<p>I got accepted through SCEA, and Princeton is my top choice, but I wanted to hear from other schools before I committed. If I wait until spring to accept admission, will that hurt my chances of getting a single-dorm? </p>
<p>I understand that dorms are randomized, but I know they ask for preferences so if I committed sooner rather than later would that help me get a dorm that I ask for?</p>
<p>It makes absolutely no difference. Dorms are not assigned to freshmen until after the class is set…usually early July.</p>
<p>Why do you still want to hear from other schools (Harvard?) ? for financial reasons ? I think it is a selfish thing to do … (to take spots from other applicants after SCEA).</p>
<p>While I agree with Cantiger’s answer you should consider your question from another perspective. </p>
<p>Princeton’s SCEA allows you to wait until the Spring to make a commitment to attend. Columbia, UPenn, Dartmouth, Duke, Brown, Cornell, Johns Hopkins, and many other universities require an immediate answer from students admitted through ED. Universities have trouble projecting the size of their accepted freshman class. Two years ago more students accepted Princeton’s offer of admission than the university expected. Since Princeton guarantees that all student will have a place in a residential college Princeton had to work to find room for all the new students. Three man suites became four man suites, etc. More instructors were hired for freshman writing seminars. </p>
<p>If Princeton is your top choice why do you want to wait? If you want to attend Princeton at some point you should consider taking action that benefits the entire Princeton University community. </p>
<p>In another thread you express concern about about not doing well. That is such a common concern expressed by students at highly selective universities that this concern is known as the imposter syndrome. Some students are concerned that admissions will decide that they are an imposter and revoke their admission. The Outdoor Action summer program before you start classes helps freshman make friends and reduce their feelings of stress. </p>
<p>Princeton STEM courses never had grade inflation. The grades for STEM courses have not changed. The departmental grades for premeds majoring in biology or chemistry have not been affected by grade deflation. Even the universities noted for grade deflation have not inflated the grades in STEM fields. The university’s stated reason for grade deflation was that grade deflation was implemented for the purpose of normalizing grades across departments, so that the average history major’s departmental GPA wouldn’t be two tenths higher than the average physics major’s departmental GPA. Under the current policy a premed biology major has the same opportunity to achieve high grades as a history major. Prior to grade deflation history majors had higher GPAs. Here is a post discussing grade deflation for premeds. <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/16456885-post5.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/16456885-post5.html</a></p>
<p>Thank you for relieving some of my concerns. I guess what has kept me from jumping at Princeton’s admission is the grade deflation. And while I see that it was put in place to keep the humanities in check, I worry that a GPA like a 3.2 at Princeton, which is comparable to a 3.5 or so at Harvard, could hurt my chances of pursuing medical school… So classes I take outside of STEM courses could still hurt me because of grade deflation?</p>
<p>I apologize if I am overthinking this.</p>
<p>And I am waiting to hear from other schools because I have applied to some 6/7-year combined pre-med/med programs (ie. George Washington, Penn State) so I want to consider all of my options. Though Princeton has been my dream school since I was a child, I still want to be practical about my decision. I don’t think I am “taking” spots from other applicants…</p>
<p>I don’t think you are taking spots from others by waiting until spring to decide. Our family had a major life change, unexpected, that arose in March of D’s senior year. It would have been disastrous if she had been locked into a college decision earlier on. I think it’s foolish to commit before knowing all the options and P knows “non-binding” means students have other applications pending.</p>
<p>I try not to wade into the grade deflation discussion but can tell you there were plenty of awards and honors at graduation. I’ve never heard a P graduate say they regretted attending because of grade deflation. I’ve never heard anyone (admittedly not a rigorous sample) say they regretted choosing P. I could better understand someone not liking orange and black, but then that combination grows on you. My advice: wait until you have all your acceptances in hand, attend admitted student days at your top choices, then choose P. That way you won’t be second guessing yourself later.</p>
<p>Powergoose: no SCEA applicant is compelled to accept before anyone else (May 1). That’s why it’s called Early Action and not Early Decision. It’s not binding.</p>
<p>Plus even if not a single EA applicant says yes before May 1, the college will just put more people on the WL. No one “loses” a spot because others, ahead of them, haven’t committed yet. It all washes out in the final RD admit total and subsequent WL actions. You’re just incorrect.</p>
<p>You should take the time to get answers to all of your questions. I did not state or imply that you were taking spots from other candidates. It is helpful for you to state all of your concerns.</p>
<p>Historically Princeton students have a very high med school acceptance rate. Over 90%. See: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/14861661-post7.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/14861661-post7.html</a> It is possible that you could have a 3.2 GPA at Princeton instead of a 3.5 at Harvard. However, I have not seen evidence that the 3.2 GPA is harming students admission to med school. The only people that really know are the admissions committee at the med schools and they are not talking. The acceptance rate data suggests that med schools want the best students. Princeton students have scored very high on the MCAT test so med schools have a neutral factor to judge the qualifications of Princeton students. The new president is reviewing the grading policy to ensure that the inflated grades at other universities are not harming the opportunities of Princeton graduates.</p>
<p>If you are risk adverse I see the benefit of a 6/7 combined program. However, if you apply yourself at Princeton you have a better than 90% chance of being admitted to similar quality med schools or even better med schools.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your advice. Thank you PtonAlumnus (I wasn’t referring to you when I was talking about “taking” spots"); you’ve given me a lot to consider. My main concern is that I don’t want grades to be my primary source of motivation. I want the pursuit of knowledge to be my motivation. Do you think it is doable to have a decent GPA and still have time for outside activities and free time?</p>
<p>Ok…I just saw your stats and I can see why you are a bit concerned. If I were you, I would wait for the combo medical program acceptances. You have to understand all top colleges have strong academics. That is what differentiates them. They will challenge you and some sink, some float, some excel. Keep all your options open…and decide in May. I know some kids who choose medical guaranteed programs over hyps. Nothing wrong with that.</p>
<p>Perfectionist -</p>
<p>I think that most kids at Princeton have an active social and extracurricular life and still have time to study and do well in class (what seems to get lost is sleep, but that’s a different story!).</p>
<p>I too feel that you should certainly wait until April to see what your options are, but as PtonAlumnus has noted, the medical school acceptance rates from Princeton are extremely high and grade deflation does not appear to have had an impact - I would definitely not be scared of it. It’s not my favorite policy, but neither one of my children has ever regretted their decision to attend Princeton and nor have any of their fellow classmates.</p>