***PRINCETON UNIVERSITY CLASS OF 2019 RD RESULTS***

Colleges & Universities Princeton University
1

Post your results here!
You know the deal. Good luck to everyone!!

Remove spaces in brackets before posting!!

[ size=4][ color=green][ b]Decision: Accepted [/color][/size]
[ size=4][ color=orange][ b]Decision: Waitlisted **[/color][/size]
[ size=4][ color=red][ b]Decision: Rejected **[/color][/size]

[ b]Objective:**
[ *] SAT I (breakdown):
[ *] ACT (breakdown):
[ *] SAT II:
[ *] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0):
[ *] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable):
[ *] AP (place score in parentheses):
[ *] IB (place score in parentheses):
[ *] Senior Year Course Load:
[ *] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):

[ /list][ b]Subjective:**
[ *] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses):
[ *] Job/Work Experience:
[ *] Volunteer/Community service:
[ *] Summer Activities:
[ *] Essays:
[ *] Teacher Recommendation:
[ *] Counselor Rec:
[ *] Additional Rec:
[ *] Interview:
[ *] Supplementary Material:

[ /list][ b]Other**
[ *]Applied for Financial Aid?:
[ *] State (if domestic applicant):
Country (if international applicant):
[ *] School Type:
[ *] Ethnicity:
[ *] Gender:
[ *] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate):
[ *] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):

[ /list][ b]Reflection**
[ *] Strengths:
[ *] Weaknesses:
[ *] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
[ *] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:

[ /list][ b]General Comments: **

2

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3

**Decision: Waitlisted **

Objective:

[ul]
[] SAT I: Didn’t send
[] ACT: 34C
[] SAT II: Math II 780, Biology E 740
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.98 (W 4.182 - 4.25 Max at school)
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable):6/330
[] AP (place score in parenthesis): N/A
[] IB (place score in parenthesis): ESS (6), Math SL (6)
[] Senior Year Course Load: HL 2 English, HL2 History, SL Spanish 5, AP Chem, AP Calc BC, HL2 Art, TOK
[] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Global Visionaries Travel Scholarship to Berlin (I doubt this is major, but it was a national applicant pool), NSLI-Y Scholarship Semifinalist (Now a finalist - going to China for 6 weeks this summer!) [/ul]
Subjective:

[ul]
[] Extracurriculars:Ambassadors (District Representative and Trainer), Global Visionaries-service and travel group (Executive Board Member and Communications Director), NHS-comparitively active in my school (President), Founded tutoring program at nearby K-12 school) Service Club (Service Coordinator), Investment Club (Founder and President), bunch of other minor stuff
[] Job/Work Experience: 2 years at fast food place
[] Volunteer/Community service: Probably a total of 1200ish hours or more
[] Essays: Commonapp Essay was really good (9-10)
[] Teacher Recommendations:Teacher Rec #1: English teacher (10 - was incredible); Teacher Rec #2: Bio and ESS teacher (8-9)
[] Counselor Rec: I don’t know. Somewhat generic I’m sure, but I know my counselor well (7?)
[] Additional Rec:Chem teacher (8-9) - All the teachers let me read them
[] Interview:Really good, she was very nice and we had a lot in common [/ul]
Other

[ul]
[] State (if domestic applicant): Colorado
[] Country (if international applicant): US
[] School Type: Public
[] Ethnicity: White
[] Gender: Male
[] Income Bracket: Middle Class
[] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Nope [/ul]
Reflection

[ul]
[] Strengths: My general essay and maybe community service
[] Weaknesses: ACT score, it’s not as great as others’. SAT II’s were also comparatively weak. No national awards, Not really recognized ECs
[] Why you think you were waitlisted: Tough school to get into! I’m amazed I was even waitlisted
[] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted: Duke, Johns Hopkins, UC Berkeley, NYU, BU with Presidential Scholarship and Kilachand Honors College, Northeastern with Deans Scholarship, URochester; Rejected: UChicago, Columbia ED, Stanford, Swarthmore; Waitlisted: Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Cornell, Northwestern, Tufts, Georgetown[/ul]
General Comments: I’m very honored I was even waitlisted; I was sure it would be a rejection! Oh well, I’m just so grateful I got into Duke, and that’s the plan as of now!

4

**Decision: Accepted

Objective:
[] SAT I (breakdown): NA
[] ACT (breakdown): 34 C (highest), 35 E, 36 R, 34 M, 34 S
[] SAT II: 800 Math 2C; 780 Korean w/ Listening; 710 US History
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.97
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1/682
[] AP (place score in parentheses): European History (5); Music Theory (5); Calculus BC w/ AB subscore (5, 5); US History (5); Language and Composition (5); Psychology (4); Computer Science A (3); Chemistry (3)
[] IB (place score in parentheses): NA
[] Senior Year Course Load: AP Statistics, AP Literature and Composition, AP Government, AP Biology, Principles of Microeconomics (Community College), Intro to Sociology (Community College)
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Forensics League All American Academic Award, MTAC Level 10, Various state/regional debate awards, AP Scholar w/ Distinction, QB Finalist (didn’t match though)[/li]
[/list]Subjective:
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Nonprofit (Founder, CEO); Amnesty International (Founder & President); Habitat for Humanity (Founder & President); Speech and Debate program at local junior high school (Head Coach); Piano; Swimming (Varsity)
[] Job/Work Experience: Intern
[] Volunteer/Community service: Intern; Head Coach at local junior high school debate program; clubs; nonprofit
[] Summer Activities: Internship, organized speech and debate summer camp at junior high school
[] Essays: Common App (10): Talked about how being called the B word as a compliment to my achievements and leadership incited me to become a feminist and activist and inspired me to create my nonprofit; Extracurricular (8): Swim, nothing special; Supplement (10): About my volunteer experience at a juvie center
[] Teacher Recommendation: Teacher Rec #1: (10) My Calc teacher said I’m his favorite student and we love to talk about politics together; Teacher Rec #2: (10) My Lang teacher said he put that I’m the best student he’s had
[] Counselor Rec: (9) He wrote a letter for me for an application to a program, and it was really awesome.
[] Additional Rec: (10) My piano teacher loves me.
[] Interview: (7) It was over the phone, but it was a pretty good interview. I give it a 7 since it wasn’t face-to-face
[] Supplementary Material: Piano recording (Bach, Chopin Etude)

[/list]Other
[]Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
[] State (if domestic applicant): California
Country (if international applicant):
[] School Type: Public
[] Ethnicity: Korean
[] Gender: F
[] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate): <40k
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): NA[/li]
[/list]Reflection
[] Strengths: EC’s and essays
[] Weaknesses: Grades, scores, awards
[] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I think my EC’s and essays helped a lot
[] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted: Yale (SCEA), Harvard University, Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania (Likely Letter), Duke (Likely Letter), Wellesley (EE), Northwestern, Johns Hopkins, UC Berkeley (Regents), UCI (Regents), UCSD, UCLA; Waitlisted: Columbia, Cornell; Rejected: Brown

[/list]**General Comments: ** I hope this helps future applicants! You honestly never know what’s going to happen, so don’t give up :slight_smile: Good luck!!

5

**Decision: Rejected **

Objective:
[] SAT I (breakdown): 2380 800M 780CR 800W (1 sitting)
[] ACT (breakdown): 36 36M 36E 36S 34R (1 sitting)
[] SAT II: Math II: 800 Physics: 780
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0, 102.3 cumulative
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 6 (top 1 percent)
[] AP (place score in parentheses): AP HG (5), AP World (4), AP Stat (5), AP Physics B (5), AP Calculus BC (5), AP Chemistry (5), AP Biology (5), AP USH (4), AP English Language (5)
[] IB (place score in parentheses): Not offered.
[] Senior Year Course Load: AP Physics C, AP English Literature, AP French, Multivariable Calculus , AP Macro/AP Micro

[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National AP Scholar, 1st place Science Fair state level (9th and 10th), USAMO qualifier, 4-5 science Olympiad medals (over the years). [/li]
Subjective:
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses):
[] Job/Work Experience: Lab technician senior year
[] Volunteer/Community service: 300 hours (hospital volunteering, library, church)
[] Summer Activities: Worked, prepared for USAMO
[] Essays: Nothing spectacular, talked about my struggles as a student in math and how I overcame them in high school (dont judge)
[] Teacher Recommendation: Rec 1: AP Calculus Teacher, I am not really talkative or anything so I am sure it was generic positive approval Rec 2: AP Physics Teacher, excellent, he really liked me because we had pretty good conversations and regular interactions.
[] Counselor Rec: Generic positive, didn’t know her before asking for recommendation. She knew me though because of ACT score LOL.
[] Additional Rec: Professor (who i worked for in lab): Probably 7/10, for my diligent work ethic nothing more.
[] Interview: Was face-to-face, not being a sociable person, I give it a 7 because at some portions it was awkward. Nothing negative though.
[] Supplementary Material: None

Other
[]Applied for Financial Aid?: No
[] State (if domestic applicant): NJ
Country (if international applicant):
[] School Type: Public competitive
[] Ethnicity: Asian
[] Gender: M
[] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate): 200k+
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): not really, instate doesn’t matter that much[/li]
Reflection
[] Strengths: Scores and GPA
[] Weaknesses: Not really outstanding awards or ECCs no sports a typical asian
[] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: See weaknesses
[] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
Rejected Stanford, MIT, Carnegie Mellon, UChicago, Caltech (not surprised haha)
Waitlisted: Columbia, UPenn,

Accepted: Harvard (will attend), Georgia Tech, Rutgers, RPI
**General Comments: **
Not going to lie, I started crying after I saw this decision. I really wanted Princeton to stay instate and study Physics. After alot of reflection, I don’t think I really stand out as far as my application so I can see why I didn’t have a place at the best university in the world. No matter, I am pretty happy to go to Harvard.

6

**Decision: Accepted

Objective:
[] SAT I (breakdown): 2170 (730 CR, 700 M, 740W) I know how, how
[] ACT (breakdown): n/a
[] SAT II: 800 Spanish, can’t remember Math 1 and Lit but around ~700
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.97
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 5%
[] AP (place score in parentheses): English Language (5), USH (5)
[] IB (place score in parentheses): n/a
[] Senior Year Course Load: AP Lit, AP Studio, AP Stats, AP Psych, Challenge
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Scholastic Art Awards for photography: 1 Gold Key, 1 Silver Key for portfolio, and 1 Honorable mention. Scholastic Writing Awards: 4 Gold Keys and American Voices nomination[/li]
[/list]Subjective:
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): NHS, Spanish Honor Society, NAHS, Key Club, Science Honor Society, English Honor Society, and Film Club all with leadership positions
[] Job/Work Experience: Brookstone Sales Associate, sold over $8,000 each week, outsold district
[] Volunteer/Community service: over 1,000 hours to homeless shelters, food pantries because I needed help from these places when I was younger
[] Summer Activities: Volunteering for the good majority of it
[] Essays: Common App 10/10- By far best writing I have ever done. It won a Gold Key as well :slight_smile: It talked about how being homeless while growing up shaped me and instilled humility and a sense of altruism in me.
Princeton Individual Shaping essay 9/10- Talked about my mother and how she, to me, represented the pinnacles of business and how it made me want to pursue a career in it, I really loved it
Details Not Represented essay 10/10- I take it back, this one is definitely my strongest writing to date. It was written in a creative rhetorical mode and expressed the escape I found in films during my toughest times.
[] Teacher Recommendation: My two teachers actually showed them to me as a parting gift after they submitted it, both 10/10 absolutely the best recommendations I have ever seen, my APUSH teacher said that any institution would be luck to have me and my other one said I was one of the best in her career
[] Counselor Rec: 6/10 probably generic, I’m not sure she even knows my name
[] Additional Rec: none
[] Interview: amazing, she was very kind and really loved my story. She told me that I was the type of student that Princeton really wanted. She was amazing and will be getting a huge thank you card, well email since we had to interview through Skype because of distance and travel issues
[] Supplementary Material: Yes, submitted a few of my works of photography that were given Gold or Silver Keys :smiley:

[/list]Other
[]Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes, and Princeton is amazing if you need this. Virtually no pay. God is good.
[] State (if domestic applicant): Wisconsin
Country (if international applicant): n/a
[] School Type: Suburban Public
[] Ethnicity: Hispanic
[] Gender: M
[] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate): lol <40,00
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM, not sure if being homeless during a major part of my life counts?[/li]
[/list]Reflection
[] Strengths: Definitely my essays were the huge push, urm probably helped, and photography portfolio maybe?
[] Weaknesses: Embarrassing test scores (at least by CC standards), Generic ec’s (I really tried though :(), Past AP course load, and I didn’t cure cancer nor place at the Olympics which I heard can help
[] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Some lady put my application in the wrong pile probably. I seriously have no idea but I am extremely grateful and feel incredibly blessed and lucky.
[] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
Rejected: UT Austin, UCLA & USC (applied both to their film), Stanford, Yale, Harvard, UPenn, Cornell

Waitlisted: UChicago, Brown, Columbia, Vanderbilt, UC Berkeley

Accepted: Princeton, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, Notre Dame, UCSD, UCDavis, UMiami, UMinnesota, UOregon, UPittsburgh, UWashington Seattle, UKentucky, UAlabama, Mississippi State Uniiversity, SAIC

[/list]**General Comments: **
I am beyond shocked, incredibly humbled, but mostly grateful. If there’s anything I want you guys to take away from this all, it’s to dare to dream. Pursue the passions of your heart with no fear because, honestly, anything can happen.

Signing out,

Homeless2Princeton

7

**Decision: Accepted

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 2210 (single sitting) (CR-800, M-700, W-710)
ACT (breakdown): 32 (E 35, M 32, R 33, S 29, W 10)
SAT II: Math I 730, US History 770
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.25 (unweighted unknown)
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 9/295
AP (place score in parenthesis): AP Calc AB Subscore (5), BC (4), Eng Lang (4), Human Geography (5), US (5), World (5), AP Physics B and Chem did not report
IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: AP Statistics, AP Environmental Science, AP Comparative Government, AP English Lit, AP US Government, Health&PE, ITE 119 dual enrolled, AP French, and AP Euro self-study
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
Eagle Scout, Congressional Award Silver Medalist, Military Child of the Year 2014 Top-5 Finalist, Rock the Statue Green American-French Embassy Semi-Finalist, Gold Level Presidential Volunteer Service Award, AP Scholar with Distinction, National Merit Scholarship Commended, West Point Leadership Award, VA Boys State Lt. Governor Party Nomination Runner-Up, National Honor Society (Sec.), 2015 US Senate Youth Program Virginia Delegate

Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
Varsity Swim Team 10-12 (Captain, VHSL 3rd Place Boys Team)
Varsity Forensics 9-12 (Captain, VHSL 3rd Place Prose Interp)
Student Council Association 9-12 (9-Class Treasurer, 10-Class Rep, 11 School VP, 12- School Pres)
Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society 11-12 (Special Events Coordinator)
Boy Scouts 1-12 (Senior Patrol Leader among other things)
Model United Nations 10-12 (Research Chair, Best Delegate at Maggie Walker and William&Mary conferences)
Student2Student (transfer student group) 9-12 (Founder at new high school and President 10-12, Frances Hesselbein Student Leadership Program Participant)
EqualizeOurEarth Humanitarian Club 10-12
Société Honoraire de Français and French Club 9-12 (VP-12)
Freshmen Orientation Crew (freshmen mentoring) 11-12 (Captain-12)
VA Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Seminar 10-12 (Ambassador-10, Junior Staff and Leadership4Service Keynote Speaker-11, Team Alumni-12, Alumni Association Public Relations and Recruitment Team Board Member 11,12)
Job/Work Experience:
Lifeguard at an indoor retirement community’s health club and spa’s pool year-round 10-12 (15-19 hrs/wk)
AidData Research Assistant at the College of William&Mary, mapping aid to developing countries, its implantation and effectiveness
School Division Honors Project, an oral history project of my town
Volunteer/Community service:
Probably near the thousands if I add up all four years. I did 350 hours junior year.
KidZone, elementary afterschool program 9
Missouri Special Olympics 9
Eagle Scout Service Project 9/10
Chemical Corps Regimental Association 9 (Volunteer of the Year 2012)
Freshmen O-Crew 11-12 (Captain)
Therapeutic Horseback Riding Center Weekly Volunteer 10-12
French, English and History Honor Society Tutor
National History Day Projects middle school mentor 11-12
Capernaum Special Needs Club Volunteer 10-12
Summer League Swim Team Volunteer Assistant Coach 11-12
Honors Project Community Service Element, introducing technology to the lives of aging adults 11-12
VA HOBY Alumni Association, VA HOBY Seminar Junior Staff
Summer Activities:
Lifeguarding Job
Virginia Boys State
Volunteering
Nicaraguan Mission Relief Trip
Stanford Online’s International Women’s Health and Human Rights for no credit

Essays (rating 1-10, details):
Common App- 8/10 about growing up in a military family and overcoming my fear of the doorbell as a child.
Princeton Sup- 9/10 Honestly the best of anything I did. I invested so much time to craft each response as a different piece of my personality.
Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):
Teacher Rec #1: AP Human/APUSH teacher, swim coach, rho kappa and EqualizeOurEarth sponsor, Yale alumna- didn’t read, but assume 10/10
Teacher Rec #2: Student2Student sponsor and librarian who mentors my online classes (AP Environ, Comp Gov and World last year), knows me very well and was a military brat- didn’t read but assume 10/10
Counselor Rec: Knows me very well, work with him often, told me he spent over an hour writing and editing (which at a public school like mine is incredible)- didn’t read but assume it was also 10/10.
Additional Rec: Did not submit
Interview: Didn’t happen

Other
Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: Woody Woo
State (if domestic applicant): VA
Country (if international applicant): N/A
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: M
Income Bracket: ~115,000… maybe more.
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Not much, I just love people. Is that a hook?

Reflection:
So honored and excited by this! I still can’t believe it at all.

Strengths: ECs, Service, Awards, Recs
Weaknesses: Test Scores, Test Scores, Test Scores, essays and Bs in AP Physics B/Physics Lab and AB Calculus.
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I don’t even know!
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected:
Rejected: Yale SCEA, Harvard, Georgetown (incomplete app)
Accepted: UVA, Vanderbilt, PRINCETON!
Waitlisted: Amherst, Duke

General Comments:
Congratulations to all those admitted! I’m still so in shock.
Princeton was my top choice, and I just can’t believe I was accepted! <3
Can’t wait to meet all those accepted.
For those waitlisted, do not lose heart. Show your interest!
Those rejected, I am confident Princeton did not offer you admission because they knew you’d thrive best somewhere else. Continue to study hard, hopefully our paths will cross one day!

8

**Decision: Accepted

Objective:
[] SAT I (breakdown): 2290 800M 800W 690CR
[] ACT (breakdown): Didn’t send
[] SAT II: 800 Chem, 790 Physics
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): School Doesn’t Rank.
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1st
[] AP (place score in parentheses): -
[] IB (place score in parentheses):-
[] Senior Year Course Load: A Levels Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, History, Gov and Politics
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): -[/li]
[/list][ b]Subjective:**
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses):
A few international awards, conferences. Debator, Munner. Science Olympiad guy. Head Boy. A lot of others.
[] Job/Work Experience: None
[] Volunteer/Community service: Worked with a private NGO for Autistic children.
[] Summer Activities: SAT prep, lol.
[] Essays: Common App: Wrote about my personality development over the years in a unique way. Can’t really describe that right now. 8/10
Princeton Supplement: Wrote about my hero, my little autistic brother. Many called it touching and I guess it described me very nicely.
[] Teacher Recommendation: Didn’t read but probably outstanding. Both teachers were fond of me.
[] Counselor Rec: Didn’t read. Good, prolly.
[] Additional Rec: None.
[] Interview: Went amazing. It was a recent graduate. She was very interesting, and we talked about Freddie Mercury, Thailand and exotic cuisines. Haah!
[] Supplementary Material: None.

[/list][ b]Other**
[]Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
[] State (if domestic applicant):
Country (if international applicant): Pakistan
[] School Type: Private
[] Ethnicity: Pakistani
[] Gender: Male
[] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate):<60000
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): No hooks.[/li]
[/list][ b]Reflection**
[] Strengths: SAT? Essays were good too.
[] Weaknesses: I think I was too much involved in activities. Haha.
[] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected:I think I just made the click. And I still can not believe it!
[] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted: Princeton, Stony Brook Uni Honors College, Yale-NUS, Hong Kong University.
Waitlisted: Amherst, UChicago, Columbia, Middleburry, Colby.
Rejected: Yale, Harvard, Williams

[/list][ b]General Comments: **
It has been a roller coaster ride, these applications. Too stressful to handle. However, every thing turned out well in the end. I can call myself a proud tiger.

9

**Decision: Deferred -> Accepted

Objective:[ul]
[] SAT I (breakdown): 2260 (750CR/750M/760W) took once
[] ACT (breakdown): n/a
[] SAT II: 800 Math II, 800 Chem
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 100.0): 97.6 UW
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): school doesn’t rank
[] AP (place score in parentheses): 5 AP Comp Sci, 5 AP Calc BC, 5 AP Lang, 4 AP Chem
[] IB (place score in parentheses): n/a
[] Senior Year Course Load: Macroeconomics H, AP Phys C, German 4H, Biotechnology, Multivariable Calculus, AP Lit, AP Stats
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): 1 of 19 in the world to get perfect score on AP Comp Sci exam, National Merit Finalist, Honorable Mention for Website Development at International Trade Fair, Top 10 statewide in cybersecurity competition, NJ Gov School of Engineering and Technology, Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award, Rensselaer Medal [/li]
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Programming club (president and peer mentor), School newspaper (editor-in-chief), local school volunteer group, member of cybersecurity program to get 5 professional certifications
[] Job/Work Experience: Android Applications Development Intern, Youth Soccer Referee
[] Volunteer/Community service: Few small things here and there, nothing major to mention
[] Summer Activities: NJ Gov School
[] Essays (out of 10): Common App 8.5 - about collaboration, Princeton-specific 9 - about culture, really fleshed out how my background creates a mold that I fill
[] Teacher Recommendation: I can only assume both were stellar
[] Counselor Rec: I can only assume this one was good too
[] Additional Rec: n/a
[] Interview: Felt it went OK, it was my first interview and I was a little bit nervous
[] Supplementary Material: Sent in my computer science research that I did at Gov School

[/ul]Other[ul]
[]Applied for Financial Aid?: No
[] State (if domestic applicant): NJ
Country (if international applicant): USA
[] School Type: Public magnet high school
[] Ethnicity: Asian/White
[] Gender: Male
[] Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate):
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): not anything I can think of[/li]
[/ul]Reflection[ul]
[] Strengths: Strong Comp Sci ECs
[] Weaknesses: Low SAT
[] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected:

[] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
Accepted: UIUC Comp Sci in Engineering, Rutgers Honors College, RPI, URochester, UMD Honors College
Waitlisted: CMU SCS, Cornell Engineering, Columbia Fu, UPenn SEAS
Rejected: MIT

[/ul]**General Comments: **
Congrats to all high school seniors getting their college decisions! I’m glad we are all, no matter what college we attend, part of the Class of 2019.
Go Tigers!!

10

**Decision: Rejected **

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): 2230 M 770 CR 760 W 700
SAT II: Math2: 800 Biology: 800 U.S History 800
Unweighted GPA: 3.81
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 10 / 368
AP (place score in parenthesis): Chemistry (5) BC Calculus (5 ) Biology (5) US Hist (5) Euro (4)
Senior Year Course Load: AP ( Physics, Stats, Gov, Spanish) Honors (English)

Subjective:

Extra-curriculars : Science Olympiad, Math Club, Karate, Spanish Club, Rubik’s Cube Club
Job/Work Experience: Sunday School
Volunteer/Community service:
Summer Activities: average
Essays: Thought it was good … hard to know reaction
Teacher Recommendation: Should have been good but did not see but told good by counselor
Counselor Rec: Should have been good but did not see
Additional Rec: Should have been good but did not see
Commonapp Essay: Thought it was good … hard to know reaction
UR Supplement Essay: Thought it was good … hard to know reaction
Interview: n/a

Other

Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: Mechanical Engineering
State (if domestic applicant): PA
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: W
Gender: M
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): NONE

Reflection

Strengths:
What you tried to focus on in your application - any hooks you tried to make for yourself: Tried to let them know who I am and what I am looking for and what is important to me
Weaknesses: Extra-curriculars in that they were probably just average
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: No idea … any suggestions anyone?
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected:
Accepted: University of Rochester; Case Western Reserve University, Union College
Rejected: MIT, Olin, Bucknell Decision: Rejected

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): 2230 M 770 CR 760 W 700
SAT II: Math2: 800 Biology: 800 U.S History 800
Unweighted GPA: 3.81
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 10 / 368
AP (place score in parenthesis): Chemistiry (5) BC Calculus (5 ) Biology (5) US Hist (5) Euro (4)
Senior Year Course Load: AP ( Physics, Stats, Gov, Spanish) Honors (English)

Subjective:

Extra-curriculars : Science Olympiad, Math Club, Karate, Spanish Club, Rubik’s Cube Club
Job/Work Experience: Sunday School
Volunteer/Community service:
Summer Activities: average
Essays: Thought it was good … hard to know reaction
Teacher Recommendation: Should have been good but did not see but told good by counselor
Counselor Rec: Should have been good but did not see
Additional Rec: Should have been good but did not see
Commonapp Essay: Thought it was good … hard to know reaction
UR Supplement Essay: Thought it was good … hard to know reaction
Interview: n/a

Other

Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: Mechanical Engineering
State (if domestic applicant): PA
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: W
Gender: M
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): NONE

Reflection

Strengths:
What you tried to focus on in your application - any hooks you tried to make for yourself: Tried to let them know who I am and what I am looking for and what is important to me
Weaknesses: Extra-curriculars in that they were probably just average
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected:
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected:
Accepted: University of Rochester; Case Western Reserve University, Union College
Rejected: Brown, Bucknell, MIT, Olin, Princetion, Tufts

11

**Decision: Rejected **

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 2370 (800 CR, 770 M, 800 W)
ACT (breakdown): didn’t take
SAT II (place score in parentheses): 800 Math II, 800 Latin, 800 US History, 790 Chemistry
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): NA (I’m homeschooled)
AP (place score in parentheses): US Gov (5), US History (5), European History (5), Macro (5), Micro (5), English Lit (5), English Lang (5), Chemistry (5), Calc BC (5)
IB (place score in parentheses): didn’t take
Senior Year Course Load: AP Stats, AP Comp Sci, Discrete Math, Asian History, Asian Literature, Front-End Web Development, Machine Learning, Personal Finance
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): two semi-major writing awards (not naming to protect identity), National Merit, National AP Scholar, an award for girls in computing, Stanford Sejong Korean Scholar.

Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Lots of leadership (founded and taught economics class, mentor at Coder Dojo, teaching assistant for several AP classes), paid job at library, various computer science extracurriculars (Google Code-In, volunteering with CS competition for girls, volunteering at startup, etc.), music (piano, choir).
Job/Work Experience: Library page
Volunteer/Community Service: See ECs, plus 400 hours volunteering at the library from ages 12-16.
Summer Activities: Economics seminar, government/business camp, taking care of grandparents, working
Essays (rating 1-10, details):: good Common App essay (9/10), solid EC essay (8/10), heartfelt supplement essay (9/10), honest short-answer questions (7/10)
Teacher Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):: 10, 6 or 7 (I’m not as close to this teacher)
Counselor Rec (rating 1-10, details):: 10/10 (written by my parents, since I’m homeschooled)
Additional Rec (rating 1-10, details):: 7/10 (complimentary rec from my boss)
Interview: none

Other
Applied for Financial Aid? Yes
State (if domestic applicant): Michigan
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Homeschool
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: $70-80k
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): maybe being a female in computer science?

Reflection
Strengths: high stats, leadership, good essays and recs, difficult courseload.
Weaknesses: I still feel like my ECs and awards were slightly weak. (It was harder to participate in extracurriculars since I’m homeschooled.)
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I have no idea!
Where else you are applying or have already applied:

Accepted: Stanford, Columbia (likely letter + Science Research Fellows Program), Rice, Williams, University of Michigan, University of Alabama (full tuition+ NM scholarship), University of Rochester (19k/year scholarship); George Mason (10k/year scholarship), Maryland (12k/year scholarship)

Waitlisted: WashU, UChicago

Rejected: Harvard, Penn

I was disappointed to be rejected from my original dream school, but I love Stanford and I’m looking forward to visiting Columbia! Can’t wait for college. :slight_smile:

12

**Decision: Deferred --> Rejected

Objective:[ul]
[] SAT I (breakdown): 800-800-780
[] ACT (breakdown): 36
[] SAT II: 800 Lit, 770 Chem, 760 M2
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): N/A. Weighted = 4.41
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1 (not sent)
[] AP (place score in parentheses): 5 on Spanish, Music Theory, Euro, World, Stats, Calc BC, English Lang; 4 on Chem
[] Senior Year Course Load: Honors International Relations, Honors Art, AP Bio, AP Physics C, Independent Studies in AP Spanish Lit and AP Gov, AP English Lit, Multivariable Calc
[] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Avogadro, IPPF, NMF, National AP Scholar, some AMC stuff[/ul]

Subjective:[ul]
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Rock music (played at Lollapalooza), cross country (3 year letterman and captain), Women’s Leadership Club (founder), various other things
[] Job/Work Experience: Scorekeeper for basketball team, tutor
[] Volunteer/Community service: Service trips with school
[] Summer Activities: Touring with rock band, taking summer courses, running, tutoring
[] Essays: They weren’t bad.
[] Teacher Recommendation: They were great, I imagine. 10/10
[] Counselor Rec: Didn’t read it, assume it was great. 9/10
[] Additional Rec: She is my music theory teacher, like family. 10/10.
[] Interview: Typical.
[] Supplementary Material: I think I sent too much supplement stuff. That being said, it was good.[/ul]

Other[ul]
[]Applied for Financial Aid?: No
[] State (if domestic applicant): OH
[] School Type: Small private all girls
[] Ethnicity: Asian and white
[] Gender: XX
[] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): No[/ul]

Reflection[ul]
[] Strengths: I don’t care.
[] Weaknesses: Don’t care.
[] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Hahaha, deferred to rejected. Because they didn’t like me for some reason.
[] Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted Yale, Stanford, Duke, UPenn, Caltech, Williams, UChicago, Cornell, Harvey Mudd, Dartmouth, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Amherst, OSU, Michigan, Case. Waitlisted: Brown, Columbia, MIT. Rejected: Harvard, Princeton, Juilliard.[/ul]
General Comments: Princeton, I am sorry I ever wasted my time on you. Now, on the important question: How am I going to pick between Yale and Stanford?! I also got some great honors/scholarship options at Cornell and Penn, which makes it even more confusing. In conclusion, I’m not even upset enough to be angry about this, I just find it vaguely funny.

13

**Decision: Accepted

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): 2100 (750 Writing [10 essay], 700 CR, 650 M)
ACT (breakdown): None
SAT II: SAT US History - 780 / SAT French - 710 / SAT World - 710
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 100.4
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): School doesn’t rank
AP (place score in parenthesis): AP English Language - 5 / AP US History - 5 / AP World History - 4
IB (place score in parenthesis): School doesn’t offer
Senior Year Course Load: AP Bio, AP Calc AB, AP Microeconomics, AP English Literature, AP French, Occupations, Religion 12, Dance
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): AP Scholar, National Achievement Scholarship Foundation Outstanding PSAT Participant, online writing awards, National French Contest 7th place nationwide in 10th grade

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):

  • Writer for the Huffington Post Teen -Editor-in-chief of school newspaper -Contributor to my town's newspaper (I write articles about college, SATs, and education) -Multi Published writer in literary magazines (an essay about track and field, an essay about cosmetics & chemicals) -College Essay was published in a magazine -Have my own travel blog (features photos and entries on my trips abroad) -Have my own healthy eating blog -Quiz Bowl Team Captain

Job/Work Experience:
-Cashier at movie theater for 2014 summer.

Volunteer/Community service: I did not even list any on the Common App because it doesn’t help you get into elite schools. But I believe my recommendation writers spoke about the children’s museum that I volunteered at for two years. That was a huge commitment.

Summer Activities: Cashier at movie theater

Essays:
Common App – I chose the “place of solace” topic. My college essay was simple, yet beautiful, authentic, and richly detailed. It is all about my love of going to the library, and by far, it is the best piece of work I have ever written. I think that it is an honest portrayal of who I am, and it exemplifies my love of learning. I had this essay published in a national literary magazine.
For the mini-essays, I talked about my love for the French language for one, participating in Quiz Bowl for another, and working at a movie theater & traveling during the summer.

Teacher Recommendation:
One from my French teacher (10/10) - I am a heavy participant in this class and I have been the top student for 4 years. I tutor, I share French literature that I read in my spare time with my teacher, I do research for the class, and I’ve taught a little.
AP US History Teacher (9/10) - I was the top student in this class and I won an award for my efforts. I adore history and I am also very concerned about social issues. He told me that I had the best projects and essays in the class.
Counselor Rec:
I’d give it a 9/10. We are close friends. In the summertime, my school made us fill out a sheet of all our hobbies, favorite media, and accomplishments - so I guess that helped too.

Interview: It was with a doctor. It was fantastic.

Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: French Language, Creative Writing
State (if domestic applicant): New York
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Private
Ethnicity: African-American
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: $40,000, single parent home
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): URM

Reflection

Strengths: My writing and journalism, my grades and scores, my essay for sure, URM status too, choice of major
What you tried to focus on in your application - any hooks you tried to make for yourself: I made sure to highlight the fact that I am a published writer. I also think it’s different that I want to study French and creative writing. Make sure your Common App essay defines who you are.
Weaknesses: SAT Math score is on the lower end, but to be honest, I’m proud of it. That’s the best I could achieve. Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I have a singular passion for writing and I want to major in something atypical.
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected:
Accepted to 6 Ivy League Schools: Harvard, Princeton, UPenn, Cornell, Dartmouth, Brown
Accepted: NYU, Fordham, University of Connecticut, SUNY Binghampton, SUNY Stony Brook, Siena College
Rejected: Yale, Columbia, Hunter College, Queens College

Other:
I’m ecstatic! Congratulations to all who were admitted.

I applied to all 8 Ivy League schools and I was admitted to 6. I am not a legacy or a first generation, for those of you who would like to know.

14

**Decision: Deferred -> Accepted

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): Never took
ACT (breakdown): 34 (35 English, 35 Reading, 33 Math, 36 Science)
SAT II: 770 Bio M, 760 Chemistry, 750 US History
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.89
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 10%
AP (place score in parentheses): 5s in Spanish Lang, US History, and English Comp. 4s in Chemistry and Euro
Senior Year Course Load: AP Calc AB, AP Gov, AP Biology, Level 4 in Jazz Studies (100 minutes a day, 1/4 blocks-this has been the case throughout my high school career, and is why I didn’t take more AP’s-- my schedule wouldn’t allow it. Also, my school places a cap on 3 AP classes per year per student), Spanish 3031 at local University 1st semester, Public Health Microbiology course at local university 2nd semester
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Minor Awards (hahaha)? 1st Place State US History competition, 1 time gold and 2 time silver medalist in National Spanish Exam (2nd Place in State for Spanish V), Scholastic Writing Awards honorable mention, AP Scholar of some sort

Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Student Government Association (Executive Treasurer), Science Olympiad (co-Captain), Varsity Football, Young Republicans Club (Founder in a very liberal school), National Honor Society, Spanish Club (President)
Job/Work Experience: I play the saxophones in a jazz/funk band; we gig around and make pretty decent money; I love it. I sent in a picture with my app.
Volunteer/Community service: Very little
Summer Activities: Language immersion travel, Chemistry program at UPenn this past summer. Not much noteworthy
Essays: Good. In my CA Essay, I wrote about the effect music has had on my upbringing, and in my supplement, I talked about all the different cultural influences that have shaped me into who I am today (cliche?)
Teacher Recommendation: Both 10/10. My Bio teacher said she cried when she finished it.
Counselor Rec: Really good 10/10. He knows and loves me and we have been working towards this day for a long time!
Additional Rec: From UPenn head of physical chemistry department. I’m guessing pretty good
Interview: Very, very good. 10/10. Said she wrote my the highest possible recommendation. Lasted for a good hour, we talked about all things Princeton. She was a lot older, so it was interesting hearing her perspective on her experience at the university.
Supplementary Material: Should have probably sent a music supplement, maybe would have helped me get into other schools.

Other
Applied for Financial Aid?: No
State (if domestic applicant): LOUISIANA!
School Type: Magnet Charter
Ethnicity: White
Gender: M
Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate): High
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Absolutely none!

Reflection
Strengths: Character, interview, essays, short answer. I would like to think that I am a unique applicant. I attend an inner-city charter arts school, play the saxophone in a funk band, direct the orchestra for school musicals, am involved in nearly everything my school has to offer, and I show passion for an eclectic subset of activities.
Weaknesses: Since I spend so much time in school, between my studies and the 10,000 other things I am involved in, I don’t do much outside of school.
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: See strengths; I showed strong interest in the university and continued to when I was deferred. I know they say it doesn’t matter, I swear that giving your admission officer the ability to connect a face to a name and be able to recall their experience meeting you makes them that much more willing and likely to advocate for you. An officer visited our school, and I met him, made sure my counselor spoke with him about me and my interest, and I really think that helped. I sent a short but sweet letter reaffirming my strong interest in Princeton after my deferral, and I have a feeling that may have had something to do with the positive news today. I am by no means a rare applicant or an institutional priority. But my acceptance shows that unhooked white boys with good grades can get into top schools, if effort is put into your application and you be sure that the school knows about you.
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted: Princeton, Wash U, Wake Forest, Auburn. Waitlisted: Harvard, Dartmouth, Amherst, Williams. Rejected: Yale, Duke, Vanderbilt.

**General Comments: ** My list of acceptances, waitlists, and denials shows what a complete crapshoot the process is. My advice is to make sure anyone you meet from the school remembers you in a positive way.

I am so proud and excited to be a Princetonian. GO TIGERS!!!

15

**Decision: Rejected **

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): NA
ACT (breakdown): 35 C Superscored and not superscored: (33 E, 35 M, 36 R, 36 S)
SAT II (place score in parentheses): 760 M2 720 Bio M
Unweighted/Weighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.98/4.64 I go to a highly selective magnet school that chooses around 2% of students that apply out of 9 high schools. So out of around 3100 applicants, 75 or so get in.
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 3% 10/310
AP (place score in parentheses):
IB (place score in parentheses):
Senior Year Course Load: Multivariable Calculus, Orgo Chem, Bio Chem, Biomedical Science, IB History of the Americas, IB Spanish, Orchestra
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): 3rd Place Best Midwestern High School Writing Competition twice in a row. 9th Place ACSL International Coding Competition

[ b]Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): NHS, Research Team (at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Varsity Tennis for 3 years, 1st Violin in the Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Debate
Job/Work Experience: NA
Volunteer/Community Service: Over 200 hours at a local hospital, at summer science camps, a school for the mentally disabled, friends and I started charity that feeds elementary schools children on the weekends (they live in a bad part of town), I founded an interscholastic math competition for 5th graders, MATHCOUNTS coach for a local middle school.
Summer Activities: Gave talks at local hospitals to raise money for the charity I run, and why feeding poverty stricken children in elementary school is important.
Essays: Pretty strong all around. My English teacher said they were great.
Teacher Recommendations: Idk, but should have been good. One of the teachers asked me if he could write me a rec, and told me he would say I was outstanding.
Counselor Rec: She said there’s no doubt I’m one of the top kids at my school, so definitely should have been good.
Additional Rec: From the director of Lee Honors College at WMU. I worked with her to establish the math competition.
Interview: NA

Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Admissions is hella random.
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:[/list] Accepted: Johns Hopkins, Wash U St. Louis, U Mich, U Miami, K College (full tuition)
Waitlisted: Case Western Reserve, Northwestern
Rejected: UChicago, Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Cornell, UPenn
General Comments: I honestly have no idea why I was rejected by the entire Ivy League. My friend with better stats was also rejected by all the ivies. It’s disheartening when you see kids with lower stats get accepted everywhere. I worked wayyyyy too hard for this. Whatever, I guess Johns Hopkins it is.

[ b]Other**
Applied for Financial Aid? Yes
Projected Concentration: Pre-med
State (if domestic applicant): MI
Country (if international applicant): USA
School Type: Public Magnet
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: $150,000 +
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None…

16

Decision: Rejected after SCEA deferral

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 2340 (790 CR, 770 M, 780 W)
ACT: N/A
SAT II: 770 USH, 760 Physics
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1/117
AP (place score in parenthesis): USH (5), English Language (5), Physics B (4)
IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: AP English Literature, AP Calc AB, AP Physics C, AP Euro, honors gov, other random classes (hardest course load available)
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Connecticut Governor’s Scholar, Harvard Book Award?

Subjective:
•Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Debate Team (captain), Political Science Club (founder and president), School Newspaper (editor)
•Job/Work Experience: Worked for the past four years at a local library
•Volunteer/Community service: Volunteer as a tech volunteer at a different local library, I ran a program over the summer that teaches middle school students debate techniques
•Personal Statement: I loved my common app essay and my Princeton essay
Other
•Applied for Financial Aid?: Yep
• Intended Major : I put computer science on the application
•State (if domestic applicant): CT
•Country (if international applicant):
•School Type: Small parochial
•Ethnicity: Whiter than Casper the Friendly Ghost
•Gender: Female
•Income Bracket: Don’t worry bout it
•Hooks (URM, first generation college, research, etc.): Woman in computer science?

Reflection
•Strengths: SAT, GPA, essays (I thought), woman in STEM?
•Weaknesses: Very few real hooks, few major awards
•Schools were you accepted/waitlisted to?
Accepted: Dartmouth, Duke, UVA, UNC-CH, Cornell, Georgetown, UConn
Waitlisted: Yale, Northwestern, Amherst
Rejected: Harvard, Brown, Stanford
•Schools you are waiting for?
General Comments: I am proud to say that I will be joining the Dartmouth class of 2019!!!

17

**Decision: Accepted after scea deferral

Objective:

  • SAT I (breakdown): NA
  • ACT (breakdown): 32 composite; 34 english, 30 math, 34 reading, 29 science, 9 writing
  • SAT II: 630 Biology (M), 710 English Literature
  • Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): approx. 3.8 (as an average for all 4 years)
  • Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): just outside top 10%
  • AP (place score in parentheses): English Language and Composition (5), Envi Sci (4)
  • IB (place score in parentheses): Envi Sys (5)
  • Senior Year Course Load: IB Math Studies, Full Year Study Hall, IB/AP English, TOK/Gym, Advanced Physics, IB/AP Psychology, IB/AP French 5
  • Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): several scholastic writing awards

[/list]Subjective:

  • Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Town Environmental Commission (student board member), Amnesty International Club (officer), Environmental Club (president), Soccer and Krav Maga
  • Job/Work Experience: Work at a local diner
  • Volunteer/Community service: Tutor at Neighborhood House
  • Summer Activities: Rotary youth exchange to France, Iowa Young Writer’s Studio, Work
  • Essays: Very good. My Common App essay in particular was really great. I think it was successful because it was very raw and honest and also because my writer’s “voice” was really clear.
  • Teacher Recommendation: Don’t know what they said, but I asked my English teacher of 3 years and my Envi Sci teacher from junior year who is also the teacher facilitator of the environmental club and my TOK teacher
  • Counselor Rec: Again, don’t know what she said, but she knows me very well and always has something nice to say about me. I spent a lot of time building the relationship.
  • Additional Rec: NA
  • Interview: It was my first interview so I was a little nervous and more formal than the rest, but I think it went very well
  • Supplementary Material: Art Supplement.

Other

  • Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
  • Intended Major: English with a certificate in Creative Writing
  • State (if domestic applicant): New Jersey
  • Country (if international applicant): NA
  • School Type: small town public in a very affluent area
  • Ethnicity: white
  • Gender: Female
  • Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate): <60K
    -Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): I went to an environmental/hippy school for 6 years (elementary and middle school) with 8 people in my grade

Reflection

  • Strengths: Common App Essay, art supplement, hopefully my LORs
  • Weaknesses: Few hooks or major awards, and stats aren’t amazing either
  • Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I showed explicit commitment to the school and honestly my Common App essay was really outstanding. I had a very unique upbringing (education-wise) which I showcased in my essay.
  • Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
    Rejected from Amherst, Barnard, Brown, Middlebury, and Vassar
    Waitlisted at Franklin and Marshall
    Accepted to Lafayette, Bard, Carnegie Mellon, Pitt, and U Iowa

**General Comments:**I got rejected from almost every school I applied to and then got into Princeton last minute which is so crazy and surreal. Dreams do come true. So excited to join the Princeton Class of 2019!!!

Also, on a more practical note: After I got deferred SCEA, I waited a few months and then sent Princeton an update on my accomplishments and justified a few bad grades and stuff. I’m kind of convinced that this letter got me in, because in it I said that Princeton was my absolute first choice and if I was given the incredible opportunity of admission I would definitely accept the offer. I don’t know, I just think they appreciated my conviction.

18

**Decision: Waitlisted **

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 2290 (M: 770, CR: 730, W: 750)
ACT (breakdown):
SAT II: English: 700 Maths II: 760
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0):
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable):
AP (place score in parentheses):
IB (place score in parentheses):
Senior Year Course Load: 5 A Levels
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Gold Senior Maths Challenge, a couple of national awards in academics

Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Own Business, Debating, Environmental Activism, Music, TV Show
Job/Work Experience: Business, Teaching Piano
Volunteer/Community service: Activism Work
Summer Activities: Hiking, Internship at Bank
Essays: Common App was okay, Supplement wasn’t great.
Teacher Recommendation: Didn’t see them but were probably okay.
Counselor Rec: No idea.
Additional Rec:
Interview: Really good. Probably what helped me get waitlisted rather than rejected.
Supplementary Material:

Other
Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
State (if domestic applicant):
Country (if international applicant): UK
School Type: State School
Ethnicity: Chinese
Gender: M
Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate): Enough to qualify for near full-ride
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):

Reflection
Strengths:
Weaknesses: Essays weren’t great
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Incredibly competitive
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
Accepted: Stanford, UChicago, Duke (Karsh International Scholarship), Yale-NUS
Waitlisted: Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth
Rejected: Harvard, Cornell, Brown

**General Comments: **
What an experience this has been! No regrets… In hindsight, I don’t think I’ll fit in at Princeton anyway.

19

**Decision: Rejected **

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 2360 (CR790, M770, W800)
ACT (breakdown): N/A
SAT II: Bio M (800), US History (790), Chem (780), Math 2 (760)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): ~4%
AP (place score in parenthesis): Euro History, Bio, APUSH, Lang, CS, Calc BC (all 5)
IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: college classes (linear algebra, political science), AP Psych, Orchestra, AP Comp Sci
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): None

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Started a youth organization for young composers, composed music for performance at a couple music festivals, music summer camp, membership at several orchestras (principal / asst. principal at all), etc.
Job/Work Experience: Did web design work for a JPL subcontractor
Volunteer/Community service: Eagle Scout, the aforementioned youth organization
Summer Activities: That music summer camp, various leisure activities
Essays (rating 1-10, details): Common App - about my history with music, 9/10; Harvard supplement - another parallel narrative about more music stuff (yes, that is pretty much my entire life), 8/10 by itself but 5/10 because it was basically a different version of my Common App
Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):
Teacher Rec #1: 10/10, known for writing great recs and we got pretty close
Teacher Rec #2: 6/10, not enough time to become really close
Teacher Rec #3: 9/10, I act like a lunatic in her class so good material to work with (had to send in 3 cause one was sent in by accident and I thought it might hurt my app)
Counselor Rec: 4/10, she was just hired a month before apps were due so I didn’t really get a chance to know her
Additional Rec: 10/10, my composition teacher, was really good
Interview: Didn’t have one

Other

Applied for Financial Aid?: No
Intended Major: Music
State (if domestic applicant): CA
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: M
Income Bracket: high
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Sent in a great composition supplement (except I sent it in 2 months late)

Reflection

Strengths: Good at writing weird music that might hurt you if you listen to it for too long, and numbers are good
Weaknesses: EC’s by themselves don’t really impress much, seem kinda forced and I FORGOT TO SUBMIT MY ART SUPPLEMENT
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: Guys, don’t forget to send in important pieces of your application until 2 months after the deadline. I don’t know if I would’ve gotten in even with a composition supplement, but I bet it would’ve been a lot more likely.
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: Accepted - Stanford, Columbia (likely), SUNY Buffalo, USC (Presidential), UC Berkeley (Regents), Cal Arts, SUNY Purchase, UCSD (Regents), UC Davis (Regents), Oberlin Conservatory (Dean’s scholarship), NYU; Waitlisted - UChicago; Rejected - MIT, Harvard, Princeton

General Comments: While I regret screwing up on my application, Princeton was nonetheless wise to protect their yield - although I thought I was interested in attending at first, by the time results came out I was certain that Princeton was not the right school for me. Good luck, everyone!

20

**Decision: Accepted (deferred REA) **

Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 2350 (800 M, 760 CR, 790 W)
ACT (breakdown): NA
SAT II: 800 Bio M, 800 Math II, 800 Chinese, 790 USH
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.9-something
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1/262 (not reported)
AP (place score in parenthesis): Bio, Chinese, APUSH, Lang, Comp Sci, Enviro Sci (all 5’s)
IB (place score in parenthesis): NA
Senior Year Course Load: most rigorous
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): USABO Honorable Mention (23rd in nation), CONRAD semifinalist, state champ NJ science league (bio II), other state science awards, regional MUN awards

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): MUN (chair of conference committee at largest student-run MUN conference in the nation, VP of club), ACSL (president, qualified for nats), research club (VP, published DNA sequences), track, columbia SHP, NHS (secretary), probably some other minor things
Job/Work Experience: research intern at state university, co-authored paper in process of being published. private tutor.
Volunteer/Community service: nothing extraordinary, volunteering and tutoring mostly
Summer Activities: medical intern (9), precollege biomed academy (10), prestigious TASP-like program for my state (11)
Essays: CA was hit/miss. Looking back, my first supplement was cheesy and awful…really don’t know what I was thinking. I submitted a revised supplement in mid-feburary (yep, February!), that one was a lot better.
Teacher Recommendation: all excellent, submitted 3 on accident though
Counselor Rec: should’ve been fine
Additional Rec: from mentor at summer camp. this was a sticking point with me, I was scared I submitted too many recs…
Interview: Just ok.
Other:

Applied for Financial Aid?: nope
Intended Major: bio/premed
State (if domestic applicant): NJ
Country (if international applicant): USA
School Type: public
Ethnicity: chinez
Gender: male
Income Bracket: 2 high
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): hahahahahahahahahahaha

Reflection

Strengths: test scores, grades, awards, not an antisocial nerd
Weaknesses: just another asian guy
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: Honestly no idea. Though my school usually takes at least 1 from Princeton (lol I was only one this year)
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected:
Accept: Princeton (deferred REA), Cornell (likely, tanner dean scholar), Brown, Rutgers (full ride), UMich, JHU, Duke, CMU, UCB, UCLA, UCSD
Waitlist: UChicago, Northwestern, UPenn, Harvard, Yale
Reject: WUSTL, MIT, Columbia

So I sent in 5 recommendations (count em, 5), an entire revised supplement (two things that students are usually told NOT to do on here), and an updated 2-page resume (because of course my original 2-page resume wasn’t enough lol). After I realized how annoyed the adcoms were probably gonna be with me, I thought that Princeton was a lost cause. But I suppose they saw the value in what I sent them, that I wasn’t trying to be annoying but just trying to give them a better picture of myself. I really believe that the improvement in my supplement was a huge factor in how I got deferred–>accepted.

Bottom line is: though I was probably pushing it, and you never want to send in like 10 recommendation letters, a picture of your dog, and like your urine sample or something, don’t be afraid to send in additional materials if you think it adds value. Even though I was probably skirting the line, if you think it adds something meaningful to your app, do it. Admissions officers are people too.

I also never sent them a letter, I assumed that a rewritten supplement would be enough testament of my desire to attend Princeton.