Sad Day on the Princeton forum

ilcapo235
Tue, 14 Dec 2004 00:37:58 +0000

I will also echo the “contact professors” tip. About 2 weeks before I submitted my application, I met with a photography professor who was willing to sit down and review my portfolio as well as give me a tour. Though the arts are not Princeton’s strength, I was excited by the prospect of contributing to this renevation both student-wise and facility-wise. We talked for a good three hours, and though he was quick to point out that the prior Dean of Admissions was not receptive to their requestis, he urged me to submit my slides and give it a shot. He also warned me that professors children were rejected every year, so not even the greatest hook or connection can get you in.

Two weeks later, I submitted my slides. This was my early decision school, so I put an incredible amount of effort into the slides and the cover letter, which outlined just why Princeton’s Art & Archaelogy Program 2 (a combination of visual arts and art history) was perfect for me. I made sure everything about my application was heartfelt and enthusiastic, and something clicked.

I too am finding it hard to stick around the Princeton boards. Some of my greatest e-friends who were clearly more qualified than myself are being deferred left and right. So I urge you to find a hook no matter what. If you love history, submit a paper to the history chair, try to meet some professors, write an essay or two about your love for the French Revolution, and see what happens.

The college admissions process is a pro-active one. From the day I stepped on the Princeton campus, I knew it was the school for me. When I told my guidance counselor, she laughed and said don’t bother, as we hadn’t sent anyone there in over 15 years. Even my interviewer was skeptical and frustrated that he couldn’t get anyone in. He told me stories of kids from my town who never sent thank you notes, were over-confident, or clearly didn’t know much about Princeton - and he urged me to help right those wrongs. I told him straight out in my interview, “If I don’t get in to Princeton, I don’t think I can go anywhere else”. We talked about Peter Singer, Cornel West, and so much more - it was an amazing experience and one I believe may have pushed me over the edge. Hopefully I have opened the path for other applicants from my school, and I look forward to helping others in this process. When the valedictorian of last year’s class gets in to Yale, Harvard, Brown PLME, Swarthmore, and many others but not Princeton, you have to wonder what exactly they are looking for. I think more than anything, they want kids passionate for the school and willing to take risks for acceptance.

Good luck to all! That was my first advice column!