Princeton is my dream school. I really want to attend and plan on applying early, but if it’s too much of a crapshoot I’d want to apply early to Columbia. So, what are my chances of getting into Princeton applying early action and what are my chances of getting into Columbia in the regular round? Should I not even bother with Princeton and go for Columbia early decision to increase my chances of getting into my #2?
Here’s my Application:
3.96 GPA, I go to a top prep school where valedictorian usually gets a 4.15, my school doesn’t rank though
Varsity Tennis(the team I play on is very intense and high-achieving compare to other schools’ teams, I don’t know if this makes a difference)
Violin(First Violin, could become associate concertmaster)
Black Belt, Tae Kwon Do
President/Founder, Speech and Debate Club(believe it or not, my school actually didn’t have a Speech and Debate Club until I started it)
FBLA President
Student Panel for Congressman
Princeton and Columbia are very similar in terms of selectivity. Pick Princeton if you like it more and apply early there. What are your standardized tests scores? Your ECs are good, just a little scattered.
I agree with @doorrealthe 's opinion on your ECs. Your stats are great and you fit the competitive applicant mold at both of those schools- Your chances will come down to essays and the makeup of the year’s applicant pool.
Best of luck!
thanks for the advice, im actually a rising junior so i haven’t taken the sat yet, but i scored a 1450 on my first practice in Feb and im shooting for really high ranges this summer, hopefully 1570+ by Dec. How could I fix having “scattered” EC’s?
If you are unhooked and you are applying to top schools, you want to have a “spike” in your application. This means that you want to be extremely good at one or two subjects. Preferably, you want to be passionate about those subjects as well. Let’s say you are interested in government. I would try getting an internship at your local congressman’s office. I would apply to Boys State and hope to make it to Boys Nation. I would join Model UN and try becoming president of that club. Your activities, for the most part, need to be related to one another to show depth, passion, and expertise in a specific subject matter.
If you get above a 1550 on the SAT that is great!
Make sure to plan for subject tests as well. You want to take two subject tests and score at least above a 700 on both.
Thanks again for the advice, I do have a genuine interest in government and politics and plan to pursue it in college. I didn’t even know about Boys State, but I’ll definitely try and join. Thanks for the advice! I plan on taking my subject tests next year, because I’ll be ready for the subjects I want to take by then.