What do you think...

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>My name is James and I thought I would put my stats up here to see what people think. I am looking to apply to Pton this coming year and would like some advice. Pton is my first choice and I will be applying ED. </p>

<p>Okey, some quick demographic stats... I am a poor white irishman from ohio attempting to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds and trying to make it in the big city. As for personality I am a very firendly and outgoing person. A people person and can always turn a frown upsidedown. Yeh, that sums it up, but read on to get the details. </p>

<p>I am a rising Senior at Mount Lebanon Senior High School in Pittsburgh, PA(It is the best High School in Western PA and very competative)</p>

<p>GPA: 4.3ish Weighted, and 3.7 Un-Weighted</p>

<p>Rank: Our school no longer ranks, because it does nto accurately represent the students. For example I would barely be in the top quarter despite having a GPA of over 4.0.</p>

<p>SAT: I have never considered myself strong in standardized tests... I only got a 1920 on the New Test (640 on everything), but I managed to get an 11 on the essay. I am hoping Princeton will look more to my other aspects than weight the SAT against me. I aim to take it once more though. Also I should mention I have not had any prep-classes. Yet, I will try to take the test once more this fall. </p>

<p>SAT II: Will take in Novemeber (German Reading & Listening; Math IIC; and U.S. History) I would like to mention briefly that I took a German Test offered by the AATG last year and it is very much similar to the SAT II. They grade almost identical to the SAT II, and I am proud to say I managed to get a 750 on that and placed 3rd in my school, after onyl one year of study of the language. I shall discuss later my experiance with German, which I hope Pton will consider well. </p>

<p>AP Tests: I took AP US History last May and scored a 4 on it. I plan to take more tests next year. Such tests would be as follows, AP German, AP US Gov't and Politics, AP Statistics, AP Biology, and AP Euro.</p>

<p>I am looking to study History and Languages at Princeton. </p>

<p>Junior Year Courses:
AP U.S. History - B (87.6%)
Honours Pre-Calculus - B (84.5%)
German 3 - A (I actually had a 106%...)
Honours Chemistry - A (92%)
Anthropology - A (94%)
International Relations - A (98.6%)
English 11 (Required Standard class) - A (93%)</p>

<p>Tenative Senior Courses
AP European History
Astronomy 2 (1 Sem. Elective)
Economics (1 Sem. Elective)
AP Biology
AP Statistics
Honours German 4*
Highlights of English Literature (1 Sem. Elective)
The Irish (1 Sem. Elective) [I'm going to love this class. I am a big fan of Joyce and Wilde]</p>

<p>*I will be usuing my study halls to sit in on another period of AP German 5 so as to prepare myself as best I can for the AP German test which is reputated to be a nightmare.</p>

<p>-I did not include my Sophomore classes because I can't find the actual list of what I took and don't recall the numbers of the top of my head. I can probably get them if you give me some time to go home and look through some boxes.</p>

<p>Hook-ish: Well, I am poor. So poor I can count the pieces of furniture I have in my apartment on one hand. We live in the ghetto of my town more or less in an apartment. I am the second poorest person in town. A good friend of mine is the poorest. Suprisingly we are both Irish... ha who would have thought? My dad makes about 35k a year and I have had to work several times to compensate for the lack of money (He works a commission job). I also only moved to the city my Sophomore Year. My Freshmen year was spent in rural Ohio as all my previous years before that date. So, I come from rural Ohio and bring a whole different perspective to the University. But, I am not just a dumb hick. I am smart and willing to learn new things. I was lucky that my Dad was able to grab this apartment in town for my education. Guess he saw some potential. Hopefully I can make good use of it... Also another thing may be the fact that my Dad never went to college and my mom barely went. She went to some small college called Point Park and is also not swimming in money. So, I got stuck with two poor parents. But, I am trying to make the best of it. I think that is more the hook part, but thoguht I would get it on the table. I don't hide things and see myself as quite an outgoing and gregarious person. </p>

<p>Extra curriculas and Interests:</p>

<p>I have Wrestled since 7th grade and won one Varsity letter thus far. I was co-captain of the JV Team my Junior and Sophomore Year, and will be breakign back onto Varsity this coming season. I cite my abscence to an injury I suffered my Freshman Track Season in which I whacked a hurtle pretty bad and torn up some tendons in my leg. I also am envolved with the Youth Wrestling and will go down and help with the younger wrestlers in the area as a sort of counselor. We help guide their practices and give them advice from a role model perspective suppose. </p>

<p>Yeh, I also ran Track until my Sophomore Year when I decided to focus solely on Wrestling and also because I was deathly afraid of hurtles... They have got to be the worst event in the whole dang thing. </p>

<p>I am also a Boy Scout. Currently Life Scout working on my Eagle. I am not certain if I will be able to finish it though. Sadly I will turn 18 on October 18th and I do nto have enough time. I recently had to pick up a job this summer to help with rent. Either way I have made good use of my Boy Scout Experiance and have about 35 Merit Badges and am a Member of the Order of the Arrow, the Boy Scout Honour Society. I do alot of Volunteer Work with my troop, e.g. running toy drives, cleaning up park trails. I am not sure on the exact number of hours but I do have a general idea. </p>

<p>Due to my great interest in German, and other languages. I also study Slovakian, Italian, and French (I can read the last two almost fluently) I am an active member of my school's German Club and do alot of things relating to that in the Tri-State area here. German Day, singing Christmas Carols auf deutsch... etc. Hehe.. </p>

<p>I love to read. I will devour books. Ever since I was a sweet lil' babe in Steuby (Steubenville: My hometown in Ohio) I would not be lost in the supermarket as the Ramones sing but rather, "...in the library." I am a big fan of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I loved the book way before the movie came along, quite a few years actually. But, I do not just read great Science Fiction novels I can also sit and read Dumas' Three Musketeer's in the original french or dabble in Euripides' Troades. I learnt so much from that place. I mean I never studied that in school but somehow could go off on a tangent with my teacher about the linguistic effects of the Norman Invasion, and leave them dumbstruck. </p>

<p>My dad was a really good frisbee player in his younger years. He helped organize the construction of the Frisbee Golf Course in Pittsburgh actually. Anyone from town may know of it. So, I have with his advice taken up playing Ultimate Frisbee myself and am a member of my school team. I think it is a good hobby and alot of fun, but that is just my personal opinion. </p>

<p>I am also involved in the Speech and Debate Team at my school. I started last year though. My International Relations Teacher is the Coach and he was impressed with me in class, and suggested I come out for the team. So, I shawdowed the team last year and participated in a Debate or two and will make a full commitment next year as the season begins. I will be doing Extemporaneous Speaking which everyone tells em is the most difficult, but I apparently have a knack for it. </p>

<p>I am really close to my maternal Grandfather. As he is up in his mid 70s I often travle up to his house (he lives on the other side of town) and help him and my grandmother with chores aroudn the house. You know mowing the lawn, watering flowers, dusting. Things of that nature... </p>

<p>Summer Experiances:</p>

<p>Most summers I work at my local Boy Scout Camp as a Camp Counselor. I started when I was 14 as a CIT and now I help tech Merit Badge Classes. As summer camp runs about 7-8 weeks it takes up most of my summer. The rest I usually end up finding a job and working at least until Wrestling season starts when I focus my efforts on my grades and the sport more. </p>

<p>By work on mean mostly dead end cJobs. The onyl kind a kid my age can really get. I mean I don't have the money to secure some internship with a Harvard Proffessor and what else is there to do int he summer time. Don't have money to go on vacation. I have never been on one. Never even been on one of those things you call aeroplanes. Don't look sprised. You read it and I am serious. I don't lie or exaggerate the truth like some other people do on these forums. I am just putting it on the table. Sorry if I went a little off-topic there. </p>

<p>This most recent summer I was able to secure funding to attend the Junior Statesman of American Summer School at Princeton University. There is where my love affair with Pton began. I spent more than a month on campus living in Joline Hall and taking classes in Jadwin and Fisher and wandering all over campus as I learnt about Government and Politics. I did really well at the program and got an A in AP US Gov't and Politics, and a B in Honours Speech Communication. I think, however, the only reason I got the B was because the teacher was English and I am a proud Irishman. But, I must admit it was fun writing in huge letters Erin Go Brah! on the board and seeing the look on her face as she entered the room. We had a very good realtionship in the end though. Reached a sort of d</p>

2

<p>Continued...</p>

<p>Reccomendations:</p>

<p>They will be phenomenal. I am having my AP US History Teacher and My German Teacher, along with my AP US Govt Prof (Optional Ref) give the recommendations for me. And I am being serious. These are the kinds of reccomendations that my grandmother would want to frame.</p>

<p>German</p>

<p>I told you I would say something about it. Okey, let's see. My frosh year I was in Ohio and our school only offered Spanish or French. I took French, because well I am a Francophile. I did very well in the class and got an A. Yet, when I moved to Pittsburgh I saw the school offered German. I have always wanted to learn German. Perhaps because I have great interest in World War II. That was my thought. Either way I signed up for German 1, and figured might as well take a language I love. But, I still kept up with my french. Checking out french books in the library, chatting with the french teachers at school. Anyway, returning to German I had a magnificent first year and the teacher recommended I try to get better and challenge myself more in the language. As I was techncialyl behind being a Sophomore in a German 1 class he suggested I pass out of German 2 and try for German 3. So, he gave me a ton of papers to rea over the summer and study guides. I would have to take the German 2 Exam in August to pass out of the class. And I would have to do good on it as well. I would need an A to be honest. Luckily I did study that summer in my free time. There was a fellow staff member up at Scout Camp who spoke fluent German so I was able to, after a log day of teaching knots to kids, etc., to review the German case endings and verbs. It was brutal but I managed and come August I passed with a 92%. It was by the skin of my teeth they said. So, I was in German 3 for my Junior Year and I did quite well in that class aswell. So well I was actually going to try to go into AP German for my senior year, but did not have any time over this most recent summer to study. Yet, I worked out a plan with my teacher to take my study halls this coming year and sit in on a AP German class and get 2hrs of practice a day so to prepare myself for the gruelling 5hr AP German Test. Also I will be getting some practice with my Extemp (Debate) partner who is herself a fluent German speaker. She actually spent her Junior year in Cologne Germany as an exchange student. Imagine as we prepare our speechs on Bush's Social Security Plan and the looks of other students as they try to comprhend our "secret code" as to not share ideas. Heh... anyway hope you enjoyed reading this. I pray it wasn't torture. But, I figured best to tell the whole story as to get a good picture. </p>

<p>Summing Up</p>

<p>That is me. I haven't had a perfect life. I have had a rather hard one. And I am looking at Pton to give me the chance to succeed. Let's talk about potential for growth. Hehe... With such a low income I am almost forced to apply to the most selective as they are the only ones that are need-blind. But, I really do love Pton. I went to walk past Nassay Hall and thru Blair Arch smiling as I stop to get a drink at the U-Store and walk to the stadium across campus and watch Harvard get beaten by the Tigers.</p>

<p>Also I am a conservative... maybe I can contribute some political diversity there. Or should one even mention that... Either way I will probably do soemthing with trying to get Sentorum re-elected in Pennsylvania this fall. So the question is do I say his name, or do I leave it as Senator and let them guess wether it is Casey or Sentorum...</p>

<p>And one more thing I couldn't fit in above... will be tuturoing a friend of the family's kids. They are in the 6th grade and I will be helping them with Math, Science, History... You know the works. The work will more than likely be pro bono as they are a friend of the family but I may get a few dollars. Who knows for certain. Not I.</p>

<p>Anyway, your suggestions, comments, and random thoughts are most welcome.</p>

3

<p>Holy cow...that's a long post. I hope you get in or have a good chance because I have similar situation as you are (different hooks) and similar test scores/grades.</p>

4

<p>Yeh, I hope I get in too. Are you applying ED as well?</p>

<p>-Sorry post is a little long. I like to put both feet forward, not just my good one.</p>

5

<p>longest. chances thread. ever.</p>

6

<p>Do I get a medal or something? If so please tell. Maybe I can throw that onto my application.</p>

7

<p>Write an essay about your moving from Ohio to PA, and the changes from the country to the city, and how YOU have coped. You need to be the focus.</p>

<p>Also, being poor will help, but is no guarantee.</p>

8

<p>wow..a post that long takes dedication...heres to you brother</p>

9

<p>I like your spirit and your 'do I get a medal' upbeat humor. From my experience with this college admissions stuff, I think that recommendations help more than people think. If you have good ones, that's a great foundation already. Take magnusrex's advice about 'how YOU have coped' - he's right, it's very important that you keep the focus on you - and exhibit a mindset that is thoughtful and reflective, but also positive and motivated. Princeton has very good financial aid by the way, so extra good luck to you - it'd be really wonderful for you and your family if you got in. Hope it works out.</p>

10

<p>Magnusrex,</p>

<p>I was actually planning on writing an essay similar to such. Yet I know Pton's application doesn't have a topic of choice and only the common app has that. But, I wasn't sure if sending the common app and onyl one essay would look bad as Pton is my first choice. (As apart to sending Pton's with 3 essays). </p>

<p>However, I think that Pton's questions may be open-ended enough to accurately portray my story. Take for example the first one, "...In what way do you imagine using your talents and convictions in service to communities - large or small - during your lifetime?". I think I would eb able to talk about helping the part of Ohio where I came from or the "rustbelt" in general having lived in the most oxidized portion of it. </p>

<p>Also, I think the historical event of th 1990s may be doable. I could use some local event that happened in the region, as I didn't even move to the city until I think 2002ish. </p>

<p>So, thanks again for your help. </p>

<p>Mea,</p>

<p>I was recently reading the new Time Magizine. The one that had an article about the 25 Most Influential Hispanics. And I recall the entry about George Lopez. Now, George Lopez came also from a rather poor background. And he said that when a comic comes from a more privalleged life he speaks of aeroplanes, relationships, and laudry. Whereas someone who has seen the other side of the tracks has comdey that is a little more 'darker' as it hits home a little more and is very deep. I, liek George Lopez, hope to bring something deep to the campus. I think with my background I may be able to show them that having not lived a sheltered life I could perhaps be myself an Un-represented minority. Of course I am not a flute player from Montana who tutors inner-city kids (which wouldn't make sense now that I think about it), but I have a certain social diversity. And of course I will be the first to admit am no child prodigy. But I would never want to be one. You know why? Well, because a child prodigy knows as much when it is a child when it becomes an adult. And I want to learn. </p>

<p>Yes, my recommendations are going to be quite good. Both teachers know me very well, and know have great potential. I am also hoping for an interview, and I think that will go over very good. The interviewer will be able to hear my cirumstance first hand and I can show him my great desire to go to Pton. I know the interview is not a "make or break" deal, but I think every little bit helps here. </p>

<p>"...and exhibit a mindset that is thoughtful and reflective, but also positive and motivated." I very much like that choice of words. </p>

<p>Yes, part of the reason I have looked into Pton is their very firendly financial aid packages. No loans... I was overjoyed when I read those words. </p>

<p>Thanks again to both of you for all your advice, and to all for your encouragment.</p>

11

<p>I should also mention I am looking into Duke and Cornell as other schools. Kinda on the same level as Pton when you get down to it. All in the top 20. Anyway Duke is my second choice. A fine southern school if I do say so myself. Just thought I would mention that as well.</p>