Please Chance Me- Princeton RD

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
1

<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 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>Also, how about Dartmouth, Duke (in competition for the Robertson), UVA (in competition for the Jefferson), Vanderbilt, Georgetown, or any other schools you may recommend for me?</p>

3

<p>I agree with the idea of re-taking the ACT in Feb. Make sure you have your scores reported directly to Princeton so they arrive in time for consideration with the rest of your application. Otherwise you appear to be a viable candidate. It will come down to whether or not your application strikes a chord with the admissions committee. </p>

<p>I can’t comment on the other schools as I am not as familiar with them but I would certainly encourage you to apply to them all if you are interested in them, along with some ‘safeties’. And I wish you the best of luck in the admissions process!!</p>

4

<p>Thank you @Cantiger‌ ! I appreciate the support!
I realize that Princeton may not even consider the Feb ACT (so, it looks like I’ll try my luck with the Jan SAT?)
We’ll see how it goes, hopefully, if I’m lucky, I’ll be able to call Princeton home one day.</p>

5

<p>Yes, do retake the ACT. In my humble opinion, the science section is the easiest to see a marked improvement in scores. You actually don’t need to know much science. It’s all about being able to interpret charts and analyze data. The more you practice the easier it becomes. I’ve seen many kids go from the high 20’s to a 35 or 36 in this section just from learning how to take the test. As for chances, I don’t think you should waste your time soliciting random stranger’s opinions about this, would anyone have predicted you would be rejected and not deferred at Yale? There’s just too many variables that go into making the decisions Adcoms do. I would look over your essays before applying RD anywhere. Very often, there is something that can be improved in the essays, when kids with otherwise competitive credentials are outright rejected. Good luck with everything!</p>

6

<p>@Falcon1‌ thanks!
I really do appreciate the feedback. I know I’ve got to get on the ball to wrap up applications, but I figured this may help target the areas I need to work on the most.
I definitely will review my CommonApp to ensure it’s sans problems, and I also will edit and work out my essays too.
When I checked in with my GC today to go over my recs (I didn’t read them, but he reviewed them for me), he assured me they’re solid and very revealing. He also told me what he wanted to get across with his rec was how I am the “most selflessness student he’s ever known,” and how he, “doesn’t understand how I do it all.” Not going to lie, I had tears in my eyes. He’s a great GC, and I just want to make him proud! </p>

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<p>Test scores and class rank are the main things I guess. I would definitely try to get your ACT or SAT up. Good luck.</p>

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** 2210 SAT I single sitting **

9

I think you have a very good shot at Princeton. But right now, I’m assuming your application is already in so I think you should just wait. The chance threads and all this speculation is pointless. Princeton, not the chance threads, decides if you can get in or not.

Sorry about not getting into Yale. The competition is extremely fierce, especially for SCEA, so you shouldn’t feel bad at all.

Good luck to you when decisions come out!

10

2210 is about 33 on the ACT, so an improvement there. Also, how competitive is your high school? That way it allows me to interpret your ranking in context. And is your weighted GPA 4.25 or unweighted 4.25? Because its says unweighted and then you say unweighted unknown so i am confused.

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@boomboom123‌ Sorry for the confusion, W is 4.25 and UW is unknown.
For your context, my class is incredibly competitive. 4 girls got into Princeton early from my school, two with higher ranks and two with lower.

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You got pretty good chances I would say, Did you retake Feb ACT? If so, what score?

13

You don’t have to worry about the B, that is why context is so important, if your class is super hard and filled with hardworking smart people and they all get B, you should be treating that B as an A. It is all in context, which is one of the most important things in admissions. Since let’s say in average people who get in Princeton take 5 AP classes in hs, then is someone who took IB Curriclum going to be rejected? No, they took IB and the officers won’t expect the student to take AP classes or AP exams.

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@boomboom123 haha no, I actually thought it was the Saturday after it actually was, and I missed it… But obviously (by the fact that I misses it) I was checked out by then. I didn’t see it truly affecting my application.