Princeton2017

International Student from Pakistan.

SAT I: 2290 - 750 CR, 740 M, 800 W.
SAT II: Will take in October.
GPA: Around 3.9 UW
Class Rank: Top 5%
O'levels: 11 As
Recipient of Merit Scholarship for Alevels.
Topped in my school in O'level English Language.

My school is a semi-private in Pakistan. We've sending people to top schools for years.

ECs:

President - Performing Arts Society; Lead Role - Annual Play 2012; Director - Annual Play 2013; Speaker - Parliamentary Debating Team; Won many tournaments; Shortlisted National Team; Best English Declamation and Parliamentary Speaker in my school; Model UN - Participated in national and international conferences and won Best Delegates and Honourable Mentions; Journalism - Founding editor of Literary Magazine; Paid freelancer for National Daily Newspaper; Best Essay Writer in my school.

Varsity Tennis Team.

Community Service:

Taught English at government schools; Participated in a national outreach program helping prospective college students from rural, illiterate backgrounds; Intern at Micro-credit NGO helping poor women start up small businesses.

Summers:

After 10th grade: Went to France for a month long immersion course at L'Institut de Touraine, achieving a diploma at the level of DELF B2, and was the youngest member of my class by a 2 year margin.
After 11th grade: Interning at a Think tank on International Law.

Do you guys think I have a shot SCEA?

Princeton2017

bump.

It's funny, i thought I'd get at least a few responses here considering its the Princeton thread. Everywhere else, people just go turned off by the username.

Princeton2017

Okay...


10char.

Princeton2017

Almost 300 views. wow.

LinaNick

because I feel like a jerk for having looked at this three times:
I am not the best person to answer (haven't applied anywhere yet). Your scores and grades look good, and your ECs are impressive, but since you're an international applicant, it's really hard to tell, which is probably why so many people have looked at this post but not replied. I would say go for it--if your essays are good, you've got a better chance than some, and the only sure-fire way not to get in is not to apply.

Princeton2017

Aahh, my guilt tactics finally work.

Thanks for replying! Haha, that's what I've been telling myself. Sometimes, you feel as if you shouldn't apply to HPYS because you think you have a next-to-nothing chance of getting in. But hey, even the people who get in aren't exactly robots (in most cases, at least :P), so what's the harm in trying, right?

Is SCEA really easier than RD? Or is the acceptance rate higher simply because the applicant pool is smaller?

PtonAlumnus

Most Americans are not sufficiently familiar with the Pakistan school system to understand and evaluate your accomplishments. Most are familiar with AP and IB but O'levels? A levels? DELF B2?

The coaches encourage recruited athletes to apply SCEA. Many well qualified alumni children apply SCEA. Many of the best private schools encourage their best students to apply SCEA. There is no evidence that it is easier to be admitted via SCEA; however, applying SCEA tells admissions that Princeton is probably your first choice. That may encourage admissions to review your qualifications a little more carefully.

It is my personal belief that as more well qualified students apply SCEA there is pressure on admissions to accept more students via SCEA.

Princeton2017

oh okay. Thank you!