<p>Hey. I'd appreciate any input. My first post.</p>
<p>SAT: m760 v690 w650 (didn't study-retaking starting senior year and will probably boost v & w 700+)
SATII: Math IIC 790, Chem 780, Physics 730, Biology 720
ACT: 32 comp- Eng(33) Math(35) Read(29) Science(32)
(33+35+29+32)/4=32.5 (didn't study-planning on eventually ending up with a 34 after retaking)</p>
<p>ECs: Eagle Scout. Competitive Rower: state champion two consecutive years and was in my school's national boat (came out 6th in the nation). Emergency Room volunteer. Have played the clarinet for 7 years. Am in the Florida Youth Orchestra. Mu Alpha Theta Member. Math & Science Team. Big in science research. I'm also a professional paintball player so that probably makes me interesting in one way or another- could that hurt me?</p>
<p>Junior year classes: Calc AB AP, Stat AP, Psych AP, Eng Lang AP, Phys B AP, Span Lit H (but took the Span Lang AP exam)- taking Calc BC over summer
Senior: Multi Calc, Euro AP, Eng Lit AP, Bio AP,Spanish Lit AP
GPA 4.4
Ethnicity: Hispanic</p>
<p>what are my chances? would it be more intelligent to go Pton ED? Both schools have strong rowing programs so either would be a nice thing for me but I have been kind of set of harvard because I have a lot of friends that are already there. any input would be great.</p>
<p>Yes. It was only for the Class of 2007 that you could apply EA to Harvard and ED to no more than one ED school. Even then, both Princeton and Brown refused to go along with the quirky NACAC regulation, and reiterated that applying there ED ruled out ANY other early application.</p>
<p>Harvard "lost" about 80 of its EA admits for the Class of '07 who were forced to decline admission because of binding agreements with ED schools (then including Yale and Stanford.)</p>
<p>This almost led to a decision by a clearly-irritated Harvard refusing to honor the binding nature of ED agreements in the future, but eventually it "settled" for the SCEA compromise, along with Yale and Stanford.</p>
<p>One of my main concerns with applying ED Pton is that I would very much like to go into medicine and am applying to a few of the BS/MD programs (Northwestern, Brown, Miami, Boston). The benefit is that once your in, your also into the med. school. So MCATs aren't really as big of a deal (understatement). So if I got in ED Pton, I would possibly lose that. At the same time, I'm not entirely sure (if anyone can be sure about something like this) that I am a very strong candidate for schools like Harvard and Pton, so it may be a wise decision to improve my chances by applying ED Pton (they accept almost half their entering class ED).</p>
<p>I honestly believe that with your stats, interesting ECs, and URM status, you will get in wherever you apply early. Do whichever one feels right to you; your chances at the two schools are virtually identical.</p>
<p>Going to Princeton as a premed is basically the same thing as attending a BS/MD program....sort of. Like 90% of Princeton premed's get into medical school. Take a look at: </p>
<p>A couple of things. There is, as at other top schools, a "weeding" process that goes on in the premed courses, so that the stats re the seniors often don't tell the whole story. However, if you work hard, you will do fine. Keep in mind also that some say that Brown's tiny PLME is just about the hardest program around to get into. However, with your record, your URM status, and your ER experience, you are very promising. If you can raise your V and W, you have everything going for you. Choose the school that feels right and offers the best opportunities.</p>
<p>Have you sent an athletic resume/profile to the crew coaches at Princeton and Harvard? You want to start communicating with them. You will get a sense of who really wants you. Second, have you been contacted by the colleges' admission offices? Harvard says that they have sent out marketing material to 70,000 students and that 90% of their minority admits this year were contacted via the College Board Search that Harvard did.</p>
<p>I've sent in all my info to crew coaches. I have received some stuff from Harvard and Pton but their information wasn't minority specific. Yale has sent me a lot of URM info. I'd have to say that I've received the least material from Harvard.</p>
<p>You have absolutely wonderful chances! I'd say the hardest part is deciding where to apply now! </p>
<p>I personally think you should apply to Harvard EA. You'll probably get into both Harvard and Princeton, if you apply to the latter in the RD round. Then you can make that really hard decision!</p>
<p>I know a lot of people think highly of the PLME program, but I know a guy who really hates that he chose Brown over Harvard because of PLME. Apparently he's miserable at Brown (I don't know why, maybe the weather?). Just a thought...</p>
<p>Thanks masamune. I am very grateful that you could share your friend's personal experience with me. Does anyone think that mentioning being a professional paintball player would hurt me? The sport has somewhat of a negative/militaristic/hobby-for-wierdos image (an incorrect image I might add- tournament paintball is very different), but at the same time it is considered the third most popular extreme sport and the fastest growing extreme sport. Rather than tagging (or as some non-paintball-savy persons would put it: "killing") opponents is not the main object of the game. It is a capture the flag based format with a very strict point system. There are also numerous refs on the field at all times to ensure fair play. It is also one of the safest sports: Sports Injuries Report</p>
<p>SPORT / Yearly injuries per 1000 Participants</p>
<p>It is also something that I have committed 7+ years to. If you want to get somewhat of an idea of what tournament paintball is like, check out this short clip: </p>
<p>I wouldn't just mention being a paintball player. In one of your essays I would explain why the stereotype of paintball is unfair and find a way to make paintball a metaphor for your approach to the life of the mind.</p>
<p>Brown's PLME is actually NOT the hardest to get into. Northwestern's HPME is definitely harder--significantly higher SAT average (1535 vs 1430); higher class rank (top 1% vs top 2%), and tougher SAT II requirements (must be chem, math2c, writing and the average total was 2300 last year). WashU's "program" is the hardest to get in because probably only one person (or maybe none) gets in every year and you have to maintain 3.8 GPA and MCAT of 36--more just a WashU's admission ploy to get the very best students apply there.</p>
<p>umm, I would recommend you apply Harvard EA, since, as earlier posters have stated, you are an extremely strong applicant and likely to be accepted to both. Applying EA to Harvard gives you the flexibility of applying elsewhere in the regular round compared to being "stuck" with Princeton if you were accepted there early.</p>