 10-12 (Captain, VHSL 3rd Place Boys Team)
Varsity Forensics 9-12 (Captain, VHSL 3rd Place Prose Interp)
Student Council Association 9-12 (9-Class Treasurer, 10-Class Rep, 11 School VP, 12- School Pres)
Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society 11-12 (Special Events Coordinator)
Boy Scouts 1-12 (Senior Patrol Leader among other things)
Model United Nations 10-12 (Research Chair, Best Delegate at Maggie Walker and William&Mary conferences)
Student2Student (transfer student group) 9-12 (Founder at new high school and President 10-12, Frances Hesselbein Student Leadership Program Participant)
EqualizeOurEarth Humanitarian Club 10-12
Société Honoraire de Français and French Club 9-12 (VP-12)
Freshmen Orientation Crew (freshmen mentoring) 11-12 (Captain-12)
VA Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Seminar 10-12 (Ambassador-10, Junior Staff and Leadership4Service Keynote Speaker-11, Team Alumni-12, Alumni Association Public Relations and Recruitment Team Board Member 11,12)</p>

<p>Job/Work Experience:
Lifeguard at an indoor retirement community’s health club and spa’s pool year-round 10-12 (15-19 hrs/wk)
AidData Research Assistant at the College of William&Mary, mapping aid to developing countries, its implantation and effectiveness
School Division Honors Project, an oral history project of my town</p>

<p>Volunteer/Community service:
Probably near the thousands if I add up all four years. I did 350 hours junior year.
KidZone, elementary afterschool program 9
Missouri Special Olympics 9
Eagle Scout Service Project 9/10
Chemical Corps Regimental Association 9 (Volunteer of the Year 2012)
Freshmen O-Crew 11-12 (Captain)
Therapeutic Horseback Riding Center Weekly Volunteer 10-12
French, English and History Honor Society Tutor
National History Day Projects middle school mentor 11-12
Capernaum Special Needs Club Volunteer 10-12
Summer League Swim Team Volunteer Assistant Coach 11-12
Honors Project Community Service Element, introducing technology to the lives of aging adults 11-12
VA HOBY Alumni Association, VA HOBY Seminar Junior Staff</p>

<p>Summer Activities:
Lifeguarding Job
Virginia Boys State
Volunteering
Nicaraguan Mission Relief Trip
Stanford Online’s International Women’s Health and Human Rights for no credit</p>

<p>Essays (rating 1-10, details):
Common App- 7/10 about growing up in a military family and overcoming my fear of the doorbell as a child.
Princeton Sup- 8.5/10 I told a story of a WWII veteran I work with and how my job taught me to love history as the stories people tell and not just words read from a textbook.
^^^I think is what I'm going to use.</p>

<p>Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):
Teacher Rec #1: AP Human/APUSH teacher, swim coach, rho kappa and EqualizeOurEarth sponsor, Yale alumna- didn’t read, but assume 10/10
Teacher Rec #2: Student2Student sponsor and librarian who mentors my online classes (AP Environ, Comp Gov and World last year), knows me very well and was a military brat- didn’t read but assume 10/10
Counselor Rec: Knows me very well, work with him often, told me he spent over an hour writing and editing (which at a public school like mine is incredible)- didn’t read but assume it was also 10/10.
Additional Rec: Did not submit
Interview: Not happened yet</p>

<p>Other
Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: Woodrow Wilson Politics and Gender and Sexuality Studies and Global Health/Health Policy
State (if domestic applicant): VA
Country (if international applicant): N/A
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: M
Income Bracket: ~115,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Not much, I just love people. Is that a hook?</p>

<p>Reflection:
Yale rejected me SCEA.
I was sincerely disappointed.
Honestly, I was upset and surprised I wasn’t deferred. But I respect Yale’s decision, and I’m beginning to feel comfortable with knowing it’s for the best. I fell in love with Yale when I visited. The incredible, humble and passionate student body propelled me to apply early action.
Four girls were admitted to Princeton early from my school (two below my rank and two above), which is really unprecedented. I’m so proud to be part of such an amazing class of high school graduates! And their decisions opened my eyes to the amazing school Princeton is.</p>

<p>Strengths: ECs, Service, Awards, Recs
Weaknesses: Test Scores, Test Scores, Test Scores (taking the ACT again in Feb), essays and Bs in AP Physics B/Physics Lab and AB Calculus.
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: No idea
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: Rejected Yale SCEA</p>

<p>General Comments:
The outpouring of love and thoughtful notes from those who actually know me assures me that it is nothing personal. I don’t know what’s next. But honestly, it’s going to be a pretty exciting, undiscoverable adventure for the next few months!
I just want to help people. All I’ve ever really wanted to do is serve. And I know I don’t have to go to Yale to do that; I’ve been doing it for years without Yale even in the picture. I guess there’s just somewhere else that needs my rays of sunshine more than New Haven.</p>

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<p>Please feel free to recommend schools that may be a good fit too!</p>

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<p>By all means apply to Princeton. Impossible to say what your odds might be or of anyone applying there. If you are genuinely excited about applying to Princeton because of programs it offers or academic opportunities that is about 100% better than students who apply solely on the basis of chasing prestige. If you can make sure in your application and your interview that (a) you really understand what Princeton has to offer, and (b) you will take advantage of all this is offered it will position you better. Being able to articulately explain “why Princeton” is a big part of getting in. What do you think you want to study or what career field interests you at this point? Smart kids with good test scores are everywhere. Smart kids who know what their goals are not so much</p>

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<p>Thanks so much!
I definitely want to go into Human Development (international education and public health policy), so undergrad interest are international relations, political science, government, gender and sexuality studies etc. I’m relatively undecided, so I appreciate Princeton’s openness and ease of double majoring and flexibility with declaring a major. :)</p>

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<p>Everything looks good except for your ACT. Still your ECs will probably balance those out.</p>

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<p>I think your ACT really hurts your shot at Princeton. Everything else looks really great! </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>If you want to double major, Princeton may not be the right fit.</p>

<p>From the Princeton website:
Can I double major?
Degree and departmental honors at Princeton are granted in one department only. As such, students may not double major. </p>

8

<p>Hello!</p>

<p>First, the Princeton website says that the last ACT testing date allowed is December, but the last SAT testing date is January. Perhaps you might want to try to take the SAT or retake your SAT II in Math, but if you still prefer the ACT, I would check some other schools that allow a later date (e.g. Duke). </p>

<p>Besides your test scores (and maybe rank), your GPA is pretty good, so just keep on doing well for the midyear report. Your awards, extracurricular activities, and community service are 1000% and match up to “Princeton in the nation’s service and in the service of all nations.” Based on these, you have a good chance! </p>

<p>For the essays, I have a feeling that they are great and convey your love of working with and helping people. You need to make sure that this comes across genuinely (because let’s be honest, some people say these types of things in their applications but do not demonstrate it every day). In addition, the theme of your Common Application and that of the supplement are just a little bit similar, describing experiences related to the military/history - just something to keep in mind when you look at your application overall.</p>

<p>Although a double major is not allowed, Princeton does have certificate programs, which can be similar to or completely different from your major. They have a Gender and Sexuality Studies certificate and a wide variety of other things <a href=“http://admission.princeton.edu/whatsdistinctive/certificate-programs”>http://admission.princeton.edu/whatsdistinctive/certificate-programs&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Some other schools I would suggest are Duke, UVA (which you already applied to?), Dartmouth, University of Chicago, Washington University in St. Louis, Northwestern University, Williams College, University of Pennsylvania (Huntsman), and Harvard (who knows?) but I am not sure of the ACT/SAT deadlines for them. Nevertheless, it’s always good to try!</p>

<p>Feel free to PM/contact me for more specific information. I’d be happy to look at your essays or discuss anything else with you :slight_smile: Good luck!</p>

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<p>Thanks so much @mmmmmmmmm‌ , @Musktard‌ , and @crimsonwarrior‌ . Princeton appeals to me because of the flexibility of its certificate programs and activities, but I definitely worry about the ACT test scores. </p>

<p>@mayee107‌ You’re the greatest! I did look into the testing deadlines, and you’re definitely right. December was the last. I was hoping for the ACT because then the low SAT IIs wouldn’t hurt me much either because I wouldn’t be using an SAT score. I think I’ve decided to take the Jan SAT though because about half my schools do accept the Feb ACT and the other half do not. I hope my rank doesn’t hurt (the other two girls who got in have worse ranks than mine), but I understand how it might. </p>

<p>Ugh. I wish I could test. Or at least I wish that they’d give me a solid chance to meet them and introduce myself, so they could get a perception of who I really am. </p>

<p>Interstellar moment: mens’ waistlines are measured by two numbers, but you’re telling me my future at potential universities is determined by a single number? Shoooooot.</p>

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<p>@cvisser96 - it’s rather late to be seeking recommendations for schools that might be a good fit! I would hope you already have a list of schools you intend to apply to, your transcript and recommendations have already been sent, and you are hard at work on sprucing up your common app and finishing your supplements.</p>

<p>Most important is to recognize that RD acceptance at elite colleges is extremely competitive, and it is important to apply to a range of schools, not just a group of elites and a single backup, unless you certain you would be happy to attend the backup if you are rejected from all the other schools. You are obviously a very well qualified candidate for any college, but most qualified candidates are rejected by these schools.</p>

<p>Besides Princeton, where else do you intend to apply?</p>

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<p>@BldrDad‌ I definitely do have a list of sorts. But things seem to be jumbled this week by Yale’s rejection of me. I mostly wanted to compare others’ recommendations with my interests.
Luckily all the schools I’m looking at (besides Georgetown) are CommonApp, and my guidance department uses CommonApp for recs and transcripts, so my schools are all determined by what I decide in the next 10 days (or by Jan 15 for those deadlines). </p>

<p>Princeton, Duke, UVA, Dartmouth (haven’t decided on Swarthmore, Penn, Brown, Carleton, Georgetown or Vanderbilt)</p>

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** 2210 SAT I single sitting **