<p>Is being a semi-finalist in the Siemen's Competition considered a hook? How is it looked upon? I am applying ED to Princeton, and I'm not really sure how big of a deal Siemens is.</p>
<p>good question. i would like to know too!</p>
<p>I don't know if it is a "hook," exactly, but Siemans will definately help a lot. As long as your other stats are good as well, I would think that the semi-finalist status would be enough to get you in.</p>
<p>ehh..i wouldnt call it a hook...a hook is more like legacy, URM, or recruited athlete...however, i think swc semifinalist WOULD help, but only to a certain extent...</p>
<p>it will help you quite a bit.</p>
<p>Think of it this way: If you don't have anything that already stands out in your application, you just got bumped to the upper end of the line.</p>
<p>Whoa...did you become a Siemens semifinalist? That's pretty prestegious there. I'd say that with a solid application in everything else (not necessarily perfect...just solid) that writes your ticket to Princeton--but that's just me. Congrats if you made it.</p>
<p>The key is to get a nod from a specific department. What area of science is your project in? Do you plan to major in that subject? If so, I would make contact with that specific department at the school and talk to them. Admissions has the individual departments review applications of students that are very strong in their area, and the department will tell admissions how interested they are in having this applicant.</p>
<p>jon314, what makes you say that siemens semis makes you such a shoe-in? know of any instances?</p>
<p>Siemens Semis isnt really a hook. However, it definitely helps a lot. =)</p>
<p>Siemens comp is one of the most prestegious science competitions in the country, and it takes a tremendous amount of work to simply apply, let alone become a semifinalist. Knowing the amount of work it takes to do a project like that (which is often graduate level work), and provided the candidate has a solid application--good SAT's, good essays, etc., I don't know why you shouldn't be accepted--there are only 300 or so in the country--and not all of them apply ED to Princeton.</p>
<p>good to know. then what do you think being siemens finalist means? i know it means you are with about 60 top researching students in the nation, but is there an exponential lead associated with finalist vs semi?</p>