Princeton REA 2020

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I just sent in my application for Princeton EA 2020; I’m applying as bioengineering major. Now comes the wait. Just wondering if anyone could predict my chances. Thanks!

Cumulative GPA: 4.13 (on 4.5 scale)
Unweighted: 3.88
SAT: 2140 (CR: 650, M:720, W: 770 Essay: 11 MC: 73). I’m actually so upset with my CR. I worked for months to improve it and I was consistently scoring 750s on my practice tests :frowning: I don’t know what went wrong. I didn’t even bother trying to improve my writing but it randomly shot up from a 690
Subject Tests: Math II: 790 Bio (M): 780
ACT: Never took
AP Tests: 3 Chemistry, 4 APUSH, 4 Biology, 4 English Lang. & Comp

Freshman Year (W GPA: 3.97)
Honors Geometry: A
AAL (req. class): A
Honors Physics: A-
Financial Literacy (req. class): A
English I Honors: B+
German I CP: A
Honors Am. History: B+
Health and PE: A
Electronic Music I: A

Sophomore Year (W GPA: 4.23)
Honors Alg II/Trig: A
Driver’s Ed and PE: A
Landscape Design: A
German II CP: A
English II Honors: A
Honors World History: A-
AP Chemistry: A

Junior Year (W GPA: 4.18)
APUSH: A-
Honors PreCalc: A
German III CP: A
PE and Health: A
AP English Lang and Comp: B+
Ceramics I: A
Intro to Bus. And Marketing: A
AP Biology: A

Senior Year Schedule:
AP Human Geography
AP Calc BC
German IV Honors
PE and Health
AP Lit and Comp.
AP Environmental Science
AP Physics C

Everything I have taken is the hardest course available except for when I took honors world history instead of ap my sophomore year.

Extracurriculars/Awards:
English Honors Society (11-12) - Vice President
Future Business Leaders of America (9-12) - Treasurer + President
1st place in Statewide JA Titan Virtual Business Competition (I placed first out of 768 competitors and won $1500 )
German Honors Society (10-12)
Advanced Academic Society Award
Interact (Executive Council) - Was a team leader for Special Olympics to help out special needs kids
Math Honors Society (11-12) - Secretary
JV Tennis (9-10) and Varsity (11-12)
Ski Club (9-10)
Model United Nations (11-12)
Habitat for Humanity (9-12) - Actually went on a build site and helped construct a house
Over 150 community hours doing a variety of events all over the community; most of them were annual. Signing up for NHS my senior year because I didn’t have time this year during ap exams and what not.

Summer/Jobs:
I have a complicated family so most summers I was traveling between houses. I wanted to summer research programs but my parents didn’t have enough money.
I’ve worked at my local tennis club, teaching young players from ages 5-14.

Essays: I think they’re strong. Common app is alright. My supplement for Princeton is really deep and my BSE essay is really creative.

Recommendations:
My Business Teacher - She knows me from her class junior year and as the president and treasurer for FBLA. I was always multitasking, doing things for class and the club, and did an excellent job at keeping up with all the work. She witnessed me come up with the winning business plan for the JA competition. I can’t read her recommendation, but I bet it’s strong
My AP Chem teacher - I aced her class, while about 5 kids got As. She knows I’m intelligent inside the classroom and have creative ways for remembering things (hehe, I won’t go into detail). She also worked with me on the house for Habitat, as she is the leader of the club. She’s a very intelligent chemist and I’m sure she’ll write an amazing recommendation because she knows me inside and outside the classroom.

So I know I may not be the kid who’s winning every national award or competition, but I know do have other strengths like my essay and recommendations. I just need some kind of direction. Thanks.

2

On the one hand, if you’ll have strong recs and a strong essay, that certainly can’t hurt. Unfortunately, the effects are partially canceled out by an SAT score around the 25th percentile for Princeton and the middling scores on AP exams. As you say, you haven’t won half the national awards in existence, so it’s hard to call you a strong applicant. It’s also hard to find a glaring hole in your profile.

As with most applicants, I’d put your chances right around the acceptance rate. They’re lower than the REA acceptance rate because that includes a lot of athletes and legacies. I suspect this isn’t what you want to hear, but it’s no mark of shame - it just means you’re like the other 30,000 superbly qualified applicants to Princeton who may or may not get in.

3

@NotVerySmart Thanks so much! I appreciate your time for writing that! And thanks for being honest. I know, I’m not the strongest applicant and I certainly don’t expect to get in. I think you’re right though; I have about a 7% chance of getting in. I’m just hoping my essays strike a chord with adcoms. Thanks again!

4

Congratulations, you just joined the lottery that is Princeton admissions. I can’t really say if you’ll get in as Princeton is a crapshoot, but prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

I wish you the best of luck and hope you get in!

5

@rdeng2614 Haha thanks! Crossing my fingers! And my hopes seem to be going on down each day. Honestly, I can see myself ending up in the honors program at my state school.

6

@HariboGoldBear Thanks for taking the time to reply! And of course I’ll chance you back :slight_smile:

7

By the way, does anyone know if I should take the December ACT for my RD schools? I’ve never taken the ACT before but I want to give it a try because I’m better in the maths and sciences than the arts. Would I have enough time to receive my scores and decide whether I should send them? Most of my deadlines are Jan. 1st.