<p>Hi, so I'm really interested in Princeton as it has a spectacular economics program and a decent music school (I plan to double major in economics and piano performance). I'm only a sophomore. My current weighted GPA is a 4.43, but I'm planning to graduate in the top 5 of my class. I'm taking the most rigorous coursework possible, with AP Calc BC, AP Euro, and AP Music theory in my sophomore schedule (7 more APs to come). I've had 3 B's so far -.- but they're B+'s (mainly cause I've had a little difficulty moving to a new state and adjusting). My SAT's will be a 2200+. My "hook" is that I'm ridiculously passionate about piano; I've performed at Carnegie Hall twice, and I have won numerous state and national competitions. I've learned to love it a lot. I get asked to perform all the time around the town, and I accompany for the choir. I am in several clubs (newspaper, math team, student ambassador, student council officer, etc). I also played varsity tennis since freshman year. I am an Asian female, just FYI. Im nothing special, I know. Is there anything I can do to increase my chances of getting into Princeton? Anything at all. Thanks!</p>
<p>Also, just cause- would I be a possible match for NYU Stern or Cornell? Or, possibly, maybe, UPenn Wharton, ED? (LOL I'm a big dreamer, please don't make fun)</p>
<p>Hello! I am a current admit into Princeton so I will not “chance” you, but I will point out that you cannot double major at Princeton. You can only select one “concentration” which means your major, and certficate(s) which are like interdisciplinary minors. You would be able to concentrate in Economics and earn a certificate in music for sure, though!</p>
<p>You don’t even know about how Princeton’s educational programs are organized…but you’re already determined to get in?</p>
<p>I can chance you in the second semester of your Junior year, but now it’s too early.</p>
<p>Don’t get too stressed about Bs in the future, but you do want to avoid getting more than 1 during your Junior and the first half of your Senior year (so that’s 2 more Bs in all).</p>
<p>You also probably want to apply SCEA to a different school and focus on having a good 1st semester Senior Year if possible.</p>
<p>But you are doing great! Be the best pianist you can be if you’re going to rely on that as your hook. I met this great pianist during my time at Princeton Preview. He was such a cool dude. </p>
<p>Also, keep focus on being a good, likeable (these are two different things) and introspective person for your essays and recommendations.</p>
<p>Humanist- thank you for letting me know. I’m actually not too familiar with Princeton, so I guess determined is not the perfect word choice…but I have begun to take interest in it recently.
Philovitist- thanks for your reply. I’m really looking at several different options right now, keeping an open mind. I will be sure to take your advice!</p>
<p>You seem to be in good shape, but even very strong candidates get rejected. Because of this, it’s hard for any one of us to know what are chances are.</p>
<p>I know this has already been said, but I would learn more about Princeton before making it your first choice. There may be a school better suited for you. Research schools as much as you can. Comb through their websites, talk to current students, and visit the colleges.</p>
<p>KeDIX1414 gave good advice about researching the schools. Initially my son wasn’t sure there was much difference between the Ivy’s but he quickly came to the conclusion that for engineering, Cornell and Princeton are by far the best (and he chose Princeton in the end). Each school has its own “personality” and focus and you’ll need to do your own digging to discover which one really has the best fit for you. </p>
<p>Having said that, I do know Princeton has a very good music program - we enjoyed hearing the orchestra perform Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring” a year ago at preview and the technique and interpretation were excellent. At the end the conductor introduced all the seniors by name and area of concentration as it was their last performance. I was shocked to discover that many of them were not even majoring in music! It was a testament to the breadth and depth of talents these people have. </p>
<p>Okay so I know this is random. But I wanted to know. As I read all the descisions thread and go down the lists, I see all these kids with amazing scores and talents and I really feel as if there is no chance I can get into these Ivy leauges and similar type schools. Are kids who post on here “the creme of the crop” are or are all accepted people really just that amazing?</p>
<p>I think that these schools get some super fantastic out of this world transcendent applicants who they admit, but I doubt a school’s class is entirely made of these students who put all others to shame. I’d say that if all of your objective scores and grades fall within the school’s range and you have some interesting extracurriculars/work experience/service, there is no reason not to apply. Also, just because someone lists 15 different extracurricular activities does not mean that all of those extracurriculars were done simultaneously or that those activities took up a lot of time. For example, some clubs may only meet once a month for an hour. I’m not trying to say that people are lying/stretching the truth. Many people do have ridiculously amazing involvement. All I’m saying is that when I look at decisions threads, I take it all with a grain of salt because it is impossible to know a person’s circumstances.</p>
<p>I just calculated my unweighted gpa, and it should be about 3.87 by the end of junior year. Is this at least an average unweighted gpa for accepted incoming freshman at Princeton?</p>
<p>Okay, so according to that website a 3.87 would be around average. Is there anything I could do this summer (before junior year) that can help me to stand out among other applicants? Particularly, I would like to gain experience in the business field, but I have no idea where to start. I am already planning on doing SAT prep, volunteering a lot, and practicing piano. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>I noticed that many kids on CC are already starting their own businesses and have these crazy internships…do most of the students accepted to Princeton/ivy leagues already have experience in their major? Whenever I read those threads I feel extremely underachieved.</p>
<p>Most of the people on this website are overachievers in the extreme. Who else spends their free time panicking about the difference between a 2300 and a 2400? Extreme overachievers apply to the Ivy League but so do lots of other people. Not everyone at Princeton has started a million dollar company. The admissions officers want people who are intellectually curious and who will make good use of the university’s resources. In other words, they care about what you will do in the future. They are interested in what have you done in the past only as an indicator of the kind of person you are and what you will likely make of yourself.</p>
<p>Think about it. How many high school science projects have there been that have supposedly cured cancer/sickle cell anemia/lymes disease? And yet those diseases are still around. The admissions officers aren’t expecting miraculous achievements out of 17 year olds.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input. I am researching several other schools and I have plenty of time to think my list over. However, my question still goes unanswered: how can I gain experience? Where do I start?</p>
<p>Pianogeek, I think I’m quite similar to you. Piano is my main activity, though I am also active in other ways. I haven’t founded any businesses/charities. The good news is that not everybody who is accepted does. Though I think college confidential is a WONDERFUL resource, I don’t think that spending long periods of time reading chance threads or results threads is healthy. Instead of comparing ourselves to others, I think it is important for us to be the best high schoolers we can be without worrying about what others are doing. As for gaining experience, join clubs and activities that deal with your interests. If they don’t exist at your school, become the founder of a club. Even though it is not the same as starting a small business or charity, it does show initiative.</p>
<p>I was told that about a third of the people at princeton are superamazing google-my-name-and-be-put-to-shame types, and that the rest were somewhat more normal.</p>
<p>It took my freshman son most of the year to find out about some of the incredible accomplishments of his closest friends (and quite likely vice versa). The overall culture at the school is one where self congratulatory language is extremely unwelcomed.</p>
<p>I asked my dad if he knew any famous people when he went to Princeton and he said “Oh yeah, there was this girl named Brooke Shields. I guess she was famous or something.” :)</p>
<p>Sometimes It’s really clear what I have to do to get in, and other times I just have no clue what to do. That’s when I come on this site and go to the Results thread where I attempt to get my thoughts straight. But anytime I do that, I always see amazing kids with awesome stuff and I feel like I will never be able to compete with all these people with near perfect SAT’s and perfect GPA and subject test scores. My highest sat will probably be like a 2230. GPA a 3.9. subject tests. probably like 750, 750, 750. (french, world history, math 2). AP scores will probably have like 3 5’s and 3 4’s. (french, french lit, chem, world history, language, stats) My EC;s are really good, but I don’t know if that makes up for my poor sat/AP scores. Someone help me!</p>