Was this fair?

Applying to College
1

<p>I found out yesterday that I got rejected ED Princeton. I’d just want to know from public opinion if you guys think this was fair, considering my stats from below. I had written decent essays, and my recs were very good. I had also applied last year and got rejected RD Princeton. </p>

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<p>Norwegian Citizen of Indian ethnicity. Graduated from a mildly competitive international school in South Korea (avg. SAT 1230 + 600WR). Lived in Norway for 15 years (studied in an international school for 12 years), moved to Korea after 9th grade and skipped a grade – joined 11th. Transferred school for my senior year (int’l school) in Korea. Graduated in June 2005, taking a gap-year in Norway aged 16.</p>

<p>I intend to major in Econ or PolSci, might change to Physics if I like.</p>

<p>SAT I: 690M, 670CR, 700 Wr (10 Essay)</p>

<p>GPA: 3.85 UW Freshman year, 4.0 UW (with two Hons. Classes) Junior year, 4.3 Weighted Senior year</p>

<p>SAT II: 750 IC, 690 Physics, 680 IIC. took World History in December expecting 750+. Planned to retake SAT I in January</p>

<p>O-Levels: A in IGCSE Spanish exam in 9th grade (most students take it in the 10th)</p>

<p>APs: Physics B 5 (independent),
Calc AB, Stats, English Lit 4s.</p>

<p>ECs:
-WASC international school accreditation committee member. Represented whole student body for accreditation purposes (11th)
-Varsity Soccer (9th, 11th)
-Varsity Cross country (letter – 12th)
-Debate Team
-MUN founding member 11th, member of international team, 12th
-Creative writing
-Varsity softball (9th)
-Publicity Manager for school plays (12th)
-Orphanage Service Club (11th, 12th)
+++ minor things</p>

<p>Gap-year:
-Taking 2 APs online (virtual high school) Calc BC and Macro and Micro Econ
-Self-studying AP Physics C (both parts)
-Internship with Political Science professor at a university in Norway on a UN Project
-Amnesty International volunteer
-In the process of patenting a traffic-regulation machine (speed-control device) Describing it briefly in my app
-Taking refresher courses in Norwegian and Spanish to be completely proficient by the end of the year</p>

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<p>So what do you think? Did I deserve to be at least deferred? I’m not whining or anything, since what’s over is done with. Cant change the past. Just like to know what you think :)</p>

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<p>Hey, I’m kinda in your situation. I skipped a year and a bit of high school when I came back to Korea from England.</p>

<p>It’s hard to say anything really. You know that. **** happens… Being in the Korean pool, which is full of people with incredible test scores, probably worked against you. Good luck with RD, dude. Wish you the best.</p>

3

<p>Your SAT I scores quite doesn’t cut it. Especially when you’re from Int’l pool, your math is a tad too low. (not that I’m even applying to Ivies)
I’m not sure if you would even be considered in the Korean pool, but if you do indeed, tough luck cuz Korean males have highest average SAT score.</p>

<p>Sorry man…I feel your pain. Korean male here. :P</p>

4

<p>I am sorry for your disappointment but your numbers are by Princeton and other super-selective standards not even quite run of the milll. That isn’t to say you aren’t impressive but that you would just be amazed by the scores, grades, and other qualifications of admitted applicants over the past years. You do sound like an interseting applicant and I hope you are pursuing opportunities at other excellent colleges.</p>

5

<p>Of course it was fair - when the acceptance rate is extremely low, you can’t expect to get in. Even if you have very strong stats and EC’s, it’s usually under 50-50. You do have an interesting background, but your SAT scores are low for Princeton.</p>

6

<p>thanks a lot for the responses. I know my SATs were not too hot, but I thought my GPA, mildly decent APs, GPA, recs, ECs and diversity will get me deferred at least. I was certain of scoring well in January in SAT I, but they didnt even give me the chance to improve my scores. That hurts kinda…you know what I mean? I personally feel that I dont deserve to be in the bottom 5% of Princeton applicants. Sure they could go ahead and reject me RD if my scores dont turn up well (2200+ or whatever they feel I need) considering the ratio for Acceptance: Deferral:Rejection is 30:65:5</p>

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<p>Princeton is a highly competitive school that rejects the majority (by a lot) of its applicants…ED and RD. Even with PERFECT (and I mean perfect) stats, there is no guarantee of admittance into one of these highly competitive schools. Many many well qualified applicants are rejected annually…there just are not enough slots to accommodate all of the well qualified candidates who apply. When you apply ED or EA to a school, you are applying with the stats you have to present at the time of your application. The schools evaluate your application based on what you have, not what you may or may not have in January or March or June. It is clearly stated that for ED, the latest SAT score accepted is the one administered in November (for some schools it is October). Princeton evaluated your application based on what you had on file with them. But…you DO have some wonderful things on your list of credentials and many colleges would be thrilled to have you as a student. Since I’m not sure exactly what you’re looking for, I’m not really able to offer specific suggestions… but you might want to look into schools like Haverford, BC, Tufts, some of the Phili schools (Villanova, Lehigh).</p>

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<p>callthecops2: </p>

<p>You seem to be a very interesting individual and you should be very proud of your accomplishments. No one will be able to tell you why you were rejected from Princeton, but in all probability it was most likely your SAT scores. Now, would you rather be rejected due to numbers or your personal character, passions, personality and character? Imagine how someone feels who gets rejected with perfect SAT scores and gpa? They know they didn’t get rejected due to their stats, so it must have been something else (lack of passion, ECs, lack of uniqueness character, recs, etc.). So, in your case, they probably rejected a number, NOT a person. In the other example, they rejected a person.</p>

9

<p>thumper, yes, I’ve been thinking of Haverford & Tufts myself. There are a lot of good match schools for him.<br>
ctc, I’ll get back to you in next few days when work calms down.
:-D</p>

10

<p>Your SAT score, and your SAT II’s are not high. They are fairly low for Princeton. That is what matters to them and why you got rejected.</p>

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<p>I think this is something we need to constantly remind ourselves of. It seemed to me that everyone is applying ED or EA to a school just because they want to get over the admissions asap but at the same time, they forgot that they are evaluated with the stats presented at the point in time.</p>

<p>ACE: that’s really mean of you!!!</p>

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<p>Ok i actually might know why u might have gotten rejected. Besides the fact that ur scores were tad bit low, international schools in korea are notoriously known to be “unreliable” and korean universities dont even count them as highschools. Im sure the school itself is good but the bad rep for korean schools def cut ur chances. sorry bout your rejection btw</p>

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<p>maybe, but I attend an international school here. It’s modelled on the US system (APs etc.) and this year, its introduced IB. I doubt the school is a reason due to this. Maybe it is though, you never know.</p>

<p>One of my friends last year got a 1270 on the old SAT and low 700s on the SAT IIs, and got deferred. They wanted to see how he fared on the upcoming SAT in January, so I dont know what to figure from that.</p>

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<p>How do you know for certain they wanted to know how he fared on the upcoming SAT? Did they specifically tell him so?</p>

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<p>Korean universities don’t count them as high schools because</p>

<p>a) Nobody there goes to Korean universities
b) They don’t follow the curriculum set by the Korean Ministry of Education</p>

16

<p>worldshopper, I think he talked with the regional rep and thats what he or she told him. </p>

<p>Any more comments on this decision?</p>

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<p>callthecops2,</p>

<p>The decision of the tribal counsel is final. </p>

<p>I think you are wasting energy that could go into your RD applications trying to deconstruct why you got a rejection vs. a deferral. </p>

<p>Would you have really felt any better having your hopes up for another 4 months then not getting in ? </p>

<p>At least you know that you are definitely free to move forward and keep it moving. It is in your best interest to do just that.</p>