Admission Chances?

astrobling
Sat, 03 Mar 2012 14:20:03 +0000

I’m an applicant from India, and have applied to Harvard(EA-Deferred), Columbia, Dartmouth, Yale, Princeton, Brown and UPenn, amongst the Universities.
I’ve also applied to the following LAC’s: Williams, Bates, Colgate, Grinnell, Swarthmore, Reed and Carleton.

I want to major in Physics, and my scores and extra-curriculars are as follows:

SAT 1: 2150, CR=710(national percentile=96),Math=710(national percentile=94), Writing=730(national percentile=97);
Math Level 2:800(national percentile=88);
Physics and Chemistry: 770(national percentile=82 and 83 respectively);

My school transcripts placed me at the top 1% of my class for my 9th and 10th years. However, ranks have slid down badly over the past year.

My Co-Curriculars include:
30 odd wins at city, regional and national level at quizzing events, for one of these quizzes I received an award from the ex-President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.
Several leadership posts at school.
Have won a few national level essay/creative writing competitions, and a handful of national/city level debates and/or Model United Nations conferences.
Over the past 2 months I have received decent ranks in 3 Olympiads, which are held in India, and 7 other countries in Asia(though I think South African students do take part too).
(I came State Rank- 3rd, International Rank-81st in the Science Olympiad,
I came State Rank- 12th, International Rank-323rd in the Math Olympiad,
I came State Rank- 24th, International Rank-420th in the Cyber Olympiad)

I have helped at a home for the elderly, and have helped to educate underprivileged children from city slums.
Played for my school soccer team.
Have certification in Piano and Music Theory till Grade 5 from the Royal School of Music London.
…etc.

I think my essay/essay type answers were quite strong and do me justice.

I was deferred by Harvard, but that notwithstanding, Princeton is one of my absolute favourite schools. It had basically come down to tossing a coin and opting to go for an EA to H or P. While I know my stats are not quite stellar compared to those of Princeton’s usual applicant pool, could anyone please chance me? Keeping in mind I need full/near full financial aid.