The Asian Princetonian Dream...Please help/chance

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
1

<p>I'm a rising high school Senior (ASIAN) and was wondering if I stood any chance applying to Princeton, either EA or RD. I'm also torn over where to apply early.</p>

<p>I would appreciate honest feedback. I want to go into finance/economics and work on Wall Street; getting into a good grad school alter is also a top priority</p>

<p>MY STATS:</p>

<p>I'm in the top 1 percentile of a 800 member class in a competitive NJ public high school. I will have taken 9-11 aps by the end of senior year, and have taken 5 ap exams this year, and gotten 5's.</p>

<p>SATS-2340 single, 2360 superscored</p>

<p>SAT 2s: Literature: 750, Math 2: 770, US History: 780</p>

<p>ECS: I am very interested in politics, finance, and business.</p>

<p>President of Model United Nations: Junior Year
President of Model Congress: Junior Year
President of Ping Pong: 9-12
Founder and co-President of Finance Club: 11-12</p>

<p>Involved in FBLA (regional Top 10 in the district competition)</p>

<p>Won several prizes at numerous debating contests, such as Pennsylvania Model UN, Rutgers Model UN, Philadelphia Model UN, etc, all of which feature students from all over the nation (or at least from an entire region)</p>

<p>Intensely involved in Indian Classical Music and won awards at local competitions and the Cleveland Aradhana, a national-level contest with various singing categories.</p>

<p>I am passionate about finance and have the following jobs/internships:</p>

<p>Internship at the township Business Board</p>

<p>Internship with a non-profit trade organization (HMN)-Will have my finance research published in their international journal</p>

<p>Worked as a tutor at local KUMON</p>

<p>I am looking at U Penn (CAS or Wharton-which would be better?), Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Georgetown, U Chicago, Duke, Dartmouth, Cornell, Columbia, NYU.</p>

<p>Rec's should be good/great. My essays will be unique and hopefully creative.</p>

<p>I don't know what it takes to get in nowadays for an Asian applicant-everyone is so damn impressive with national and international qualifications-but what are my chances and how could I improve them?</p>

<p>What can I do (if anything) at this point to accentuate my app? Where should I apply Early D/ Early Action?</p>

<p>Thanks a lot for any help. (btw I've put this thread on the harvard/upenn forums too).</p>

2

<p>Powerful</p>

<p>You are a strong applicant. You should apply ED if you have decided that the school which has only ED is your first choice. If you want more time to learn about each university you should apply EA at your first choice university. </p>

<p>For EA your first semester grades will not be a factor. Your SATs are in the range for serious consideration. That leaves the recommendations and your application. If you have not contacted the teachers you want to write a recommendation you should do so early so that they have time to write a meaningful recommendation. You should have already started on your portion of the application.</p>

<p>Here is information about Princeton that you may not have already learned.</p>

<p>Princeton has one of the nations best ping pong teams. See: [Table</a> Tennis: Princeton’s paddle proficiency - The Daily Princetonian](<a href=“http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2009/04/15/23378/]Table”>http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2009/04/15/23378/) and
[Ping</a> pong diplomats at Princeton - The Daily Princetonian](<a href=“http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2006/12/05/16845/]Ping”>http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2006/12/05/16845/) </p>

<p>There are students and professors that conduct performances in Indian dance and music: See: [Naacho</a> presents ‘Ishq’ choreographed with ‘love’ this weekend at Frist Theatre - The Daily Princetonian](<a href=“http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2004/03/25/10006/]Naacho”>http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2004/03/25/10006/) and
[The</a> mathematician and musician - The Daily Princetonian](<a href=“http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2005/10/11/13413/]The”>http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2005/10/11/13413/) </p>

<p>There are two Indian dance groups on campus:
[Kalaa[/url</a>]
[url=&lt;a href=“http://webscript.princeton.edu/~naacho/index.php]Naacho[/url”&gt;http://webscript.princeton.edu/~naacho/index.php]Naacho[/url</a>] </p>

<p>The university debate team has had considerable success:
[url=&lt;a href=“http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2008/04/22/20931/]U”&gt;http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2008/04/22/20931/]U</a>. debate team best in country - The Daily Princetonian](<a href=“http://www.princeton.edu/~kalaa/]Kalaa[/url”>Kalaa)<br>
[Students</a> travel to Singapore for international debate - The Daily Princetonian](<a href=“http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2010/11/16/26902/]Students”>http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2010/11/16/26902/) </p>

<p>Since you live in NJ you should visit the campus in the fall to meet the ping pong team or watch a Indian dance performance. A campus visit should help you decide if Princeton is a good “fit” for you. </p>

<p>If you are interested in politics you should become very familiar with the Woodrow Wilson School. See: [Woodrow</a> Wilson School of Public and International Affairs | Home](<a href=“http://wws.princeton.edu/]Woodrow”>http://wws.princeton.edu/) </p>

<p>Students interested in finance/business often major in
ORFE: [About</a> ORFE | Operations Research and Financial Engineering](<a href=“http://www.orfe.princeton.edu/]About”>http://www.orfe.princeton.edu/) or
Economics: [Department</a> of Economics](<a href=“http://www.princeton.edu/economics/]Department”>Princeton University Department of Economics) or
earn a certificate in finance: [About</a> the BCF - Bendheim Center for Finance - Princeton University](<a href=“http://www.princeton.edu/bcf/about/]About”>http://www.princeton.edu/bcf/about/) </p>

<p>The economics department has four Nobel Prize winners. Both the ORFE and the Bendheim Center for Finance place many alumni on Wall Street. </p>

<p>You have a long list of universities you are considering. I suggest that you spend time learning more about your top four or five choices so that you can answer the question, Why do you want to go to X?</p>

3

<p>Thank you so much PtonAlumus,</p>

<p>One another thing: What is a stereotypical Princeton strength that Princeton wants to see? For example, everyone knows that Wharton applicants have strengths/experience in math and business. Similarly, what kinds of things would be good to stress in a Princeton and Yale app?</p>

<p>Will first semester grades be a factor in ED?</p>

<p>Thanks a lot.</p>

4

<p>If you want a headstart on your finance future, you may want to consider Wharton for a full business curriculum. </p>

<p>You certainly have the qualifications for Princeton ED, so that is an option if you’d like a full liberal arts program, then later go for an MBA.</p>

5

<p>I thought Princeton doesn’t have ED this year?</p>

6

<p>Do not try to game admissions at Princeton. Be yourself. Emphasize your strengths and interests. Princeton accepts a very diverse class of students that have shown abilities in many areas. Look at this thread by PtonGrad 2000: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/princeton-university/1151532-meet-your-princeton-15-classmates-news-stories.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/princeton-university/1151532-meet-your-princeton-15-classmates-news-stories.html&lt;/a&gt; Princeton wants interesting students. Wharton may want applicants interested in business; Princeton is interested in your Model UN, debating, Indian classical music, and publications. Since the majority of Princeton students do not major in the subject they indicate on their application Princeton does not give much weight to your intended major in considering your application. However, your application should make sense; don’t claim that you want to major in music if you have never played an instrument.</p>

<p>Some accepted students are musicians, others are into the creative arts or sports, others have placed in national math or science competitions. There is no formula. Be interesting to the admissions officer that will read your application. </p>

<p>SCEA decisions are made in mid December. If your first semester grades are available early in December you could submit the grades; otherwise the grades would not affect SCEA. Remember, that applicants may be deferred from SCEA to RD; in that case first semester grades would be important.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

7

<p>What about the mid-year report? For EA can schools still know what courses you are currently taking in fall of senior year? Will counselors send in progress reports?</p>

8

<p>First of all, if you are interest in finance and apply to UPenn, Wharton or one of the dual degrees is the way to go. As for the midyear reports, yes, they see your class load for the second semester of senior year but they don’t see the grades until after decision are made. And now speaking from personal experience: I am Asian. I have never won a huge national science/business/whatever competition. Just do what you like to the best for your ability and hope for the best. I did and guess where I’m going? Princeton '15!!</p>

9

<p>Sunshine–Princeton has SCEA this year. We’ve just used the inaccurate abbreviation, sorry.</p>

10

<p>It is more important that you enjoy your major and EC activities than selecting a major for a specific career If you enjoy your university experience you are more likely to succeed in your classes. Many Princeton alumni from non finance/business majors have had successful business careers. For example:</p>

<p>Carl Icahn ’57 was a Philosophy major
Edward “Ned” Kelly ’75 CFO Citigroup was an English major
Jeffrey M. Peek ’69 President & CEO of CIT Group Inc was a Woodrow Wilson School major
Christopher A. Cole‘81 Managing Director Goldman Sachs & Co was a History major
John A. Mayer, Jr. ’62 Chief Financial Officer J.P. Morgan & Co was a History major
John Streicker’64 President & CEO of Sentinel Real Estate Corp was a Woodrow Wilson School major
Adrea Jung ’79 CEO Avon Products was an English Literature major
Jeff Bezos ’86 Founder & CEO Amazon.com was an Electrical Engineering major
Norman R. Augustine ’57, CEO Lockheed Martin was an Engineering major</p>

<p>Finance is one path to a business career; but only one path among many paths. An article in todays WSJ describes the importance of graduates with good mathematical and computer skills. See: [Business</a> Schools Plan Leap Into Data - WSJ.com](<a href=“Business Schools Plan Leap Into Data - WSJ”>Business Schools Plan Leap Into Data - WSJ) </p>

<p>Princeton’s ORFE major is an excellent method to learn the skills for analytical careers. ORFE has become the largest department in the engineering school. See: [About</a> ORFE | Operations Research and Financial Engineering](<a href=“http://www.orfe.princeton.edu/]About”>http://www.orfe.princeton.edu/) </p>

<p>Princeton students are accepted into Princeton University – not into a particular school… You can start at Princeton intending to major in economics or engineering and easily switch majors to concentrate in music. </p>

<p>Applicants should apply to universities that have activities that they are interested in. For example Princeton has 15 a cappella groups and at least 6 choirs. </p>

<p>Princeton decided to offer SCEA instead of ED because the university wanted to allow applicants to compare financial aid offers from all universities. ED programs disadvantage applicants that need financial aid since they have to accept the offer of admission without being able to know the financial aid packages they might have received.</p>

11

<p>Thank you very much Pton Alumnus. Given my music awards and passion for finance, do you suggest I apply early to Yale, Princeton, or Wharton? For some reason I keep thinking that Yale is the easiest of the three, but I may be mistaken. </p>

<p>Also, being from NJ would hurt my Princeton chances.</p>

12

<p>Last years acceptance rates for both Yale and Princeton were between 7% and 9%. This years acceptance rates should be similar. No, it is not easier to be admitted to Yale.</p>

<p>My advice is to stop trying to game the system. You will find applicants admitted to one of the three universities and not admitted to the other two. Last year almost 200 students from N.J. were in the Princeton freshman class. More students are admitted from N.J. than any other state. My roommate was from N.J.; so do not discount your chances for admission. Spend your time working on your essays and learning more about Princeton, Yale, and Wharton. Learn how the universities differ. For example, did you know that more Princeton students have been enrolled in the finance program than the number of seniors in the most popular major? See: [Finance</a> program sees record enrollment - The Daily Princetonian](<a href=“http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2002/09/19/5361/]Finance”>http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2002/09/19/5361/) </p>

<p>Apply EA/ED to your first choice; not the university that you decide with incomplete and probably inaccurate data that you have the best chance of admission.</p>