Princeton SCEA Class of 2020 Applicant Thread

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
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@vnervous Just by looking at your qualifications, I would say that you have a good chance of getting in. You have excellent extracurriculars, and your URM status further strengthens your application. However, Princeton admissions is a crapshoot for everyone, so I can’t really give you a definite answer. (If I were a admissions officer, I would accept you though.)

Also, are you by any chance planning to major in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs? (Sorry if this is an odd question.)

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@vnervous Just by looking at your qualifications, I would say that you have a good chance of getting in. You have excellent extracurriculars, and your URM status further strengthens your application. However, Princeton admissions is a crapshoot for everyone, so I can’t really give you a definite answer. (If I were a admissions officer, I would accept you though.)

Also, are you by any chance planning to major in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs? (Sorry if this is an odd question.)

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@psywar Just out of curiosity, what does your son want to study at Princeton?

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this thread seems to be a pretty active one and I’m applying SCEA so I wondered if anyone else is doing the optional arts supplement? I want to include a mixture of paintings, pastels, graphite, charcoal, and digital (go across the board I guess?) but it tells me to choose a category first - does that mean that I’d be submitting multiple arts supplements to fit in the categories (i.e. one for painting, one for drawing, and one for other) That seems a bit much… Anyone have experience with this? These are all visual arts by the way.

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@azwu331 He applied for Chemical Engineering. Honestly, he is excited about many of the concentrations offered, and is looking forward to the possibility of studying Princeton’s Humanities & Social Sciences as well. What did you apply for? And Good luck to you all! :slight_smile:

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My son applied last night to major in Aerospace Engineering. For those you applied earlier, how long did it take to get your email confirmation from Princeton so that you could log on and check what they have received for your application? Good luck to all.

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It took about three days @momofthree55

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@psywar I applied for Operations Research and Financial Engineering. I guess we’ll be competing for one of the 160 or so BSE spots that Princeton reserves for early action. :stuck_out_tongue:

Good luck to your son! I’m also looking forward to Princeton’s many opportunities. First, I have to worry about getting in though. :wink:

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@azwu331 - are there really only 160 BSE SCEA spots? How did you find that out?

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@fretfulmother Usually 20-25% of the Princeton’s SCEA acceptances are BSE students; this is consistent pretty much every year. Since Princeton usually accepts between 700-800 students during its early round, 20-25% equates to 150-175 BSE students. Around 161 BSE students were accepted last year to the Class of 2019. 157 BSE students were accepted to the Class of 2018, 174 to the Class of 2017, and 167 to the Class of 2016. Although this could be because only 150-175 BSE applicants are qualified for admission every year, I personally believe that Princeton has a goal of around 160 BSE admits during the early round.

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Princeton also knows that many students will change their area of concentration in the first year or two. Don’t get hung up on trying to figure out the numbers…Princeton wants the truly best and most passionate students so I doubt you are competing for a set number of spots. It’s more likely that they work within a range that they hope to meet. In my son’s year (class of 2016) 374 freshman began in the BSE program in September - a record for any year, and one that the engineering department bragged about.

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What percentage of the SCEA applicants apply for the BSE program? Does anyone know?

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@HariboGoldBear No, all AB degrees are seen equally. Plus, the admissions officers will know that you are cheating the system if they see that your intended major has nothing to do with your passions in high school.

54

did you guys fill out the financial aid app already? I didn’t know it was due today!

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@debate4ever Is it really due today? I think it is only due today if you want FA to be included in your SCEA response. Otherwise, all FA paper is due on Feb. 1

“Under the nonbinding program, you must complete your application by Nov. 1. You may not apply to an early program at any other private college or university, but you may apply early to any public institution, as long as the decision is nonbinding. We will provide an admission decision by mid-December, including a decision on financial aid for those who have completed the Princeton Financial Aid Application.”
https://admission.princeton.edu/applyingforadmission/single-choice-early-action

“**If you wish to apply for financial assistance, you must submit your Financial Aid Application by Feb. 1. **Early action applicants who have submitted a Financial Aid Application will be notified of their awards when they receive their early action decision in mid-December.”
https://admission.princeton.edu/applyingforadmission/application-checklist

a list of ALL deadlines for Princeton:
https://admission.princeton.edu/applyingforadmission/application-dates-deadlines

Cheers,
psy

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Thanks! @psywar

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@debate4ever I filled out the financial aid form a few days back. It’s pretty much all estimation so I think you’re fine.

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  1. Why are you applying to Princeton for SCEA?

I couldn’t pick between Stanford and Princeton, but Stanford’s REA deadline was a couple of weeks earlier for students submitting arts supplements which made the decision for me.

  1. What draws you to Princeton?

I love the emphasis on community spirit and the ideals the university embodies with respect to its dedication to giving back to society.

  1. What makes Princeton stand out from other schools?

Pretty much the same as my answer for 2)

  1. Where else are you applying for RD?

Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Penn, Brown, Cornell, Caltech, Carnegie Mellon, Duke, Berkeley, Chicago, UCLA, UCSD and NYU

  1. What are your qualifications?

36 on the ACT, 800 on SAT Math 2, 750 Physics
I don’t have a GPA (International Student - India) but my class grades are top 10%

  1. What are your summer plans?

I’m going to travel across India on a photographic expedition.

  1. What is your intended major?

Intended majors in order of preference: Computer Science, Economics
Intended certificates in order of preference: Robotics, Technology and Sociology

  1. What are your hobbies/interests/extracurriculars?

ECs: FIRST Tech Challenge Asia Pacific World Championship winner, founded an organization that does pro-bono photography for non-profits, founded my city’s first youth innovation forum, founded a couple of clubs at school, Model UN, captain of varsity basketball, student council, school math championship, euclid medalist

Hobbies: huge basketball fan (NBA, NCAA and FIBA), into Robotics and Artificial intelligence, hope to someday do socially impactful photojournalism

  1. What tips/advice do you have for applying?

Not a damn clue

Best of luck everyone. :slight_smile:

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@psywar So the fin aid app isn’t due today? If I submit it later this week do you think I’ll get the aid package with the decision mid-December, or will I have to wait?

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@meaa7130 Sorry, I don’t the answer. Maybe give Princeton a call or email tomorrow and let us know?