Princeton Early Action Class of 2024

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
21

Okay, so I’m applying EA for Princeton, and Princeton has been my dream school for a while. I’ve already submitted my application, and now I’ll just anxiously wait until December 13th. Here are my stats:

Race: Hispanic(Colombia)
Gender: Female
ACT: 34
SAT II: Literature 750, Spanish 800, Math II N/A(Taking it in October, expecting an 800)
AP: European History(5), Psychology(5), English Language(5), Seminar(5), U.S. History(5), Calculus AB(5), Spanish Language(5), Physics 1(3), taking Biology, English Literature, Microeconomics, U.S. Government, Calculus BC, and Research this year. I self-studied for Spanish Language and Physics 1.
Rank: 1 out of 51 in a competitive catholic high school.
GPA: 4.0 UW/4.4898 W

ECs:
School Activities-
Concert Band(First Chair: Saxophone)
Junior Civitan Service Club(President)
Spanish Honor Society(President 11th grade, Student Advisor Currently)
Mu Alpha Theta(Captain)
National Honor Society(Community Service Director)
Pep Band(First Chair: Saxophone)
Spanish Club(Student Advisor)
Student Ambassador(Senior Leader)
Peer/Eucharistic Ministry(Rigorous selection process, catholic EC)

Community Activities-
UF Health VolunTEEN(Hospital volunteering)
Gainesville Youth Chorus(Student Leadership Team, regional televised soloist)
Baby Gator Child Development and Research Center Volunteer
St. Augustine Church Choir(Psalmist)
Tony and Al’s Restaurant(Hostess)
Breakthrough Junior Challenge(Semifinalist)
Advanced French Student(several regional competition awards, including the judge’s choice prize)

Awards-
National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar
National Merit Commended Scholar
Bertie Green Junior National Travel Award(Spanish Honor Society, only 24 students in the nation get selected each year)
1st Place-Regional Spanish Competition Team Award
Outstanding Leadership Award-Student Ambassador
AP Scholar(1st person in my school’s history to achieve this award in 10th grade because usually there’s a cap of 1 AP sophomore year)
AP Scholar with Distinction
Published Author(and working on several other books)

Intended Major: Neuroscience
Intended Minor: Music or Creative Writing

I honestly have no idea if I’ll get in, and on the supplement I answered the ‘few questions’ part truthfully and openly. I also got to use my creative writing skills on the essay supplement(I answered the culture one) but I know I’ve done my best and I hope the AO sees something impressive or interesting in my application.
Good luck to everyone applying.

22

In most cases, it’s a waste. No need to be stressed, take it easy.

23

Hey! I’m applying early action as well.
My Stats:

Race: Hispanic(Colombia)
Gender: Female
ACT: 34
SAT II: Spanish 800, Literature 750, Math II(Will take in October, anticipating an 800)
APs: European History(5), Psychology(5), English Language(5), Seminar(5), U.S. History(5), Calculus AB(5), Spanish Language(5), Physics 1(3), currently taking Biology, English Literature, Calculus BC, Microeconomics, U.S. Government, and Research
Rank: 1 out of 51, competitive high school
GPA: 4.0 UW/4.4898 W

ECs:
School Activities-
Concert Band(First Chair: Saxophone)
Junior Civitan(President)
Spanish Honor Society(President 11th grade, student advisor 12th grade)
Mu Alpha Theta(Captain)
National Honor Society(Community Service Director)
Pep Band(First Chair: Saxophone)
Spanish Club(Student Advisor)
Student Ambassadors(Senior Leader)
Peer/Eucharistic Ministry

Community Activities-
UF Health VolunTEEN(Volunteer at a prestigious local hospital)
Gainesville Youth Chorus(Student Leadership Team, regional televised soloist)
Baby Gator Child Development and Research Center Student Volunteer
St. Augustine Church Choir(Psalmist)
Breakthrough Junior Challenge(Semifinalist)
Advanced French Student(several regional awards, including the judge’s choice prize)

Work-
Tony and Al’s Restaurant(Hostess)

Awards:
National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholar(PSAT scores)
National Merit Commended Scholar(PSAT scores)
Bertie Green Junior National Travel Award(Spanish Honor Society, prestigious award only given to 24 students nationally)
Holiday Traditions Spotlight Soloist(televised vocalist)
1st place team-regional spanish competition
AP Scholar
AP Scholar with Distinction
Outstanding Leadership Award for Student Ambassadors

24

Hi I’m also applying SCEA for an English major w/ MT certificate and I’m supes nervous. Expecting rejection but oh well

Stats:
Race: Half Filipino/White
Gender: Female
ACT: 33
SAT 1450 superscored
No SAT IIs rip
APs: World History (4), US History (5), Microecon (4), Environmental Science (4), Literature (5)
Rank: 11/603
GPA: 4.2 UW, 4.5 W

ECs:
School Activities-
Show Choir (Dance Captain, 3x soloist, pianist)
NHS (Treasurer)
Drama Dept.: Featured and Leading roles
High School Democrats (President)
DECA-business competition (International qualifier)
Improv Club (President)
Produced, directed, and acted in fundraising play for local nonviolence center
Volunteer at local food bank 3 hrs/week

Work:
Burger King (Cashier)

Awards:
National Merit Semifinalist
Spanish III Award
NATS Winner (singing competition) 2x
State Piano Competition Gold Certificate
AP Scholar w/ Distinction

Summers:
Exchange student to Japan on scholarship
Notre Dame Leadership Seminars (selective fly-in class)

Best of luck to everybody!

25

Omg wow all of you literally have amazing stats

26

Are you guys applying SCEA or RD to Princeton? Are there any clear advantages applying early if you are not legacy or an athlete?

27

@riazuluaga14 and @yayforapples and all others, your stats are amazing!
Good luck with your applications.
btw what are you guys submitted for the graded paper?

28

Thanks @maddy09 ! I’m submitting the IRA(research argument) that I wrote for my AP Seminar class. Wbu? I’m still kind of nervous though, because come on, it’s Princeton. I’m kind of worried about my short answers and ‘a few questions.(What IS my favorite word? There’s so many!)’

29

Thanks! I am submitting a paper I wrote in WHAP about a certain historical figure. I think it was pretty decent; I am not bad at expository writing due to my background in writing mathematical proofs.

Good luck everyone! May the stars shine in our favor.

30

I’m also applying SCEA, as Princeton is my dream school. Here are my stats:

Race: White
Gender: Male
SAT: 1580
SAT II: Math 2 800, Chemistry 800
AP Exams: World History(5), Statistics(5), Chemistry(5), Psychology(Self-Study)(5), Physics 1(5), US History (5), English Lang. & Comp.(4).
Currently taking: Physics C, Economics (Micro+Macro), Lit. & Comp., Calc BC, Comp Sci A, & Italian
Rank: 4/~540 at a fairly competitive school
GPA: 4.0 UW/~4.5 W (school doesn’t give weighted GPA on 4.0 scale)

ECs:
Student Gov: Vice President
National Honor Society: President
Foreign Language Honor Society: Vice President
History Honor society: Publicity Director
Will most likely hold officer positions in Math & Science Honor Societies, as well as Model UN
XC Team: Team Captain in both 11th & 12th grade.
Wrestling Team: Most likely captain in 12th grade
Boy Scouts: Senior Patrol Leader for 3 years, Eagle Scout project in progress
Science Research: Since freshman year, no major awards but I attended a selective summer program at a local university during summer as a rising senior, research submitted to professional conferences, possible publication in the works.

Awards:
AP Scholar w/ Distinction
National Merit Commended Scholar
Competed at the National History Bowl, qualified to return the following year but declined.
Recognized by my town for being selected to attend professional conferences at a prestigious lab
Foreign Language achievement award (school level, so not that important)
Recognized by my state senator for an innovative science research project
Name is on the “physics wall of honor” at my school, earned through a perfect score on the state physics exam.

Intended Major: Physics

My common app essay is really creative and well written, I still have to figure out something for the supplements. Hopefully the AO sees something they like.

31

wow @MemesAndDreams ! Those stats are awesome, and it shows that you’re definitely prepared to major in physics at a really prestigious school like Princeton(also, kudos to getting a 5 in AP Physics 1, that exam is really hard). What are you planning on submitting for a written paper?

Also, to everyone: I really want to do an interview. What about you? Do you guys think getting an interview gives you an advantage?

32

I’ve heard that most schools don’t weigh the interview heavily, but if you’re a good interviewer it couldn’t hurt. Is anyone submitting critical analysis papers or is everyone doing research? I also have a definition essay coming up that I might submit if it’s good (not technically creative, but erring on that side). Their instructions are pretty vague lol.

33

I’m submitting a research paper. I think that for the paper, it should be more expository, meaning that it doesn’t have to be technically creative, it should get to the point and explain a topic or argument concretely, as well as score highly.

You’re totally right about Princeton being vague in those instructions, by the way.

34

Hey guys,
I’ve already submitted my application, but I was wondering how much Princeton weights AP scores. I’ve received a 4/5 on all 8 of my exams except one: AP Latin. My school only had two students pass with a 3, and I got a 2. I had an A in the class all year. Will this be detrimental to my application?

35

@kate0593 I think that as long as you took the class, it wouldn’t be detrimental because Princeton will see that you’re challenging yourself. I’m kind of in the same situation myself(I have 5s on all my AP exams except for AP Physics 1, and it was such a hard test that only I passed, barely even though I had an A in my class all year), but what I did was on my common app on the additional information section I talked about how I self-studied for the AP Physics 1 exam and I scraped by with a 3. Maybe you can talk about how there were only two people passed, and Princeton will see on your transcript that you had an A the entire year. Honestly, the fact that you made an A on an AP class, and a hard one at that(several of my friends are taking AP Latin, and they grumble about the translations ALL THE TIME) shows that you’ve been challenging yourself and that you’ll excel in the hard classes you’ll have at Princeton.

36

Thank you so much!

37

Are any of you guys applying for financial aid?

38

I am not. I almost certainly wouldn’t get it anyway. I think anyway they should use their aid funds on other people who actually need it- if I did get it, I would just be leeching off of them essentially.

39

Good luck to everyone! Iḿ about to submit my application… was just wondering if you guys wrote your short summer and activity essay creatively or just got to the point. I dont know what they would want.

Also, is anyone else submitting a graded essay without any comments? My teacher from my junior year literally refused to reread my essay and make a couple comments… shes not a very cheerful lady even though I got such good grades in her class.

I hope to see you guys at Princeton in the fall! Its such a reach for me just because they never take anyone from my school (except for sports) but itd be my dream.

40

@benandjerrys101 I’m submitting a graded paper without comments because when I saved my file as a PDF, the comments didn’t save with it. However, my teacher did put ‘good work’ next to my 100%… so does that count? I wrote all of my essays creatively. I assume that you submitted your app already, so best of luck! I hope I see you in the fall at Princeton too!