I’m not saying standardized tests are easy, but I do think people make a bigger deal out of retaking them than it really is. If someone has a 33, they might as well take it again in December or November. It’s not very time consuming.
@venombuds @psywar I do believe once you hit 99% it doesn’t mean to much. Just look at all the rejected students with 35/36 ACT’s. I’ve read many articles where they don’t state a person’s score but their percentile: http://gawker.com/ivy-league-admissions-are-a-sham-confessions-of-a-harv-1690402410
Regardless, the importance of standardized test scores is way overdone on college confidential. Princeton isn’t looking for kids with perfect scores and don’t think one student is a better candidate since they have a 34 vs 35. I can guarantee you that when they are deciding between two kids, one with a 33 and one with a 34, they will look at other parts of their application and not make their act score the deciding factor.
Also I have friends who were accepted to Princeton who had a ACT scores well below the average for Princeton but got in because of stellar essays and ec’s. If you are in the range, they aren’t going to take you just for your score. A 36 never guarantees any student admission. No one with a 36 will get in because of their score. They get in because of other parts of their application. Princeton looks for academically qualified students. Once a student gets a certain score, the school already knows of their academic ability. I can guarantee you a student with a 36 ACT and 2400 Sat with limitations in the rest of their application will get rejected almost every time
I believe once you have a 33 it is much more important to focus on ec’s. Spending so much time studying for ACT to improve a 33 to 34/35 will not increase your chances then it would if you spent that time heavily on a ec.
Today, Princeton admission office reminded my daughter she did not submit the financial aid application form and extended the deadline for her. Does this bode well for her chance if they care enough to do this?
@vwchong No — it doesn’t mean anything. They typically try to make sure everyone — regardless of if they’re qualified or not — submits their financial aid stuff.
“We are 1 month from decisions. There really is no reason to debate whether or not an individual can/should change their standardized test scores.”
Lol standardized test scores are simply one factor in admissions. I have a 4.0 AND a 2400 and was rejected from Stanford EA. My friend from a nearby school was accepted with a 3.9 and a 2190. Certain schools look for certain things. Having a good SAT/ACT score above a certain cutoff means that you are in the basket of eligible candidates. Beyond that, it’s your voice and passion that will carry you over in the favor of adcoms.
@dewrrrett And who knows if voice and passion are what they are looking for. Or if they don’t know it till they see it. Every adcom is an individual and has their own idea about what a good candidate will be. I’m sure they have guidelines they adhere to and I am sure they confer on applications, but it still is an individual business this business of choosing. I’m sure they don’t take it lightly. It certainly is a source of confusion for everyone waiting for a decision. That and excitement.
Saw an email from the local Alumni Schools Committee. The local chapter was able to interview 100% of the candidates this year! That’s a pretty great accomplishment for a volunteer effort.
In the email, it had this little tidbit: “Princeton received a 30% increase in applicants this year.”. Wow.
Wow, the acceptance rate is going to dip below 6.5%. This isn’t good for any of us :S
Can someone calculate what the acceptance rate will be? We already know how many were accepted EA, and we know the normal yield rate for EA, so couldn’t we figure out the acceptance rate based on the 30% increase?
Last year total admits 1911. Estimated number of applications this year is 1.3 x 29303 = 38094. So estimated acceptance rate is 1911/38094 = 0.05
This is overall acceptance rate. I am too tired and depressed to calculate for RD
Lol same @intellectboy
@intellectboy It is a Mega lottery like a Powerball draw so the only thing that matters is whether you win the lottery or not. You can only buy one ticket.
dang do you guys think the acceptance rate could really be 0.05%!?
@intellectboy What’s your bet on your Princeton acceptance. I would bet mine nil.
Did I mention myself… lol… depression symptoms :((
@crowningflowers That’s overall acceptance if number of spots do not increase this year and their yeild remains similar. For RD, it should be even smaller
@crowningflowers it’s 5% not 0.05%