Should I apply?

Colleges & Universities Princeton University
1

<p>GPA: 3.9W, like a 94.67 out of 100.
Class Rank: 47/498</p>

<p>I expect both the GPA and class rank to go up slightly this year, as they haven’t been calculated after second semester Junior Year, and that has been my strongest semester thus far.</p>

<p>ACT: 32 (28 Eng, 29 Rdg, 34 Sci, 36 Math)
SAT: 700 Math, 600 Reading, 640 Writing I will be taking again this weekend, and I’m expecting improvement over last fall when I got these scores.</p>

<p>SAT 2: 740 Math 2, 700 Chemistry, 640 Literature
AP Tests:
World History- 3
Chemistry- 3
Physics B- 3
Computer Science A- 4
English Language/Composition- 4</p>

<p>My Senior Schedule:
AP Biology
AP Calculus AB
Dual Credit English 4
Student Council Officer
Professional Internship Program (10+ hr/wk internship at a local hospital)
AP Psychology</p>

<p>EC’s
Boy Scouts- Eagle Scout
Baseball- School and EC
Work: Little League Baseball Umpire since '05, PetSmart Cashier (about 25-30 hrs/wk, slightly less during school year)
Student Council- I will be the Secretary this year
National Honor Society
Mu Alpha Theta
Senior Interact
Computer Club
I attended a summer program called NNAYI, 65 natives from across the US who are interested in health professions, and it was basically 9 days of seminar from 6 AM to 8 PM
Hospital Internship this Fall
Attending Cornell’s Engineering Fall Diversity Hosting</p>

<p>Basically, I’ve taken all of the hardest courses offerred at my school, all of them are PreAP/Honors/AP if possible. I’m a registered Native American, Cherokee tribe, yay minority status. I’m planning on being a Cognitive Neuroscience major, PreMed as well. I suppose it will probably have to be Neuroscience with a minor in cognitive sciences, but close enough. </p>

<p>Essay is phenomenal. not earth shattering Pulitzer winning or anything, but I think it is very very well written, and explains a lot about where I’m going in the future. </p>

<p>I’m wondering, do I have a chance at Princeton, and then what benefits would Princeton have over Yale or Cornell as far as Neuroscience/Cognitive Science/Premed programs? Or rather, I guess Psychology since Princeton has none of the above programs. I’m not set on those, that’s just where I want to focus.</p>

2

<p>Class rank is going to hurt you. I would apply, but your statistics make you slightly under-par for Princeton’s usual freshman class. Give it a shot. You never know what can happen</p>

3

<p>class rank is actually kind of worthless for my school, because in the state of texas, if you get top 10%, you’re guaranteed to get into a state school, and most people wanna go to UT, so they take the easiest courseload they can, and the kids that take rigorous courseloads are knocked down because of it.</p>

<p>My freshman year was my weakest, and Princeton ignores that right? So maybe that’ll help as well…</p>

<p>I’m really interested in Princeton though… I may drop Harvard and apply to Princeton instead.</p>

<p>Will my ethnicity help at all, being a registered Native American? I know Dartmouth caters somewhat to them, but it’s in their charter… Princeton (like most other schools) has <1% native enrollment, so could that give me a slight boost?</p>

4

<p>You are a URM so you should apply.</p>

5

<p>You have shot at Princeton but I would make sure to apply to Dartmouth - Dartmouth has fantastic resources for Native Americans and Neuro is a huge focus at the undergrad level. Brown as well.</p>

6

<p>already have both Brown and Dartmouth. Brown has my perfect major, Cognitive Neurscience, but I’ve decided to apply to Princeton. You can’t get in if you don’t try…</p>

7

<p>Yeah apply to Princeton for sure…you have a shot!</p>

8

<p>Your class rank and GPA are kind of below the level of the average applicant, but since you’re a Native American and have pretty good Extra curricular, you definitely have a shot. You should apply.</p>

9

<p>I would definitely recommend applying. Your test scores do look really low though (especially all of the AP 3s, and then the 640 and 600 on the SAT which should disappear if you take it again and prepare well) so I would count it as a long shot.</p>

10

<p>Do I have a chance of getting into Princeton?</p>

<p>Unweighted GPA - 4.00
Class rank - 10 / 835</p>

<p>SAT:
Math - 800
Reading - 690
Writing - 790</p>

<p>SAT IIs:
Math 1 - 800
Spanish - 800
Math 2 - ? (taken in October)
Chemistry - ? (taken in October)</p>

<p>ACT: 33
English 35
Math 35
Reading 30
Science 31</p>

<p>AP tests:
Calculus AB - 5
Computer Science A - 5
Biology - 5
Microeconomics - 5
Music Theory - 5</p>

11

<p>Sigh, since it’s all the rage and people are actually responding… let me compromise my dignity for a minute here…</p>

<p>What would you guys say my chances are as a white female with:</p>

<p>– SAT I: 2390, first try (790 in Writing.)
– SAT II: 780 Literature, 750 Math II (lol), 590 French (retook, assume 600+ lol), assume Chem and Physics will be >700.
– GPA: UW 4.00, W 4.81, rank 2/333.
– APs: 5s on Comp Sci A, Calc AB, English Language, World History; 4s on Comp Sci AB, US Govt & Politics. Taking six AP classes this year.
– No significant extracurriculars. Involved in a handful of art, technology, math, and science clubs. Co-president of Art Club and secretary of Information Technology Academy.<br>
– Internship with Cognitive Sciences professor at JHU. Want to major in cognitive neuroscience!
– Some awards for score-based stuff (AP whatever, NMSF, MD Distinguished Scholar) and some school awards.
– Princeton Book Award. :]</p>

<p>I feel ridiculous for applying, considering that my numbers are good and everything else positively mediocre. But is it worth a try? Could I convince them that I am an interesting person through my essays? (I think I’m going to write about my love for death metal and somethin’ about neuroscience…)</p>

12

<p>Poseur: I think you’re in!!!</p>

13

<p>HAHA eating food I hate you.</p>

<p>Also I feel rude for just postin’ my stuff in here and not chancing the other posters. (I figured that we could kind of make this a generic “do I have a chance” thread instead of each creating our own.) </p>

<p>But uhm, ZFanatic, your numbers are solid enough to get you through the door; just gotta wow 'em with your uniqueness and your involvement in stuff!</p>

<p>Ekin, same goes for you… except I don’t even know your ECs so it’s hard to judge at all.</p>

14

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<p>Have you ever seen the graphs which show the acceptance rate for Princeton applicants based on their SAT I score. It is above 30%. Based on that alone, it would be a bad idea to not try.</p>

15

<p>amciw you typo’d my name. :frowning: I thought we were tighter than that.</p>

<p>Haha yeah, I know my stats put me in the running. Just, I think that there’s a more subtle but definite “cutoff,” so to speak, with ECs. Like, you don’t hear people say “Sorry but your ECs just eliminate you right off the bat” but I think that’s kind of how it is. :/// And it’s comparable to how really low SATs will just totally throw you out of the running. </p>

<p>I am applying no matter what, 'cause I really like the school, but I’m just tryna turn this thread into a consolidated chance thread since I definitely don’t want to post my own thread and others probably want to get opinions without really putting themselves out there, too.</p>

16

<p>To quote from my book: "It was an egregious oversight, one that I have the tendency to avoid. It is inexcusable that I should make it. Someone of your stature deserves better.” I’ll remedy it shortly :).</p>

<p>I think the cut-off with ECs is getting more like SAT scores, as in “did you do something with your life besides kill people in Halo?”. Essays, I think, are the true defining factor.</p>

<p>I looked at Princeton and really liked it too. Naturally, I’m applying. But to be honest, I think your chances of getting in are better than mine.</p>

<p>Edit: Or not. The forum won’t let me fix it.</p>

17

<p>Aw you’re sweet. <3</p>

<p>Wait no but I didn’t do anything with my life except eat and sleep. :frowning: And unless I think of some cool stuff to write about, my essays are gonna be so boringggg. Sighhh. </p>

<p>THANK YOU for your kind words though. And you totally have a better chance than do I; you do interesting things with your life. :]</p>

18

<p>In my experience, the most self-deprecatory people are those who have the least reason to be. Just remember that as you consider your application.</p>

<p>But really, where did you get the conception I did interesting things? Based on your definition of doing nothing but eating and sleeping, I am not much better, if at all. My ECs list is no more impressive than yours; even my novel, which I guess could be considered impressive, was only started in March (prewriting/conceptual stuff). My sophomore and freshman years I was about as uninvolved with activities (besides obsessive tech forum posting) as humanly possible.</p>

19

<p>ZFanatic, your URM status will definitely help you! The biggest hole in your application is class rank, but you’re still top 10%. </p>

<p>And just FYI, I’m pretty sure Brown has an impressive cognitive science program, which seems to be the kind of curriculum you’re looking for.</p>

20

<p>You should apply. If you do not try, how will you know you will be rejected. After all, you are a strong candidate.</p>