EDIT: sorry, the entire post didn’t send? trying again.
Hi everyone,
I guess it’s finally time for the class of 2018/22 to air their concerns.
I just met with my guidance counselor about my plans for applications this coming fall, and I’m left wondering if it’s safe/worth it to use my SCEA app at Princeton, versus some other restrictive/binding EA/D schools that are less competitive. She seems to think that I have a shot at Princeton, but my school rarely sends kids to ivies, and I don’t think we’ve had anyone to go Princeton in the last 10 years; I’m not sure if her judgement is harsh/calibrated enough.
ACT: 34 © 36/35/30/36 (E/R/M/S) in two sittings. I’m taking again in Sept. to see if I can get math up, and if I can get science up in the same sitting as my higher ELA scores (first sitting had a 28 in science, and a 30 in math, second sitting had a 36 in science, but a 28 in math).
SAT: 1500 (760/740 WR/M), but I don’t think I’ll send.
SAT II: 730 in Lit and Chem
GPA: 4.0 UW, and 4.558 UW w/ honors and AP bonus (.018/yr/honors or AP class)
Rank: 1/150ish
APs: 5s (World History, US History, Lang, Gov), 4s ( Chem, Physics I, Capstone Seminar)
Senior year course load: AP Bio, AP Calc BC, AP Lit, AP Capstone Research, AP Computer Science Principles, Journalism, Theology requirement (Catholic school), Journalism III. I took Econ this past summer, and also just maxed out of my school’s Chinese program, finishing Honors Chinese IV last year.
I was recently named a QB Prep Scholar, but I will not be applying through the NCM.
ECs:
My biggest thing I think is creative writing. I have poetry published in some mid-tier, fairly selective literary magazines. I’ve participated in programming with the Kenyon Review, and have some recognizable awards to my name (5 gold keys w/ Scholastic Art/Writing, 1st place in Princeton’s H.S. Poetry Contest [judged by Tracy K. Smith <3 ]). I edit for two literary magazines, one for high schoolers, and another fairly selective magazine with notable contributors.
I also am the captain of my school’s swim team, the EIC of our newspaper, and participate in policy debate and Model UN. Outside of school, I’m on the executive panel of my city’s Youth Grant Committee, where we delegate over 45k in funds to over 2M in grant requests.
So, like I said, I’m worried about putting all my eggs in the Princeton basket. I’ll also be applying to my state school (UMich) EA, but since Princeton is SECA, I’m really worried this is too risky an option.
Could it be a safe bet?