Chances at admittance?

Colleges & Universities Princeton University
1

<p>This is not a bragging topic, I want sincere opinions from people; I’d like to know what you think my chances are, and if my chances would be better at any other top tier universities. </p>

<p>I’m a non-athletic white male, from Tennessee, and I attend a non-competitive public institution. Neither of my parents have gone to college, and my household income is between 40,000 - 50,000 per year, depending on Overtime. </p>

<p>Class Rank - 1st out of 455
GPA - 4.0 </p>

<p>Academic Rigor; All coursed taken were Honors equivalent or AP, (So I maxed out my school curriculum), Only Juniors and Seniors are allowed to take AP, so last year I had Physics B/English Comp/U.S History (Exam Grades - 5/4/4). This year I’m taking AP Calc AB (But taking BC independently), AP Physics C (Independently), AP English Lit, AP European History, AP Chemistry (Independently), AP Biology (Independently), and AP Statistics (Independently)</p>

<p>EC’s/Service
I founded, and am president of my School Science Club/Science Olympiad Team; which I founded because I found the teaching methods of our science department inadequate. We conduct a mock “Myth Busters” experiment bi-weekly, with requests from students, and during our weekly meetings we debate, experiment, or prepare for the Olympiad.</p>

<p>Last Year, I placed 3rd in Regionals in Physics/Electrical Physics; That was our first year and it was incredibly short notice, this year, we’ll be competing in the tournament again, but we have enough people to move on beyond regionals.</p>

<p>I’m also president of the Math Honor Society; and re-activated it’s chapter at our school, in that club we primarily subsidize normal mathematics class by tutoring other students, prepping for standardized test, or passing out interesting proofs to solve.</p>

<p>I’ve volunteered around 400 hours at a local daycare, tutoring very young children in reading and introducing them to arithmetic and elementary science via putting on skits, bringing in materials and doing experiments, ect. </p>

<p>I’m a Percussionist in the High School Marching Band; no distinctions there, but it’s what I do with quite a bit of my time. </p>

<p>I’m also a Member of the Beta Club and National Honor Society. </p>

<p>Awards
Student of the Year awards in Each Every class my Sophomore and Junior Years;
3rd Place Physics Regional
3rd Place Electrical Physics Regional</p>

<p>Standardized Testing

  • ACT Composite - 33
  • SAT Subject Tests
    Physics - 800
    Math IIc - 800
    Literature - 760</p>
2

<p>I like how you used “admittance” in the thread title. Quirky.</p>

3

<p>You have a 4.0 meaning you got all As but your AP scores doesn’t show that - meaning your school is under-competitive, as you mentioned, and this will definitely work against you (remember that getting a B in the class and a 5 on the AP exam is better). You do have lots of community service hours but it seems like you have lots of interest in math and science, but there isn’t much to show it. If your good at math, why not try the AMC or Math Olympiads? Someone taking only three APs in my school was considered an under-achiever. Chance is: I don’t think you would be rejected but most likely deferred. Take a look at other acceptance profiles and see what your missing. Your above average of the applicants but still not safe.</p>

4

<p>I think you are looking good. You have done well.</p>

<p>Enjoy your Senior year and apply to several schools. There are many excellant choices out there besides Princeton.</p>

5

<p>What are you talking about 8 parks?
His school does not offer the academic rigor as some competitive public and private schools do. It is an asset to his application that he chose to go above and beyond what was offered. A 4 in Language and US History are not sole indicators that a school is not competitive. The kid is #1 in his school, what more do you expect?</p>

6

<p>Thanks for the responses.</p>

<p>Anyway, I’m taking like 10 AP’s, my school only offers five, the others are independent study. </p>

<p>Are fours on the AP exams really that bad? Because I think there were only about 10 out of 120 people in my school who scored above a three on those exams; and we didn’t have any fives, except for mine on Physics. We were basically told that it was “close to impossible” to get a five on the AP exams (Which I knew was nonsense, but I didn’t know it was “expected.”)</p>

7

<p>I’d say you’ve got a decent shot. The University is trying to boost the number of low income students to increase diversity, so that should work in your favor. Your numbers are respectable. Have you visited? What makes you want to attend Princeton besides prestige?</p>

8

<p>You are a very strong candidate. Make sure to emphasize your motivation, first-generation college student status and below-princeton-average income. Though – did you not take the SATs? </p>

<p>You sound a lot like me when I was applying, though I’m on the humanities side of things. Let me know if you’d like some feedback – <a href=“mailto:nhopkins@princeton.edu”>nhopkins@princeton.edu</a> or AIM verliebtinadorno</p>

9

<p>It’s actually not so much the prestige I’m concerned with, it’s really more a unity of goals and aspirations. I’ve spent most of my life in an environment that doesn’t support or foster things I value; There is no emphasis or passion for science; in fact many view interest in Math/Science as either superfluous nonsense or blasphemy. The most alluring aspect of Princeton is the appreciation their seems to be for intellectual passion, and the support the university offers those passions through opportunities to get involved in communities of like-minded individuals, funding for research projects, and so forth. Sure there’s the history too, Einstein worked in the Institute for Advanced Study, Stephen Weinberg and Richard Feynman both got their PhD’s at Princeton, ect; but that’s really just an added bonus. I want to be immersed in an environment where my interests will be exalted and encouraged, rather than disparaged. </p>

<p>As for the SAT reasoning Test, I’m working on that. I’m really bad at that test. I don’t know why, I just make a lot of careless errors even though I usually understand how to do the problems I miss. On Math questions, I’ll be stressing because of the time limit and forget about some small detail in the question, and then I’ll miss the question because I won’t answer it.</p>

<p>The first time I took it I just got a 2000 (1350), this time I think I probably improved a little (1400+) and probably 2100 or so. I do fine in the prep books, but I get on the test, and think I did well; come to these forums and figure out I got owned by all the little “tricks.” I’m hoping to go up to a 2200 and a 760 Math; Right now my ACT math is 36 and my SAT Math is like 690 >_>. I’ve just gotta stay focused and beat the semantics</p>