Deferred Early Action - Improved - Chances for Regular Decision?

asking4afriend
Wed, 02 Mar 2016 15:37:31 +0000

So between when I applied in October and now (early March), some things have changed, and I was wondering if anyone has any wisdom to offer about how my admissions chances could be affected.

I re-took the SAT (which I should have done way sooner because my old score was from junior year), and my score improved from 770CR 620M 690WR to 740CR 680M 770WR (new score-choice score being 2220). I know my math score is still relatively low compared to those admitted at Princeton. but I’m not losing any sleep over it because that’s just an area I’ve always struggled in and I don’t stress myself out about stuff like that.
Also, my senior year course load is rigorous - full schedule, all IB classes, all A’s on my mid-year report (except a 91 in AP physics) - would qualify as ‘most rigorous curriculum available’ on those things guidance councilors fill out.

I wasn’t surprised that I was deferred. There were strengths in my application; legacy connections because both of my parents, my grandpa, and my aunt went to Princeton, I had a pretty strong visual arts supplement, well-written and unique essays relevant to long-term goals related to my desired major (writing is my strength), 3.9 GPA, full IB Diploma program, in top 2% of class, vice-president of a few clubs, did some JV athletics, - but also I haven’t cured cancer, I’m honestly not that involved in school (I’d rather paint or read on my own in my free time than head clubs I don’t really care about), and haven’t really won academic awards and don’t have any really eye-catching accomplishments to wave around.
Also, I applied for the neuroscience program, and maybe this is arcane thinking, but I was hoping that being a female and being passionate about science would increase my chances of acceptance - at least more so than if I applied for english or something.

So long story short, I think three of the major factors contributing to the fact that I was deferred were
1)my low SAT math score (has it improved enough to not be a negative factor?)
2)ambiguity about how I would perform with 8 IB/AP level courses (which is now a pro because of the mid-year grades)
3)lack of SAT II’s (I didn’t realize that I needed to take these until it was too late)

So, thoughts, relevant experiences, honest judgements?

***side note: i’m also very indecisive about this whole college application thing - even if I were to get into Princeton (which I’m not at all expecting, because I know how crazy-low that chances are statistically, but hoping for just because of my natural youthful idealism) I don’t know if I’d want to go…I’m afraid that the culture would be sort of toxic and the people would be entirely self-centered…I just want to be surrounded by ideas and make the most I possibly can of my life - and I’m honestly not sure where college fits into that picture.

Thanks for your time