someone should start a petition online to guilt Princeton into not deferring 80% of the applicants for future generations… That’s just nuts.
can they really not have a wait list shorter than than 3,000? Stanford once again I think is leading the way by clearly choosing to take kids with fewer perfect test scores AND by only deferring about 9% of the applicants.
any of you guys think an Ivy is be all end all watch some Malcolm Gladwell youtubes about how Ivy Leagues are like modeling agencies that aggregate talent but don’t develop it. He claims the people that turn down Penn for Penn State end up with the same incomes down the road.
Deferred too. Honestly I didn’t know so many people got deferred, I feel a bit worse about it now knowing that I really don’t have a realistic shot among that pool of deferrals, plus the RD applicants. I thought I was at least in the top 30% when I got the notification. I don’t know, it sucks, but what can you do. Can’t help but think I disappointed my dad, he seemed to be under the impression that I had a chance to get in when I got the deferral. He went to Princeton and played football there. I know he’ll be accepting no matter where I go, but I know there’s nothing he wants more than for me to go to Princeton. I guess this just highlights a continuing problem I’ve had in my life with feeling like I’m a disappointment to him, and not just with Princeton but with many things across all aspects of my life. Maybe it’s just another way of life telling me to get over it. I have to eventually. I’ll be fine, I’ve been through this before. A girl who is much more deserving than I recently got in from my school, so I’m happy for her. Good luck to everyone.
Does anyone want to start a Princeton RD thread for deferred applicants? I think it would be nice to continue with this great community of people. You guys helped me stay strong and I literally only shed a single tear today after being deferred so I’m proud of myself for pulling myself together. We just have to get through January with our RD applications and then it’ll be up to the colleges and our nerves will kick in all over again.
Rejected.
I am actually incredibly surprised that I got rejected rather than deferred, as the vast majority of people not accepted are deferred. I have absolutely no idea what went wrong given that my GPA, test scores, and course load were very good and I am first in my class. I had no hooks, am an Asian male and was probably too restricted to one subject for ECs and community service (music and musical theater), but I don’t understand why something like this wouldn’t have landed me in the deferred group. With a perfect SAT, slightly under 4.0 unweighted, 12 AP courses (6 tests untaken, five 5’s, and one 4), musical awards, honor band, national merit semifinalist, and college courses, I must’ve screwed something up pretty bad.
@Morloan I don’t get that… I got deferred and I have MUCH worse stats than you. Don’t you worry, though. With those stats you’ll get in anywhere.
ACCEPTED!!! No interview either.
For emails, I never got any “confirmation” ones but I did get one saying that I never did the PFAA thing.
@Morloan With your story, I would be worried about your letters of rec, as that is one part that you really can’t control. Any way for you to switch letter writers for RD, if there are any of them you aren’t sure of?
Is it just me or is anyone else too afraid to check the decisions? I’m expecting a deferral or rejection but I guess I’ll just take my time and check it when I’m mentally ready 
Hey - just wanted to respond to your post - try not to live your life worried about disappointing your dad over Princeton admission. It is much harder to gain entry now than it was years ago. Chances are he wouldn’t get in if he applied now.
If you just take a moment to reflect upon the many great candidates here have been deferred (for example @azwu331), you can see how capricious some of these decisions can be. I have talked to various adcoms about the process, they freely admit that if they were to evaluate the same candidate list again, the admit list would be different.
No matter where you end up, if you thrive and become a success via finding your own path, he’ll be proud of you.
Sometime dads make the mistake of trying to live vicariously through their children, that is his mistake and not yours.
Be your own person, find your own way, this is your life not his.That is how you find happiness.
- psy (source: I'm a dad)
@azwu331: You are a wonderful character, a mind on fire, an open source of warmth and welcome, and an unbounded force in world.
You know why so many of us here care? Because you cared, and reached out, and kept it going.
-A mom
I know I’m super late but I just found out about my deferral. Surprisingly it didn’t hurt as badly because I know at least I’m still in the game. ~:>
My son’s very chill about the whole thing now that he’s had time to process it. He gets how in a different year he could have been deferred or accepted. This is one college who said “no.” Another will say “yes.” One way or another, he’s going to continue doing what he has his whole life - helping others and making the world a better place.
Sounds like a wise young man who will be a valuable member of society.
@FarscapeFan I’m so sad that your son won’t be joining my daughter and the other lovely people who may be going to Princeton next fall, but I do know that he will absolutely shine where he is destined to be. He may not know where that will be right now but that can be said for the vast majority of college applicants. Please tell him to keep the faith and he will find the perfect place to pursue his dreams:)
For the record-(for next years thread) my daughter just had her interview on Sunday and just last week she got an email requesting FA info. She had no hooks, not an athlete, legacy or URM. White girl from NJ from an Abbott school district, with a desire to study engineering. Forgot stats-2280 sat, 6 APs (5 on tests) currently taking 5 more, not sure of unweighted GPA,not perfect but up there. Never got a request for first quarter grades, but pretty sure her LoR were great. She’s also a very good writer so I’m sure her essays were a big plus.
Thanks @Pburgmom - also, I noticed that the “glitch” change email about a checklist seems also to have happened both for admitted and deferred people. So indeed the secret signs were not good predictors of anything, alas for future applicants!
Agree with fretful mom. We never sent in the financial aid information, nor did we get any reminders to turn anything in. It was only when I read the thread and realized several folks were getting reminders (but not D) that I went back to the original FA form, and read that we were supposed to send tax returns. Sent those in, but did not receive any acknowledgment they had been received.
Deferred, but not really upset.
I spent a lot of time in my high school pursuing things that do not necessarily show themselves on a college application, especially working on and developing on my character. I’m glad I spent time developing as an individual, rather than trying to create a laundry list resume. Still, I was initially a little upset. However, I realized something. How many people graduate from Princeton every year? And how many of those names do we know or will we ever know? Plenty of people from top schools live ordinary lives once they leave. Furthermore, there are people from state schools or top-25 schools (but not necessarily top-5), who go on to change the world and etch their name into the halls of history. The greatest people will rise to the top wherever they go. Lastly, there are a lot of circumstances that can lessen ones chances of getting into their dream school undergrad. For the most part, the opportunities available at many colleges are equal, so for those going to graduate school- it is in our hands to make it to the top. There is nothing holding us back from achieving our dreams in the next four years.
People in this thread are impressive and amazing. If we apply ourselves like we have the last 4 years, then there is nothing that can stop us. Tenacity, passion, and a desire to achieve always leave their mark.
Anyone hear from @52balletvieta ?