<p>I’ve noticed a few folks here, including a fellow Tiger, have touted the exceedingly high rejection rate in order to dissuade you from thinking seriously about attending this most glorious institution. I’m going to try to instill some hope by sharing some fun facts about Princeton and its admissions process. Here goes nothing. </p>
<p>Fun Fact #1: Princeton accepts around 7% of applicants. But do you really think all those applicants are the cream of the crop? Thousands of applicants are not even “read” by the admissions folk in West College (the office) because their grades and scores are below the set threshold. Thus, unless you possess laudable athletic talents or the right surname, high grades and scores are your ticket to having your application (consisting of essays and what not) read. The more impressive the classes and higher the numbers, the better.
Fun Fact #2: Admissions Officers are not idiots. Not here, not anywhere. They see right through your joining 12 different clubs. If they can see through you then there is not much to see and therefore no point to admitting you. Pick a few things you enjoy and develop them. Invest yourself in them. Use your summers to pursue them further. Then write about them in your essays! </p>
<p>Fun Fact #3: Colleges don’t accept students. Colleges build classes. There are many slots to fill. Princeton needs quarterbacks, French Horn players, actors, and mathematicians. They are quick to accept students who are both academically qualified and who they know will instantly fill the role assigned. At 13, you’re young. Develop a talent.</p>
<p>Ha. I was like you when I was starting high school. I was determined that one day, I was going to get into Princeton, which was my top choice since elementary school. And I had everything planned out-- I was going to be Valedictorian with a 2300 SAT and 21 APs and be a Rotary Interact Governor and an Eagle Scout and all of these other things…</p>
<p>And it wasn’t easy getting them. I had a ton of bumps a long the way and I almost quit many times. Most things didn’t go the way I had planned them. But in the end, I was a 2340 Valedictorian with 10 AP courses through junior year (National AP Scholar) and 6 more senior year, a Rotary Interact Governor, an Eagle Scout, and an Academic Decathlon Co-Captain.</p>
<p>I never thought I was for sure going to get in when I applied SCEA. Not at all. But I just felt in my “heart” that it was going to go my way because I’d worked so hard to get to that point. I was putting everything into that day of December 15th. I didn’t fill out other colleges’ supplements because that seemed like a waste of time since I felt (not though) like something good was going to happen.</p>
<p>Turned out to be the worst day of my life. I was deferred. I fell into a depression, and somehow managed to get off other applications but didn’t do as well on them as I should have.</p>
<p>I went on to be rejected. I did get into some other great schools, though, among them my eventual choice of Cornell.</p>
<p>It’s just insanely difficult when they take 7.7%, and half of the class is hooked in some way. Which means if you aren’t hooked or are an ORM… It’s almost impossible.</p>
<p>In answer to your question, I don’t consider myself as having any extraordinary “special talent” (read: I have no musical ability and am only an average athlete who isn’t continuing athletics at Princeton). But as someone above said, Princeton is looking to construct a class so it’s looking for a variety of different people to fill its ranks such as athletes, musicians, researchers, student body leaders, etc. Each and every one of these people share high academic credentials but they all bring their own unique skill set to the table. Therefore, you should find something you really enjoy doing in high school, something you have a passion for, and delve yourself into it. Explore new possibilities! I did not decide on which colleges I even wanted to apply to until junior year. Princeton was my first choice and I did get in. </p>
<p>Keep taking classes that will challenge you and develop the love of learning all Princetonians have. If you don’t develop this love and appreciation for learning, you would probably hate life at Princeton anyway. And keep pursuing your interests! If your school’s classes can’t do that, you can also look into community college courses. Keep developing your interests and try not to limit yourself. Rather than doing things to impress admissions officers, do things that you truly enjoy and your passion will come through in your essay and application.</p>
<p>In the end, don’t put Princeton on a pedestal and you will do well whatever happens. Keep in mind that over 92 people out of 100 applicants aren’t accepted and there are as many qualified people who aren’t admitted as there are admitted. As the old phrase goes, don’t put all your eggs in one basket!</p>
<p>You probably won’t get into Princeton. Many people here this and think “oh I’m the exception”. But you aren’t. You have like a 8% chance. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t apply but you can’t set your heart on one extremely prestigious university because you have a 92% chance of getting it broken. Just remember you can really want to go there but don’t let it crush you if you don’t get in. Also If you are only attracted by the prestige don’t just blindly apply.</p>