For Princeton, I had the opportunity to interview Ellie, who found me on TikTok (@virtualcollegehelp) *does renegade dance* and offered to help give advice on common applications to help other high school students! Her responses were amazing and so beneficial if you're interested in Princeton! Thank you so much Ellie for your generosity in helping others!
What extracurricular did you do during your high school years? Did you win any awards?
"I was the first high school intern at a laboratory in Alaska and worked w naturalists to perform field work and advocate for conservation. I used this information to start an environmental organization in my hometown to educate the youth about protecting our planet. I have also been playing the flute and piccolo for ten years and have won various competitions state and nationwide, and have played with many orchestras. I also started an organization which recruits child/teen musicians in my county to perform for the elderly."
What sports did you play if you were a student athlete?
"I was on varsity xc for two years but did it as more of a sports requirement."
How would you describe the common application process?
"stressful, but doable if you set time limits for yourself. Try to write an essay a day so you can knock them out of the park and have time to revise, and don’t be afraid to ask others for input!"
only If you feel comfortable to share, what was the range of your stats on school? What inspired you to work hard and strive to get into Princeton?
"i think princeton is from a 1510-1600 and 34-36. Got a 1510 on the SAT and 35 on the ACT. Princeton has always been my dream school and I wanted more than anything to be there for the next four years and be able to pursue my passions in a nurturing environment full of intellectual and kind people. These thoughts inspired me to work hard throughout all of highschool."
What is one thing you wished you would’ve done more research before applying to college?
"not really anything, if anything I did a lot of worry research like: how likely is my sat/act score to get me into Princeton? Don’t do that. It just causes stress and anxiety and can really make you doubt yourself. Best of luck!"