<p>I am currently studying in Cambridge in the United kingdom, in my Junior year of high school and I am determined to go to Princeton, here are my statistics;
SAT I - taking next academic year
SAT II - 750 Math IIc 800-Physics, I also took Biology M and Chemistry last week, hopefully i haven't done too badly.</p>
<p>A-levels(British equivilant of AP exams) and predicted grades
Physics-A
Mathematics-A(completed two years early)
Further Mathematics (sort of British university-level)-A
Chemistry-A
Computing-A
Critical thinking-A</p>
<p>Cambridge STEPII and III Mathematics papers(Cambridge University Mathematics admissions examinations) - predicted 1,1 (highest score)</p>
<p>Also completed and Open Univeristy Course on Cosmology, gaining 93%</p>
<p>Extra curriculars-
Academic- Silver medal in British physics Olympiad (british selection comp. for the international physics olympiad)(came in top 100 of all Seniors who took the exam).
2nd prize in a National 6th former physics essay contest.
President of Both Physics and Chemistry societies- Organising many talks and Trips, most notably one given by Nobel Laureate (Chemistry) John Walker.
Building a cyclotron to investigate a special type of radiation.
BA crest Gold award for scientific research
Taking part in regional science fair next month, hoping to get to ISEF
Non-academic
Duke of Edinburgh Gold award
Millenium volunteers award for 100 hours of community service.
Working at a pharmacy during weekends
Recreational level Badminton and Juggling.
Cycling- Oxford to Cambridge for Charity- 85 miles.</p>
<p>Well it's quite difficult to find criticisms to be honest. You have good credentials. I got in with a far lesser range of academic honors. </p>
<p>If there was anything you could improve, it would be your non-academic extracurriculars; i know you've done DofE but maybe some more volunteering or some high level sport, it's not that important though i'm just clutching at straws.</p>
<p>You will need to do well in the SAT I. 2100+ for sure and 2250+ to be safe. From what I see so far, you shouldnt have much of a problem with that. 1,1 in STEP would be very very impressive and btw F maths is in no way like university maths. Good Luck!</p>
<p>Cheers,
Thank you for your constructive comments- I am helping out at a pharmacy during weekends- I am not a high-level sport person- i play for the fun.</p>
<p>other than that i am studying very hard for my AS/A2 this year with teh possibility of taking 1/2 more Full a-levels next year (including computing)</p>
<p>Anymore comments would be greatly appreactied.</p>
<p>Having had some experience with olympiad level maths/physics and the STEP exams, you are well qualified in terms of academic ability to handle Princeton, I think.
But then, so are a whole lot of other people.
As Featherflare has suggested, perhaps you could increase your volunteering hours.
You could probably get very strong recommendations hopefully.
Do you play any musical instruments?</p>
<p>I think they want to see quite a multidimensional character in an applicant, and the feeling I get from reading your stats is quite positive, but somewhat unsure about other focussed extracurriculars.
As Featherflare has also said, your Duke of Edinburgh will help, but perhaps you could get involved further in public speaking through debating or Model United Nations?</p>
<p>By the way, as a person who considered Cambridge but ultimately decided on Princeton, I would be interested to know why you wouldn't go to Cambridge.
Just want some overseas experience?</p>
<p>Well, I am going to apply to Cambridge throught the UCAS system , if I get accepted great, if i don't ,never mind. But the thing is I have been
a) living in Cambridge all my life.
b) Yes the teaching at Cambridge is World-class - in ones chosen subject, at American Universities, especially Princeton- the teaching is both World-class and spread over many subjects- which in my opinion is better.
c) I want to get a feel for the American way of life, after all, it is the Land of oppurtunity :).</p>
<p>I have started to incease my community service hours, but i'm leaving most of that until after the summer as I have to revise for my exams.</p>
<p>Anyway- i've still got next year- I'm aiming to make it into either the Chemistry or Physics Olympiad team (been practising all year)(fingers crossed!)</p>
<p>Unfortunately i didn't do as well as i had hoped in May, 700-Chemistry 670-Biology.
However I am taking Phys, Chem and Maths (already completed) to full A-level.
How would this (if any) affect my application, i.e. which qualification grade would Princeton take preference over?</p>
<p>I have also been chosen (recently) to be part of the United states achievers program in UK, held by the Fulbright commission (USAP), i am confident my SAT I scores will be improved by that.</p>
<p>Also, Microsoft are sponsoring me to attend an international summer school in Canada over the summer holidays- a relatively new summer school, does anyone know/has been to the ISSYP or know whether Princeton prefers doing research instead?</p>
<p>Is ISSYP hard to get into, Bilesh
I am currently collaborating w/ a professor on understanding string theory but i dunno...all i know is that that's what i want to do later on...</p>