<p>Hi! This is a kind of an experiment to see what you guys think colleges look for in an applicant. I'll be putting down the stats of two "applicants" and see which one you guys would accept if you were an admissions officer at Princeton (or any other Ivy). </p>
<p>/</p>
<p>Applicant 1</p>
<p>-GPA: 3.98
-SAT I: 2370
-SAT II: 780 Chem, 780 Math II
-Course Load:
IB HL Math
IB HL Chemistry
IB HL English
IB SL Economics
IB SL Spanish
IB SL Physics
(IB is generally considered more difficult than AP; please don't eat me, this is what I garnered from forums discussing this.) </p>
<p>-Third in class</p>
<p>-Scholastic Art and Writing Award Winner
-President of school literary magazine
-Started service project at school
-Runs semi-popular blog reviewing books
-Been in school productions/ directed one
-Volunteered with Girl Scouts for three years
-Cross country team for four years
-National Merit Semifinalist
-National Honor Society Member
-Raised money for educating poor teens in Africa</p>
<p>/</p>
<p>Applicant 2</p>
<p>-GPA: 4.0
-SAT I: 2400
-SAT II: 800 Chem, 800 Math II
-Course Load:
IB HL Business
IB HL Chemistry
IB HL English
IB SL Math
IB SL Spanish
IB SL Physics</p>
<p>-Valedictorian</p>
<p>-President of archery club
-Secretary for MUN club
-National Honor Society member
-Chosen for Global Young Leaders conference
-Track and field team for four years
-Volunteered in local hospital
-National Merit Semifinalist </p>
<p>They’re practically identical with what you’ve listed: i.e. certainly academically qualified and viable. There is a minute difference in the ECs you’ve listed with perhaps the first candidate having more influence/leadership over his/her activities. But academically there is NO difference (val or no val is irrelevant here) – none whatsoever. </p>
<p>I would have to refer to their personal statements and teacher recs: no decision at this point.</p>
<p>Either or both can be accepted. Either or both can be rejected based upon who else is being considered.</p>
<p>If you’re looking for something definitive, it doesn’t exist. Since you’re trying to replicate an admissions scenario, have a listen here:</p>
<p>I think colleges would be more likely to take the first one if all unstated were equal ( ESSAYS, URM, legacy, domestic). That said you’re creating a highly artificial and unrealistic scenario. Comparing two applicants side by side creates a situation in which you’re basically looking at how one manages to beat the other. At Harvard and other selective colleges, there are so many people with these kinds of application that the selection process is more about having something unique to bring to the school. So it’s not about beating out one other person but rather standing out among twenty (or so) people, many of which have stats and ECs in the ballpark of these applicants.</p>
<p>Really, it’s a worthless exercise and don’t go bragging to your friend “ha, some kid on the internet thought my chances of getting in were better 11!” Honestly, the odds suggest that both applicants would be rejected.</p>
<p>2370=2400
780s=800s
rank 3 = valedictorian
courseload is nearly the same (the minute difference shouldn’t play too big a role)</p>
<p>The only thing that I can see is that applicant 1 tried to “build” his resumee for an elite college (African kids/trying to be the leader of everything/ trying to volunteer). Though it certainly does look good, it may bite you in the ass later, cause some colleges wants someone with passions, not someone who does things to look good.</p>
<p>Overall though, if one (if that) were going to get in (and who knows, maybe both will, they certainly are both very competitive), it would come down to recs and essays, and to who the admissions committee got a “warm, fuzzy” feeling from.</p>