Chances for Princeton ED

voronwe
Thu, 04 Nov 2004 07:47:54 +0000

I interviewed for many years for an Ivy. While interviews don’t count as much as other factors (they are usually listed as in the second or third group of “important factors”), I noted that good rankings from me didn’t mean a person would get in, but BAD ones were 100% directly related. In other words, anyone I gave a 1,2, or 3 to out of a maximum of 9 did NOT get in. Another poster - I’ve forgotten who - who interviews for an Ivy had the same experience.

I can tell you that a huge number of people I interviewed who got bad interview scores had a laundry list of ECs a mile long. They listed every single thing they had ever done since 8th grade. When I spoke to them, it seemed that depsite their interest in learning, the real reason they did this was to have it “look good on their college application.” I know it is hard to believe, but I was told a variation of that dozens of times - and all from Indians! Why? Is a parental thing? I have no idea and I am NOT stereotyping, just giving my own “anecdotal” facts (if you consider 20 years experience “anecdotal”).

To the OP - if I were you, I would do as my kids did (all in top ten schools) and leave off about 2/3 of that stuff at least, consolidate others, and concentrate on two or three interests you are truly passionate about. Otherwise you could come across looking like a college-resume-padding machine.

Character is seen in many ways. My kids community service, for example, was something they started when they were very young and which consistently grew throughout their lives. They left off the list all the groups that just did stuff like collect food for Thanksgiving baskets, and left on only things that made a difference and were meaningful It is worrisome that the only service you listed stated that you had an article written about you. That smacks not of character but of opportunism.

Several of the kids I interviewed were youth leaders with a four year record of commitment to helping others; others were Eagle Scouts; others had outside letters from organizations they worked for, etc. Unless there is something you are not telling us, you show us no evidence that you, as cookiemom said, will do or have done a thing to enrich the community.

You will probably get in most places you apply on stats alone, however.