In your letter of continuing interest, don’t say “I reallyreallyreally want to be Tiger.” Say “Princeton continues to be my first choice because the fantastic neuro/bio program/ the great way music is integrated into other departments/the opportunity to study in the ___ lab” or whatever your reason (short) is.
All students have difficulties to overcome. Do not dwell on that. You’ve covered it in your application. Do not ‘update’ them with a medical position you are going to do in the spring. What’s new, that you have completed, since your application?
@twoinanddone I wasn’t going to mention my difficulties in my LOCI, if you’re talking about my brother. I was just giving context to this thread. And I am still going to update them about my shadowing doctors because it’s important to me and shows I am interested in my major.
I’m sorry you got rejected, college decisions are so strange sometimes. But please make a new thread about your experience if you are going to ask a specific question
A possible reason for rejection: not enough involvement in languages? I know they value it a lot. I am very involved in Spanish at my school.
@therealdioxis, I am not sure about the 80% deferred figure. I had the impression that Princeton and Yale were similar at around 60% deferred (56% deferred and 29% rejected this cycle) and Harvard was in the high 70’s. Maybe someone who is more familiar with Princeton can chime in. Also who knows if they got stricter this year. The indicated major may have put you in a tougher comparative pool. Also are there possible anti-hooks, e.g. ORM living in a competitive geographic region, like the Bay Area? You also might want to get another person to take a quick look at your essays. Did you try too hard to write a distinguishing essay using humor or a personal issue that fell flat? Could it have been too polished that it created doubts about who authored the essay(s)? I heard an interesting comment from a Yale AO who said that they will will not infrequently see the voice of a 50 year old lawyer in an essay, and not an 18 year old kid. There needs to be some level of cohesiveness between your essays, academics, EC’s and LoR’s.
With your accomplishments to date, I am sure you will find a fitting home for the next 4 years. It’s what you do with your college experience, not where you have it, that is the most important thing.
You have gotten good advice here. A short letter letting Princeton know you are interested, any new developments and a short and subtle reiteration of how you can add to the Princeton community is the most effective thing you can do.
When it comes to challenges he’s, health issues, problems, these top schools Are only interested in these things if you spectacularly achieved despite those things happening. Any hint that they might be an excuse or reason is not well taken because so many have such stories.
Your stats and situation are similar to my youngest’s and I can tell you Princeton would have been a lottery ticket for him. No one in his school was accepted with those numbers without a strong hook. In your case, ithe professor for whom you performed, could have been a hook, but clearly he was not. I would not bring that up again. Certain things have to be brought up by others. It doesn’t come off well from the applicant.
You’re emotionally invested in the school so it’s a waste of time to say to forget about it, and move on. But , do move on. I don’t remember what other schools you have on your list, but some colleges do require focus and demonstrated interest to gain admissions. My son was careful to give each school in his list due attention , and I think it Marva difference in the results.
@cptofthehouse Why would I not bring up my audition again? It’s not like it went poorly, it really did go extremely well. It was the best I’ve ever played. He even put me on the spot and had me sight read and he said so many compliments. I am going to mention it, very briefly. It was a good experience for both me and the professor and it made me want to attend Princeton even more.
I am moving on but I am not giving up. I am working on so many applications at the moment and also keeping my grades up. I am seriously accepting the fact that my chances of rejection are high, but to me all that matters is that I tried my absolute best, and I did.
I know that college is what you make of it. My older sister who attended UMass has one of my dream jobs right now (researching cancer). I just think Princeton fits me as a person and I admire it so much and of course it would be amazing to attend but if it doesn’t work out, that’s fine. I’m sure other people deserve the spots more than me anyways.
The professor already conveyed his opinion of the audition and his recommendations, and they were taken into account in the decision. It did not get you accepted. I’ve seen situations where a professor’s rec does pull a person into the acceptance range even when their stats are under the mid 50%. It did not happen here. If you want to touch on it, that’s up to you but i don’t think it’s going to help. At this point, it’s new info that will be considered. You’ve been assessed on the what has been submitted already.
Many colleges advise deferred and waitlisted candidates what additional things to submit, and what not to do. Reiteration of first round material is usually not recommended.
@cptofthehouse We don’t know that the music professor conveyed anything. On another thread, I was angling for OP to diplomatically and enthusiastically mention playing for this person. Just the right mention. Then adcoms would decide whether to contact him.
OP said her GC thought it would be too “pushy.” We don’t know more, at this point.
Lots of good advice on these forums. Take it all in and then do what YOU think is the right thing. My kid was in a similar situation last year and did things counter to advice in these forums because they felt it was the right thing to do. Was awarded a spot off the waitlist at another ivy.
Hi got deferred also with ACT 35, SAT CHEM: 790, MATH II - 790 Rank: 1/550, went to NJ Governor’s School and had major related EC’s but know that my essays were not that great at all. So when I write letter of continued interest, I did not report SAT US history: 740 and SAT: 1540, do I need to report this or let them know at all or just continue interest in the school and do you guys recommend uploading this letter into the portal.
@ubsmd2020 I uploaded my letter to the portal. I don’t think those test scores will sway your decision as your others seem to be more impressive but I doubt they’ll hurt! Up to you on that one
@benandjerrys101 - Don’t move on, stay positive. No matter what the result is you will never have to wonder what would have happened if you persevered. My son was not the typical Princeton student either, we just threw it in without too much thought at the end because a teacher told him too and never anticipated that he would ever be accepted. What a shock. I wish you the best. For the record some peoples ‘honesty’ can be somewhat harsh and it’s actually untimely. I’m sorry.
@sarrip Not sure why you felt a need to tag me – if you read my two posts they were not meant to be “harsh and untimely” – in fact I did encourage the OP to send a letter of continuing interest to Princeton. My concern was that in reading prior posts it was not evident that the OP had applied to any match (non-single digit admission rate) schools other than a safety and I wanted to encourage those applications. Happily in a response the OP did appear to have a well-balanced application list – the match applications were just were not part of any post I saw.
My feeling is that at the end of the process it is best if each student has choices. This is advice I gave my own children and countless others I have worked with in the college application process. Unfortunately I have read about too many people on CC who apply to just reach and safety schools only to be disappointed and have one unsatisfying choice in the end. It appeared that the OP interpreted my comments the wrong way and I already told him/her I’m sorry for that.
Anyway I’m sure we both wish the OP all the best going forward.
@happy1 - I actually did not tag you or at lease didn’t mean to. When I quoted the OP your name happened to be in the OP’s post. I apologize for the confusion.
Does it make any sense to send a Letter of Continued Interest now? Would it be take n negatively, considered it’s quite late in the day? Also, would submitting a Resume help at all?
Listen Bro! I received a 1180 SAT and a 27 ACT and I was deferred! I am like the #1 student in our grade and I’m positive I am the backbone of our class. I know I’m getting in on regular decision round LOL. (trying to manifest the good thoughts)
