Chance Me - 2021 BSE Computer Science

Colleges & Universities Princeton University
1

I’m kind of freaking out after being rejected from Caltech and differed at MIT - when I visited Princeton I loved the campus and its one of the few reach schools that will give me enough aid to actually allow me to attend.

Academics:
ACT: 36 Composite (36 Math, 36 Science, 35 Reading, 36 English. 33 English/Writing Composite)
GPA: 4.0 UW
SAT Subject Tests: 800 Math II, 790 Chem
AP Tests: Calc AB, Calc BC, US History: 5. Computer Science: 5 (Perfect score, one of ~66 globally that year)
Rank: Valedictorian, there’s a few tied since my school doesn’t weight grades
Coursework: Have taken my classes junior/senior year through a state program that allows me to take them in-person at the state university near me. I’ve taken all of the lower division base CS courses and am taking two upper division courses next semester.

ECs:
Debate: Competed 4 years. State quarterfinalist last year. Captain.
Speech: Competed 4 years. National qualifier every year so far. State finalist last year. Category captain.
Quiz Bowl: Competed 4 years. We’re trash, but it’s fun.
Volunteering: Some mentoring for a middle school engineering competition. Started and taught an after school programming class at the local middle school.
Programming Projects: I write a bit about this in my common app essay. I’ve developed a few modifications for a popular video game which involved writing ~30k lines of Java. I’ve gotten around a million cumulative downloads, if numbers mean anything. I’ve done a few other things but nothing that’s in my application.

Work:
Worked last summer running programming/robotics camps at a local tutoring place.

Letters of Rec:
Teacher letters are probably good but not great. Both teachers liked me, but I’m not very close to them. They’re probably generic letters of rec.
I got one from my speech/debate coach which should be be very good.

Awards:
Apart from the EC related awards above I don’t have much.

Demographics:
Location: Midwest
School: Suburban, probably top ~15 in the state
Race: White (very)
Gender: Male

Thank you so much for reading!

(Also - is it a bad idea to put a relatively explicit hip-hop album as my favorite recording in the application and http://www.kanyetothe.com/ as my favorite website?)

2

You should be able to get into Princeton. Just make sure you take time on your essays because they do reject people with really good test scores.

And about the album, if it’s your favorite just put it. If you don’t get in because of the music you like then that’s not a school you should want to go to.

3

except maybe not the website because it has the Famous video as the frontpage and that might not be a nice touch

4

You have an excellent chance, your essays will make it or brake it for you

5

You appear to be a viable candidate based on your resume above, however I disagree with the previous post that “you should be able to get into Princeton”. You would also be considered viable at Caltech and MIT so as you know viability does not necessarily equal an admissions offer. Your stats etc are strong so it’s worth applying, keeping in mind that super selective schools do regularly turn away strong applicants. Apply to a few safeties and matches as well.