Princeton University Regular Decision

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
1

<p>Hi, I know already posted this in the Chances section, but I didn't get that many replies. I wanted comments specifically for each college, so I've decided to post this individually in each section. I've included new information that might give you a better idea of my background. Thanks!</p>

<p>GPA: 3.96 UW / 4.45 W (UC GPA 4.0/4.54 weighted)
SAT: 790 Verbal, 800 Math, 770 Writing (2360)
ACT: 35
SAT II's: 800 Math IIC, 800 Literature, 780 Chemistry
Class rank: My school doesn't rank, although I know I'm in at least the
top 4% (ELC status for UC's) </p>

<p>AP tests:
Calculus BC AB subscore 5/5
Chemistry 5
Biology 5
French Literature 5
French Language 5
English Language 4
US History 4</p>

<p>First Year:
Honors Pre-Calculus and Trigonometry
Honors Introduction to Chemistry
Advanced Shakespeare / African-American Literature
French Advanced Conversation
Music Theory and Composition
East Asian Studies / Modern European History
Physical Education</p>

<p>Second Year:
AP Calculus BC
AP Chemistry
AP French Literature
Modern Poetry / James Joyce
US History
Microbiology
Sculpture II</p>

<p>Third Year:
AP English Language
AP US History
AP French Language
AP Biology
Advanced Physics I/II
Macroeconomics / Microeconomics</p>

<p>Fourth Year:
AP English Literature
AP European History
AP Physics
Studies on Existential and Surrealist Writers
French Modern Literature
Organic Chemistry</p>

<p>Awards:
AP Scholar with Distinction
National Merit Semi-Finalist (PSAT score: 228)
Journalism Awards</p>

<p>Activities:
-President of MUN for two years
-Math and Science Club:
Member Freshman year
Treasurer Sophomore year
Vice-President Junior year
President Senior year
-National Honor Society
Member Freshman and Sophomore year
Secretary Junior year
Vice President Senior year
-Varsity Tennis for three years (Captain for one)
-State Symphony Orchestra for four years
-Journalism for two years, co-editor for one year</p>

<p>Miscellaneous:
-Father legacy at Princeton
-Mother legacy at Columbia
-Parents both speak French fluently
-Two cousins went to University of Pennsylvania
-I sent in music tapes (I play oboe), and also composition pieces with full scores to all my colleges except the UC's.
-I just had my audition for Princeton, and I think I performed very well (better than I expected)
- A friend of my family is a very well respected alumnist (Woodrow Wilson Scholar, published a few books) who has known me for 15 years. He wrote me a nice recommendation, which I hope will carry some weight.
-My guidance counselor was nice enough to write individual recommendations for each of my colleges, describing the reasons why I want to go to that specific college.
-I applied Early Action to University of Chicago and Georgetown, and I got into both.</p>

<p>Colleges:
UCSD, UCLA, UCB, UCD
Williams
Cornell
Columbia
Dartmouth
University of Pennsylvania
Johns Hopkins
Princeton</p>

<p>If I get waitlisted, what do you guys think I can do to improve my application?</p>

2

<p>RD has only accept/reject. No waitlist.</p>

3

<p>Your stats look extremely solid. It's going to come down to those essays and recommendations.</p>

<p>Good luck! I hope you get in, if for no other reason, so I can meet someone as talented as you!</p>

4

<p>
[quote]
RD has only accept/reject. No waitlist.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Actually...there definitely IS a waitlist.</p>

5

<p>you have a legacy, so yes.</p>

6

<p>Legacy may not be enough in itself; I've seen double legacies with 1580s deferred and then rejected from Princeton. Of course, if they're picking between the OP and a non-legacy, this could be the tipping factor.</p>

7

<p>Thanks for the fast replies so far!...yeah, I probably should've applied ED if I wanted to boost my chances</p>

8

<p>Good luck. You have excellent stats, and if your essays and recs are good I'd say you have a very good chance of admission. I'm glad you're applying this year and not next year (I'm a junior :p)</p>

9

<p>See you on Nassau Street or in Tom's Diner:)</p>

<p>You may get an early write letter from Williams around mid March.</p>

<p>Is Princeton your first choice?</p>

<p>BTW....Nice job!</p>

10

<p>Hahah, wow thanks a lot JTC007 and nopoisonivy...I can't believe I'm getting the most positive feedback from the Princeton thread!</p>

11

<p>Even without the legacy status you have excellent stats.
The main thing to worry about if another oboe player with legacy status applies RD also.
Better hope they don't have a 2400!</p>

12

<p>tchaikovsky, if you dont mind me asking, why didn't you apply to Harvard and Yale? You're definetly qualified.</p>

13

<p>Harvard: Both my parents went to Harvard Business School, but they discourage me from applying as an undergraduate. I agree with them--Harvard's undergad experience lacks quite a bit in comparison to Princeton's and Yale's. You just feel lost at sea among tons of grad students. Some of my friends go to Harvard, and they tell me that that is their impression too--but they're cool with it.</p>

<p>Yale: Yale is great too! My sister went to Yale, and is now at Stanford (law school). She said the atmosphere was great, and she loved her experience, but she didn't really enjoy New Haven. She said that there's a reason why Yale has those safety alert boxes that you can call 911 with and stuff. I visited Yale, and found New Haven to be quite dangerous (well not dangerous, but you know) ...even in the daytime.</p>

<p>Princeton: I love Princeton's campus and the architecture (hahah, except for the architecture building). The town is great and the suburban feel fits me (although Columbia is also very intriguing...).</p>

14

<p>A friend of my son is in Harvard (his first choice was Princeton)
When they get together I get the impression that his friend was guarded in his assessment of undergraduate life in Cambridge. Sought of like the "blue wall of silence" if you know what I mean. Still he seems to like his first two years so far.</p>

<p>I'm paraphrasing here but in a conversation they had a few weeks ago my son said how "courses are very hard" in these Ivies.
The response was "no kidding":)</p>

15

<p>Just curious, tchaikovsky, were your compositions for solo oboe or orchestra? I think you have a great shot at Princeton, and by playing the oboe and composing, I would be shocked if you didn't receive acceptance letters from all eleven schools. :)</p>

16

<p>The application extra materials (tapes, scores, etc.) due date actually coincided with some composition competitions that I entered in, so I actually wrote an "adagio religioso" movement for string octet (I play violin also, but not as well as oboe), and a very contemporary symphony movement based off the 12-tone scale (schoenberg). Thanks for the encouragement, conker!</p>

17

<p>At UCB you would also feel "lost at sea among tons of grad students". Go to Princeton! You are stellar.</p>

18

<p>T.</p>

<p>You are getting the most positive feedback here because Princeton kids are the most positive kids:). That is not as simple of a concept as it seems. There is something about Princeton whereby it both attracts people who enjoy other people and engenders a real feeling of camraderie amongst the undergraduates. Why do you think it has the higest level of alumni giving amongst these schools? Most incredible Reunion attendance? Us alumni, we have loyalty and affection for the place that we developed while we were there.....</p>

<p>Good luck in your application.</p>

19

<p>Alumother: very well said :) That was an inspiring reflection on Princeton's general characteristics</p>

20

<p>Do you have a recording of the Adagio religioso? I'd love to hear it. I am always very impressed by student compositions, especially ones for ensembles. But I realize that this is a personal work, and I understand if you would rather not share with some stranger on the web. ;)</p>