Decision: Accepted
Objective:
[] SAT I (breakdown): did not send
[] ACT: 34
[] SAT II: 790 (French w/ Listening), 760 (US History)
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): top 10%
[] AP (place score in parenthesis): European History (5), US History (5), French Language (5), English Language (5), English Literature (5), Latin (4)
[] IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
[] Senior Year Course Load: Calculus BC, Philosophical Lit, Physics 1, German V, French VI, International Relations, Government (all at an AP level; my school technically doesn’t have AP classes)
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel, etc.): One national essay award, Maureen O’Donnell Oxford Classical Dictionary Award, multiple language awards in three languages (French, German, Latin), other minor school awards[/li][/list]
Subjective:
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): One very unique and time-consuming extracurricular; French Club (President; started new program in Haiti); Cum Laude; piano (12 years); Dance Team (captain); other minor clubs and things
[] Job/Work Experience: Hostess at a local restaurant; Internship at a local NGO related to my main extracurricular
[] Volunteer/Community service: Not a lot outside of my main extracurricular. Nothing I reported on the application.
[] Summer Activities: Lots of international travel, most of which I funded with winnings from essay contests. Also the aforementioned internship, and accelerated self-study of German.
[] Essays: Common App - maybe the best thing I’ve ever written (10/10), Princeton Supplement - solid, a bit more lighthearted than my Common App essay, clearly illustrated my “voice” as a writer (9/10)
[] Teacher Recommendations: French teacher, one of my favorite teachers of all time (11/10), Director of my main extracurricular program, we have a great relationship (10/10)
[] Counselor Rec: Erm, she likes me, but she only knows me but so well… Maybe 8/10?
[] Additional Rec: N/A
[li] Interview: Went very well. His love for Princeton was evident and seemed to roll off him in waves. I revealed the quirkier side of me that didn’t really get fleshed out in the application, and he laughed a lot! The best part of the interview came at the end, when we started talking about Russian literature… But then I had to leave because I had class. :([/li][/list]
Other
[] Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
[] Intended Major: History/French
[] State (if domestic applicant): VA
[] School Type: Private
[] Race(s) (AI/AN, Asian, AA, NH/PI, White, not reported): White
[] Gender: F
[] Income Bracket:
[] Hooks/tips (URM, athlete, legacy, 1st gen, etc.): Literally no hooks whatsoever. I am a white female who cannot math or science to save her life.
[/list]
Reflection
[] Strengths: Languages. I really think that made me stand out. I remember passing the foreign language building on my Princeton tour, and the tour guide said, “I know a lot of you will be wanting to get out of your foreign language requirement.” I immediately said to myself, “No!!” I guess someone has to keep those foreign language professors employed, and that someone is me? I also absolutely loved my essays. I poured my heart and soul into them, and I felt like they were a perfect reflection of my best qualities. But I don’t know. This is all mere conjecture, of course.
[] Weaknesses: Race/socioeconomic background, which is pretty standard. Also, my test scores weren’t knock-your-socks-off crazy good.
[] Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: Idk man, I’m still in shock.
[] Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: Nowhere yet. I applied to UVA early.
[li] Where else are you applying for RD: Dartmouth; Stanford; Christ Church, Oxford[/li][/list]
General Comments: This is absolutely nuts. I never expected to get in. I owe so much to the people around me who’ve supported and helped me along the way. My advice to future applicants: before you sit down to begin crafting your application, think of the main “themes” you want it to convey. If admissions officers were talking about you, how would you want them to describe you? The languages girl who wrote about Voltaire? The chemistry boy with a passion for Shostakovich? If you design your application around these “themes,” as I call them, tying in your ECs to your essays to even your short personal responses, admissions officers will have a clearer image of what you specifically - you, the only you out there! - could bring to campus. With that (ideally favorable) image clearly in mind, they might be more inclined to extend an offer. Also: ESSAY CONTESTS! If you are a writer, these are a great way to get yourself noticed. Most of them also come with sizable monetary prizes, which can then be used to fund summer experiences (what I did), or whatever you want.
In any event, best of luck to everyone! I know that all prospective students reading this thread - whether in 2015 or beyond - will end up at incredible schools, surrounded by incredible peers and professors.