So I wrote a small 2 page discussion based paper on Loop Quantum Gravity and string theory. I thought it serves perfectly as Princeton’s graded paper but its a little complicated since its on a topic which an average person does not know a lot about. Should I still submit it? Also, I have another paper I wanted to submit but I am not sure which one fits better so if someone is free then can they please take a quick look and let me know which is better??
I’m not qualified to review but they want 1-2 pages, with grade and teacher comments. If it’s your best work, don’t worry about the subject. It’s Princeton after all….they’ve got this.
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If they are well-written and got a good grade, submit either. I don’t think you need to be concerned about the comprehension of Princeton admissions folks, so if you like the first one you mentioned, that sounds fine. It sounds like you have two good essays so you can dial down the stress by just going ahead and submitting one.
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I respectfully disagree with @compmom who is more experienced than I am.
When contemplating what to submit I think you should consider 1) the audience 2) the intended purpose 3) context.
Most AOs will have come from a humanities background. Not a universal truth but a practical reality that most won’t be highly technical or scientific in their training.
The point of the submission is largely to help evaluate your capacity to communicate through your writing skills. They aren’t trying to assess whether or not you are a subject matter expert.
Lastly, AOs have large volumes of material to review and short allocations of time per application.
With this in mind I would not submit a paper that would “challenge” the understanding of the reviewer, who has limited time or inclination to research or Google terms. If at the end of the review the reader says to themselves great he/she got an A but what the heck does it mean, you will have failed.
Re read those under consideration and ask yourself can someone that doesn’t know me (or the subject matter), who is under a time constraint understand what is being communicated and does my paper inform and enhance their knowledge.
Effective communication should serve as your criteria versus trying to intellectually flex in my view.
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Both are on Physics and you have even read one of it. Both got the top most grade but I am just not sure because the limit is only 2 pages.
Well I think you are right about AOs being from a humanities background since I researched on my regional AO and they are are indeed from humanities background so that does pose the question of whether they will be able to fully comprehend it or not. But I had a follow up question. Isnt the entire point of this paper is to judge the student’s written expression in an academic setting and help admission officers evaluate the student’s potential contributions and ability to thrive in the University’s rigorous academic environment(taken from princeton’s site). So I dont think academic papers are papers anyone can understand without being a subject expert or putting in time to evaluate it. But I do share your concern. My primary concern was that they might get frustrated because the paper is a little harder to understand. I think I should just submit the one which is easier to comprehend.
You are trying to thread a needle. You can only impress someone with your ability to communicate when you “speak” to them not at them.
Up to you to determine how your essay reads.
I would submit the one that meets the length requirement.
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I really dont want to impress the AOs with my paper. I just want it to show that i am academically prepared but yea I get your point. thankyou
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That’s where the teacher comments come in.
I’m not of the opinion that the AO needs to understand the topic. They probably don’t know Beowulf either, but a well-written paper can still be submitted.
My concern is the instructions say a humanities paper is preferred. A 2 page expository essay on string theory is fine. A 2 page paper where half is scientific notation is not.
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If I’m reading right two years ago the admit rate was 6.4%. Last year it was not published but must I see online suggest under 5%.
The best and brightest apply to Princeton. I would safely assume they see hard core papers in various subjects. If you have a paper with teacher comments, you might go with that since they note they want to see those.
Don’t assume your admission counselor will be reading this. Truth is you don’t know who or how many will.
Per their website, they’d prefer an English, History, or Social studies paper but if you don’t have that, go with what you have.
You’re far overthinking in the sense, Princeton is likely a harder admit than your previous two noted. I hope you get in but if you don’t a wonderful paper will likely not be why.
Per what they wrote they want to see how you express yourself in an academic environment.
Choose the one you feel is most worthy and don’t look back.
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A 2 page paper where half is scientific notation is not.
No it does not have scientific notation. It just analyses String theory and quantum loop gravity as a contender for the unified field theory. I tried to show they both try to unify GR and QM without using a lot of mathematics.
Yeaa you are absolutely right. I just dont know which is better and shows my academic preparedness better. I like both of them, I am just so confused right now.
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Do you have an English, History, or Social Studies paper ?
Otherwise go with the one that has teacher comments.
Otherwise go with the first because it’s the one you like more.
And move on to apps at less prestigious, but not lesser schools…that are easier to get into such as F&M.
You’re overthinking this.
Do you have an English, History, or Social Studies paper ?
Nah, I am an intenational student. We dont write papers
Otherwise go with the one that has teacher comments.
Actually none of them have comments but my Physics teacher agreed to write comments since he gave the comments verbally.
And move on to apps at less prestigious, but not lesser schools…that are easier to get into such as F&M.
But arent the less prestigious schools harder to get into since I am asking for a lot of aid? But yea I am working on their apps. F&M’s deadline is much later but Princeton’s is in less than a week
What you ask for is not relevant. What they determine you need is relevant.
It will depend on your need. But if you claim you have little money then you need whatever schools meet need for international, such as F&M and more. Yea they are aware. There’s an OP posting where a school came and said we are going to reject you but will reconsider if you’ll accept x amount of aid. That was not a meets need school.
But an Alabama has big merit - you’d still be out, if you have a 4.0, close to $20k. I’m sure there’s other public schools that have big merit for Intl.
Maybe this will help.
Short of the need blind, you’ll have to find a school where you outperform by so much they’re willing to invest in you.
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Thankyou so much, I will look into it.
These decisions are not as important as your mind is making them.
I am not sure what others think but if a professor adds comments after the fact, I think he or she should indicate that they have been added. It is certainly hard to remember verbal comments from the past and not sure it is entirely honest to add them on paper now if the teacher knows it is for the sake of an application.
You have good EC’s, essays and recommendations so you just have to accept that you cannot control this process. Focus on the options at home and then the US options are icing, not the cake.
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As an aspect that might interest you, Feynman thought it best not to presume the existence of a unifying explanation for general relativity and quantum mechanics. With respect to the philosophy of science, this is one of the many interesting things he said.
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Yea, Feynman was an absolute genius. Maybe he is right because we are no where close to developing a unified theory. Even though string theory is a pretty high contender but it has so many flaws and tbh, supersymmetry does not really convince me. But I also feel that nature is so perfectly symmetrical. If i look at the equations of physics, like the columbs law or the newton’s law of gravitation, then they are so symmetrical and beautiful. And we were able to unify 3 laws of physics so symmetry says that we should be able to unify the fourth law too. A unified theory would tie physics with a bow and it would be absolutely beautiful. But then again, maybe a unified theory of physics does not exist in the first place, just like feynman implied.
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