<p>Haha, hey everyone, I’m new here, but, of course just as everyone else, have been dreaming of Princeton for eternity. Planning to apply early decision this year, so… Here are my stat’s; they resemble everyone else’s, but if you could, please evaluate and tell me what you think I need to work on, improve, or focus my application on. For exaple, do yo think I need to retake the SAT’s? I’ve seen tons of people who got accepted with lower scores but had a ‘hook’ and many others who had perfect scores and were rejected. So confusing… Anyway,</p>
<p>SAT I: 710 (m), 740 (v), 760 (wr)
SAT II: 760 (fr), 760 (us), 780 (bio)
APs: 5s: US History, Euro History, Biology, English, Calc AB; 4s: French Lang.
GPA: 4.613 wt
Rank: 1 of 430
College Courses: Calculus BC and French
Awards: Presidents Award for Educational Excellence
Student of the Month Award
High Honor Roll
AP Scholar with Distinction
Poetry published in newspaper
GHS Certificate of Academic Achievement</p>
<p>EC’s:
Girl Scouts (9-12) Girl Scout Gold Award (Created a week-long music camp for little girls. They learned songs, recorded own CD, got a songbook, performed at a local elderly center, etc.)
Girl Scout Leadership Award
Camp Councilor (AIDE)
Key Club (10-12)
GIVE Project (9-12) Gold Level (500+ volunteer hours)
Local History Center (9-12) Regular Volunteering
WYSE (11-12) 1st Place in Biology Regionals
French Club (9-12) Committee Member
Acceleration and Enrichment Program (9-12) Class Representative (11-12)
NHS (11-12) Volunteering and tutoring
French NHS (11-12)
10.Model UN (9-12)<br>
11.Aspiring Authors (11-12) Founder; President; writing book</p>
<p>Employment:Fermilab National Laboratory
-Two months as summer employee (40 hrs/week)
-Completed ten high field magnet production reports</p>
<p>Other: ~white female from Russia; spent childhood in different countries in Europe
~fluent in Russian, English, and French (somewhat)</p>
<p>See a hook anywhere in there? Something I can make stand out? Thanks!</p>
<p>You should really be admitted if you apply early. In fact, even though it isn’t a guarantee, I would be shocked if you weren’t admitted. All I can say is start working on your essays now. Princeton’s supplement is difficult, or if you want to do their application, the essays are tough. I would take a look at last year’s application and see what you would have said to the questions. good luck. and do not retake the sat’s. 2210 is fine and your SAT II’s are fantastic.</p>
<p>Thanks; that made me smile. I’ll start on the essays as soon as the online app. is up- Aug.8. But honestly, after reading through the official P-ton decision thread, I was “shoked” at how many applicants with stats way higher than mine were rejected: people doing research in national laboratories or playing in all-state symphonies or being presidents at every important org. in their school… Is anyone else from the class of 2011 here feeling completely intimidated?</p>
<p>I actually don’t think you’ll get in. I had a 10.0 and took only AP classes and I volunteered for Mother Theresa and I singlehandedly saved the African cheetah and Princeton told me to go apply for Waubonsee, the local community college. </p>
<p>Hah. Not really. Nelle178, with stats like those, you’ll get in to pretty much whatever school you apply to, be it Princeton, Kingpound, or whatever. :-)</p>
<p>You from Chicago (Fermilab?) Well, the stats are great, but you’re not the only one applying with those kind of stats. First off, they do look to see how much time you put into each of your extracurriculars. For example, our school has a French club that met about 3 times over the course of the year for a couple of hours (to eat French food). My suggestion from my vast expertise on the subject (or not…) is to take one of the things you’ve spent a lot of time doing (perhaps Fermilab), and really hone in on it in your essays. Talk to your guidance couselor and anyone else with experience about the essays, but make sure the essays represent what you’ve done. Basically Princeton needs a reason to pick you over anyone else with the same credentials. Also, how’s your school strength? Have you had a lot of people go to ivies/u of chicago/stanford, etc. before you? What’s the girl scout equivelent to Eagle Scout? Did you get that? If so that’ll really help a lot.</p>
<p>I think you have a very solid shot. Write some great essays when the time comes and you could very well find yourself a memeber of the Princeton class of 2011.</p>
<p>Thanks, join 314. My school is decent; a few people get accepted to U of C, Northwestern, and even Columbia each year. Then again, the majority of graduates attends the local community college and Ivy League admission is a rarity. I don’t know if that helps/hurts me… In math and French, for example, my school has run out of classes for me to take; that’s why I’m continuing that through a college online next year. As for the Girl Scout Gold Award, that is equivalent to Eagle Scouts, yes.</p>
<p>What you did for your Girl Scout Gold Award stands out because of the amount of work that it took. I am wondering how you decided on a music camp because I didn’t see any other activities on your list that indicated an interest in music. I also am wondering whether you’ve followed up with the girls since. It seems like your camp was a wonderful program, and to me, it would be wonderful if there were occasional reunions or projects for the girls to continue to do such as having performances at senior centers or other places.</p>
<p>Your book and club sounds interesting. If Princeton allows, you could send a chapter of your book to them. What activities is your club doing? One thing that you could do is have local authors visit and critique your work and give advice. You also could establish a relationship with any adult writer’s club. They may be willing to have your members attend their meetings and be mentored by their members.</p>
<p>You also could start going to some writers conferences designed for adults. Typically, people of all experience levels attend, and mature students are welcome. If you look in the writers’ magazines and web sites, you can find information about writers conferences all over the country. Unless you are in a very isolated area, there should be some near you. Fees vary from expensive to very inexpensive. You may be able to negotiate free fees for yourself and your members if you volunteer to help out. Another place where you can establish relationships with writers is through your local newspaper. I am sure that some journalists there would be happy to work with high school writers. Some journalists there probably are writing books and also would be happy to talk about their experiences.</p>
<p>You also could establish a relationship with a local bookstore and get them to help sponsor a citywide writing conference for high school students. </p>
<p>Whether or not these activities get you into Princeton, given your obvious passions, these activities would be things that you’d enjoy and would learn a lot by doing.</p>
<p>If Princeton allows extra recommendations, include one by either a kid who took your music camp or the parent of a kid who did. What you would want from such a recommendation would be for the parent or kid to say specific things that you did that helped the experinece be a good one for them. Sincerity and specifics are far more important than whether the kid or adult has perfect English skills.</p>
<p>Thanks, Northstarmom.
I organized the music camp because I have been in choir all of my life, and made varsity my junior year. I love singing, but I am so outstanding in that field to pursue some all-state choir or whatever. It was just a great way to connect the community through music.</p>
<p>As for the book club, it just originated this summer: my friends and I each started a story and write a chapter or more per week, then send each other reviews. It’s quite simple but a lot of fun because you get to write what you enjoy. Thanks for so many great suggestions to make it as meaningful as my Gold Award. It sounds ambitious, but not nearly as intimidating as it would have seemed had I not organized the camp. I will seriously look into it; I just don’t know if there is enough time…</p>
I’ll start on the essays as soon as the online app. is up- Aug.8. But honestly, after reading through the official P-ton decision thread, I was “shoked” at how many applicants with stats way higher than mine were rejected: people doing research in national laboratories or playing in all-state symphonies or being presidents at every important org. in their school… Is anyone else from the class of 2011 here feeling completely intimidated?</p>