Click here to go to the NEW College Discussion Forum

I am an African-American male at a highly competitive public high school that doesn’t use class ranking. My GPA is about a 3.3 unweighted and maybe a 3.7 weighted. My numerical average is in about the B+/A-/A range. I am a rising senior who has taken 10 honors classes and 2 AP classes (Calculus AB and Biology) and got a score of 4 on both. I recently took college-level Calculus II at a local college and got an A. I think that my professor would write a recommendation for me. I’m currently enrolled at that same college and my classes are Intro. to Linear Algebra and General Psychology. I’m planning to take Differential Equations and Calculus III in the spring. My other (high school) classes are AP Literature, AP Art History, AP Government, AP Chemistry, Chemistry II (Honors), Physics I (Honors), and a Humanities class. I want to major in economics/mathematics and possibly minor in biochemistry. I manage to sit in on some of the lectures for Macroeconomics at my local college. I want to go on to an excellent Medical and Law School (maybe Harvard).

Since freshman year, I have done three JV and Varsity-level sports: Soccer, Cross Country, and Basketball (however, I am sadly not involved in Basketball and Cross Country this year). I am in many other clubs and organizations with many leadership positions and opportunities (National Mathematics Honor Society, National Latin Honor Society, FBLA, Math Team, Science Olympiad). Last year, I was Co-Chairman of the Diabetes Walk as well as the School-wide Blood Drive. I joined the debate team this year and recently won 1st place in a competition for a speech that I wrote (most people who have heard or read my speech, think that it’s funny).

I am presently trying to start an SATI tutorial program (I made a 1350 on my 2nd try; 1270 on the 1st try) for interested students in my city. Currently, I am working on sort of a senior thesis project which involves me teaching a math curriculum to 4th and 5th grade students; by next year, I plan to have a musical soundtrack of songs that I created to teach the students. I ran for state president of the Beta Club. By graduation, I will have about 400+ hours of community service. I scored in the 95th Percentile on the PSAT’s and I am currently a National Achievement Semi-Finalist. Additionally, I intern with an orthopaedic(spelling) surgeon throughout the year, and I work in the Surgery department of a hospital. Neither of my parents went to college.

I feel that my grades are lower than many of my peers because I spent so much time, during the previous three years, playing sports and being overcommitted to (non-rewarding) clubs; I also had and still have some family issues.

Over the summer, I got a letter from Princeton; I’m still waiting on an application. One African American female graduated from my high school last year and is now attending Princeton while an African American male graduated from my high school last year and is now attending Brown.

I still have to take three SAT II’s in October: Writing, Math IIC, and Biology M. English is, by far, my worst subject, though I’m trying to challenge myself with AP Literature. I’m hoping to score well on the SAT II’s. A friend of mine, at school, got all 800’s (Writing, Math IIC, and Biology M) while another did nearly the same thing in (Writing, Math IIC, and Chemistry). I believe that I can score highly on everything.

What are my chances of being accepted into Princeton early or regular decision?

For any longer, personal comments, please email me at anton@sam.zzn.com.

Thank you very much for your statements/recommendations.

By G_Li (G_Li) on Saturday, September 11, 2004 - 02:23 am: Edit

I think you have a very good chance at ED or if not, RD.

By Aparent4 (Aparent4) on Saturday, September 11, 2004 - 10:33 am: Edit

Your leadership, your community service initiative, your hospital work, your college courses, your varsity sports...all these things look good. Try to find a way to convey a strong identity on your application. Do you want to go to both law and med school?

By Ort30 (Ort30) on Saturday, September 11, 2004 - 08:43 pm: Edit

Yes, I do. Thank you so much for your comments! Is there anything else that I can do? I need an application. In about a week, I will meet with a Princeton representative at a very large college fair. I'm going to bring my resume' and probably a personal statement.

By Ort30 (Ort30) on Monday, September 13, 2004 - 05:25 pm: Edit

bump

By Ort30 (Ort30) on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 03:53 pm: Edit

bump

By Ort30 (Ort30) on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 02:59 pm: Edit

bump

By Mzhang23 (Mzhang23) on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 04:45 pm: Edit

You're a good shot.

By Keats (Keats) on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 - 10:51 pm: Edit

Ort30, can you work off of the online app until you get a paper one? If you are considering ED, I believe it is due Nov 1, which is fast approaching; you can work on essays meanwhile. If you haven't received a paper app by the time you meet with the Princeton rep, see if he/she has one. Yes, it is just my opinion of course, but I think you have a chance. You are bright, have creative ideas, and are trying to make the world a better place. My child applied ED last year (NEVER got a paper app in the mail, by the way)and is lovin' Princeton this year! Great friends from all over the world, great profs, and more interesting things to do than there is ever time for. Good luck to you!

By Ort30 (Ort30) on Thursday, September 30, 2004 - 03:00 pm: Edit

Thank you!