I am a sophomore from New Jersey who wants to attend Princeton for Mechanical Engineering, with a possible concentration in biological engineering. Here are some facts about me.
Class Rank 52/460
Straight A Student
GPA Weighted 4.0 out of 4.0
Former Courses:
Introduction to Engineering (PLTW Engineering Course)
Computer Aided Design
Honors World History
Honors Biology
German I
Honors English I
Geometry Honors
Wind Ensemble
Current Courses:
Digital Electronics(PLTW Engineering Course)
Chemistry Honors
German III Honors
C++
AP U.S. History I( the course is separated into two years at my school)
Honors English II
Honors Algebra II
Planned Junior Year
Principles of Engineering (PLTW Engineering Course)
Computer Integrated Manufacturing (PLTW Engineering Course)
AP Bio
AP Physics
AP U.S. History II
AP Calculus AB(will take pre calc over the summer)
Honors English III
Possible SAT Prep 3day, Concert Band 3day Study Hall 3day
Class Vice President, Founder and President of Alpha Leo Chapter, Newspaper writer, JV for shotput and hockey(might drop hockey), varsity outside of school rugby. Clarinet in Wind Ensemble(honors band) freshman year(was not able to play sophomore year due to scheduling conflicts). Attended a Summer Biology course at Brown University called “Using Laboratory Organisms in Biomedical Research”, Won school essay contest this year (Voice of Democracy contest), Engineering Academy representative.
If you have any advice at all, I would appreciate it greatly. Have a nice day!
Your class rank will be an issue. According to Princeton’s Common Data Set for 2016-2017, 94% of entering freshmen are in the top 10% of their class. https://registrar.princeton.edu/university_enrollment_sta/CDS_2016-2017.pdf. You also provided your weighted GPA of 4.0. I am going to assume your unweighted GPA is going to be materially lower than 4.0 based on your class rank, so check that against the GPA information.
I calculated, and at the moment I am in the top 11%. My 52 rank is from the data of my freshman year. My unweighted is somewhere around 3.8 or 3.9 out of a 4.0 scale.
Trying to be helpful and not discouraging, I would guess that the vast majority of the 94% in the top 10% are in the top 5% of their class. Every admission’s office of every highly selective college will say the most important factor they consider in their admissions decision is the high school academic record of the candidate (gpa and rigor of courses the main components). Hopefully, you have moved up in the rankings and will continue to do so through your junior year (and the first semester of your senior year). Personally, I don’t think there would be much difference between being ranked 7 or 15 out of 460 in your school, but I do think there would be a big difference between 15 and 30, all other things being roughly equal (test scores, EC’s, rec’s, essays). Even if you were ranked in the top 5 and had stellar test scores, you still need to apply to a good variety of schools, the dream/reach schools like Princeton (at a 6.5% admit rate, it is a reach for just about anyone), target schools and a couple of safeties. The worst thing you can do is box yourself into a mindset that getting into HYPS defines success and you as a person. Good luck.
@saaqboy I agree with @BKSquared you need to raise your GPA / rank a little. This will be hard with your intended courses, but that rigor with an upward trend - if you can handle it - shows you are prepared for the Princeton workload.
To me your biggest problem is being too cookie-cutter. I don’t see much that is really unique to you. You play sports (so do a lot of candidates), you play a musical instrument (so do a lot of candidates), you are the class VP (so are a lot of candidates), etc.
What makes you memorable and unique? What is something the adcoms will fight for you in committee?
You have done a lot of great work, but the only thing that makes me go “huh?” is your Brown bio course. If you can do something to extend and build on that narrative, perhaps over summer in a university lab, you can make yourself more distinct. Consider doing your own research project if you cannot find a lab this summer. My son did his own research in our garage, and I think having a tangible example of intellectual curiosity and proactive learning was a helpful element to his Princeton admittance.