<p>I hear differing opinions about what it takes to get into schools like Princeton. It's one of the places I really would love to go, but I don't know if I have the potential to be a strong candidate for the school, let alone being just a candidate. So, I'm hoping that you would be willing to help me.</p>
<p>For starters, I'm Indian. That's immediately a wound in my application.
-25th out of a class of 720
-GPA: 4.625
-Current Classes and my standing
AP Chem: A
AP Eng: A
AP US:A
AP Psych: B
Precalc Spec: A
Italian III: A(they don't go any higher)</p>
<p>Classes Next Year:
AP Gov/Ec
AP Physics
AP Calc BC
AP Lit
AP Human Geo
Drama(returning after skipping this year)</p>
<p>ECs
-Founder and President of school's Capoeira/Salsa Club
-President of Blues Jammers(Local school rock band)
-Secretary of Drama Club
-Lead in three high school theatre productions
-Two during freshman year, one during sophomore year
-Skipped junior year to take more APs
-Competed at district level three times and state twice, earning really high ratings for Thespian competition in Musical categories
-Competed at NATS(Big singing thing): Won districts twice, and competing at regionals this year
-Composer: Composed a total of 5 songs, sent to two competitions against college students
-Taken martial arts for a total of 9 years; Shotokan Karate, Mantis Kung Fu, and Southern Shaolin Kung Fu, along with self taught Capoeira, hence the club.</p>
<p>Well, have at it, and thanks for dealing with another "chance me" post. But this will really help me decide whether to apply or not. Have a good one.</p>
<p>And what would you say my chances would be? I know that you guys probably get annoyed with these kinds of questions, but I would really appreciate some good solid input on what else I could do to improve my standings in the college application process period. Thank you.</p>
<p>Well, I don’t know how it works for other schools, but for mine, I just had to ask la mia insegnatrice italiana, because she dances Salsa, funny enough, and she wanted to learn Capoeira. It was perfect. So, we just talked to someone in charge of clubs, wrote up a constitution, and flagrante delicto(what the Romans say for “badabing badaboom”).</p>
<p>I feel though that my essay, the one I wrote specifically for Princeton’s supplement, is my strongest asset in the application. How much would that help me?</p>
<p>I think you should consider Williams, where the music thing will work strongly in your favor. I don’t know if Princeton really cares about that kind of stuff.
Your SATs are weak for them given your other attributes.
Skipping a grade doesn’t help, and I don’t think martial arts do much for you.
Everyone thinks their essays are fab.</p>
<p>I took about two months of Italian lessons in 1999 because I was going to to go Italy to buy a Newfoundland puppy from a famous breeder in Liguria. When I arrived, people didn’t understand what I said if I tried to speak Italian, but understood everything if I spoke Spanish. I wasted my time and money with Berlitz. :)</p>
<p>Hah! That’s pretty great. But now I’m curious. If you wanted a Newfoundland, why not go to Canada? I’d imagine there would be plenty of reputable breeders there for a Canadian dog, you know?</p>
<p>@ OldBatesieDoc: I’ve been looking at Williams, but I can’t really find much aside from what everyone says about a Liberal Arts College. Can you tell me anything specifically about the college?</p>
<p>The best Newfies are found in the US and Italy. In Italy they are actually used to aid lifeguards at sea. Italians make everything beautiful: Food, clothes, sculptures, paintings, cars, shoes, Newfoundlands, etc.
I think the best Newfies in the U.S. are bred by Pouch Cove, and in Italy, by Cayuga. At least that’s the way it used to be when I was into breeding them.</p>
<p>Very interesting. I didn’t know that. And I agree with you on how the Italians make everything beautiful, but their cars; that’s when you transcend beautiful and enter divine.</p>
<p>You ought to apply. Why not? I always think that you ought to aim high. Besides that, Princeton gets tons and tons of applications. They have a smallish number of “chance” students and a largish number of “safe” students. The chance students have slightly lower scores, but have some other compelling trait. Or, on the other hand, maybe the admissions counselor who reads your essay likes it because he is in a good mood. Who knows? Take a shot. The admissions offices always present themselves as omniscient entities, but in reality a million subjective factors may influence them.</p>