Stats that helped me get into Princeton

Applying to the USA… Ahh, sh*t, here we go again…

If anyone asks me which phase of my life incinerated me and molded me into who I am, I would say it was my application period at the beginning of Class 12. Although you’re by default signed up for the US admissions battle when you step into Class 9, you only start feeling the heat when it’s application season, and you’re about to start the dreadful process of scrolling through the CommonApp and incorporating every bit of your experience and creativity in your application to make it stand out.

Now, it’s 100%, ABSOLUTELY normal to feel scared when applying to the USA, because you are pittered into a war against the finest of youth all across the globe, and you have to make sure everything about your application- your standardized exam scores, your English proficiency, your grades and (most importantly) your essays, and even to some extent your social media profiles (yes, no joke) scream the word “PERFECT”. So, yes, I’ll reiterate, it’s absolutely normal.

I mean, Spider-Man literally toyed with the multiverse and risked his life just to convince the MIT admissions team.

Jokes aside, although the process is daunting, a happy outcome can turn months, heck years, of hard work become joyous memories you can reflect upon later. But to make sure the hard work is worth it, you need to work hard and smart, and I am here to help you by sharing EVERYTHING I did to make it into a top-tier university like Princeton.

Now, before we begin, I must say that my application was not perfect, not even nearly as good as many who applied globally with me, because many top tiers and mid tiers rejected me (thank you NYU for at least letting me hang around for a while with a waitlist). But since the admissions committee at Princeton liked me ~(UwU)~ I feel like sharing my profile with you might help you build a stronger application.

So, let’s get started!

1) HOW DO THE ADMISSIONS OFFICERS DETERMINE WHO TO ACCEPT/WAITLIST/REJECT?

Ans: So let’s address the elephant in the room first. This is a common question every US applicant asks, and so did I. And then the answer to that question is extremely harrowing as well.

To be honest, the US admissions process ultimately depends on whether the admissions officers like you and your representation of yourself. It is kind of subjective, and even depends on the mood and health of the officer (no kidding at all). That is very saddening because no matter how hard you work, it all depends on whether the admissions officer likes you or not. But do not fret. If you can work smart and prepare a coherent application, one that speaks of your interests, desires, and dreams, represents you perfectly, and makes your application memorable in the eyes of the admissions officer (I’ll just call them ‘AO’ from now, hopefully, that will help!).

2) MY GRADES & STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES:

Now that we know how the AOs determine who to admit and who to waitlist or reject, let’s now get through the criteria used for the initial screening- Grades and Standardized Test Scores.

I went to Scholastica, Uttara. My school followed the British-patterned CIE syllabus. Throughout high school, I mostly got A*s and As, with a few Bs here and there. I took 8 subjects in my O Levels and got 8 A*s, and I took 4 subjects in my AS Levels and got 4 As.

I took the SAT; I chose it over the ACT because SAT is more recognized in my country. The first time I took it, I got a 1460. I was in 11th grade back then, and I retook it when I got into Grade 12. I got 1460 again, but this time it superscored to a 1500.

I also took TOEFL as a test for English Proficiency, although it was not necessary as this criterion is fulfilled by 4 years of study in an English medium school. Yet I took it, and I got a 106/120 on the internet-based version of the test.

TIPS: Grades and scores are important, but for US applicants, this is not what an AO’s decision depends on, not solely at least. However, there is always an initial screening that filters out certain applicants, and that is where grades and test scores matter most.

Try to keep a steady and upwards trend in your transcripts. Remember, a few Bs will not ruin your chances, but higher grades always look attractive. As for standardized tests, it’s best to know beforehand which test you are more comfortable with. Try ‘Crack SAT’ or ‘Crack ACT’ to take diagnostic tests of both types, and check which one suits you. Though almost everyone in Bangladesh takes the SAT, you could have a different choice and take the ACT! And as for English proficiency tests, I encourage you to take them even if you are from an English medium background. Try taking the TOEFL even though it’s harder than IELTS and less accessible in our country. I suggest so because TOEFL uses American English while IELTS uses British English (You get it right?)

3) AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

If you have already signed up on Common Application (or CommonApp), you might have come across the ‘Honors’ section where you need to write about five of your accomplishments. I’ll instruct you later on how to tackle that section, for now, I’ll limit my post to simply stating the awards I mentioned and a few words of advice.

So the five awards I mentioned in the Awards section, in descending order, are as follows:

i) Runners-Up in Scholastica Science Fair 2021 (Level: International):

So our amazing Science Club EB members from the 2020-21 session arranged the first ever international level science fair, where our team consisting of me and two of my friends brought home the Runners-Up trophy.

ii) Bronze prize in Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Writing Competition 2021 (Level: International):

I took part in last year’s Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Writing Competition where I wrote a HUUGEE essay on the topic: Discuss the following: ‘ “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” – Coretta Scott King.’ (I will be sharing my essay with you soon ;))

Now while a bronze prize in QCEC is really not something to boast about, I believe it gave my application a boost because I love writing and this was something major in my application. At the end, I do think the addition of this award bolstered my application.

iii) Senior Category 2nd prize in ZRF Virtual Science Fair 2020 (Level: National):

Another Science fair award, as science really is my forte. I designed a solar-powered Arduino Agrobot (Agricultural robot) since I wanted to help the economy of Bangladesh recover from the deadly blows of the Covid-19 pandemic. I prepared a schematic of the robot, provided codes for building an app to control it, and presented the project in front of Professors from different universities across Bangladesh. No flex, but hey let me have my moment…

iv) 2nd prize in Mastermind Interschool Maths Fiesta 2021 (Level: National):

And yet another science-related award (Yes, math is related to science). So my team and I went on to participate in two different categories- Mathventure, which was a team vs team competition, and CalcCombat, which was a school vs school competition. I still remember the adrenaline rush during CalcCombat because it was a race against time, and those are fond memories now.

v) 1st Runners-Up in NDIURC SagaCity 2.0 2021 (Level: National):

As you can see, science and writing were rather the front-runners in my resume, at least as reflected by my awards list. This last award was a last-second submission for me when one of my friends studying at Notre Dame College- one of the best educational institutions in Bangladesh- informed me about this opportunity to really show my love for films by competing in a film-review category. I wrote a review for the film Todd Phillips’ Joker, and well things fell into place.

More awards I included in the ‘Additional Information’ section:

i) Achieved 'High Honours' for outstanding results in school exams- Grade: 9,10,11. (and then 12)

ii) Batch highest in Economics, Grade 10.

iii) Published 3 articles on Covid-19 & Euro2020, 2 in The Bangladesh Today & 1 in The Financial Express.

iv) Won Best Delegate in Scholastica Model UN, Committee: UNHCR, national level, Grade:10.

v) Officers Club Dhaka 'Medhabi Sontan Songbordhona 2020' (Meritorious Child 2020)- received crest and medal from Mr. Md. Tajul Islam, Hon'ble Minister of Local Government and Rural Development of Bangladesh, for an excellent result in O Levels, national level, Grade 12 (ceremony delayed by a year due to pandemic)

ADVICE: Although your awards do not have to be related to your major, it’s probably good if it is because then it shows your dedication to that subject. Also, I’d recommend looking up every opportunity out there, be it national or school-level achievement, and the higher the level, the more likely it is to attract the AO. There’s another factor called a ‘spike’, which I’ll be talking about in detail under the ‘Extracurricular Activities’ section.

4) EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:

On to the more fun part (or should I say, stressful part?). Now let me tell you, extracurriculars are EXTREMELY EXTREMELY important for US applications, probably the most important for Ivies and top tiers. ECAs are what differentiates students at top tiers because their grades are pretty similar. I’ll upload another post soon on how to complete this section, for now, I’ll just list my activities.

i) Scholastica Science Club (Grade 10 to 12):

I became a member of the Scholastica Science Club back in 10th grade and was elected as the club’s secretary back in Grade 12. We basically worked on science-related research, taught our members, mentored them, and as a Secretary, I had to record attendance and file documentation.

ii) Scholastica Mathematics Club (11 and 12):

I became a member of the Scholastica Mathematics Club and then went on to win the election for the role of Vice President. We organized events like the Scholastica Intra School Maths Competition (which was the largest intra-school competition ever in the history of our school). We also taught complex mathematical concepts to our members and led research on complex topics.

iii) Student Government (Prefect and Student Councilor; Grade 9 and 10 respectively):

One thing I can proudly say about myself (lol) is that I have been a good student and a good human being, one who is the paradigm of an excellent student in the eyes of my teachers. I have served the roles of class monitor and student councilor since Grade 5. Okay enough with the boasting.

So back in Grade 9, my Principal selected me as a class prefect. And in Grade 10, I served as a Student Councilor for the first half (because in the second term, our schools shut down, courtesy of Covid-19). My duty was basically to organize the morning assembly, check if the students are participating in the assembly or not, and then escort them back to their classes. I also had lunch break duties in the cafeteria, where I ensured discipline. Yeah, classic Robocop style.

iv) Scholastica Amnesty International Human Rights Club (Grade 12):

Thanks to my juniors who included me as a founding member of the club, I became the first Secretary in the club’s history (oohh damn, bro).

Our work was primarily to teach club members the importance of preserving human rights, prepare projects, raise charity and organize events. We also grew the club to 73 members.

v) Internship at Thengamara Mohila Shobuj Shangha (TMSS) Bangladesh (Grade 12):

Next up, we have the most fun activity. My internship with TMSS was an online one, followed by 3-4 days of field work at the district Bogura, Bangladesh. I basically worked on managing supplies for charity, tutored underprivileged students, contacted suppliers, and along the way had a lot of fun. Honestly was honoured to receive the certificate of excellence from the founder of TMSS, Dr. Professor Hosne Ara Begum.

vi) Cancer Together Dhaka (Class 11 and 12):

Community servicing is something I love participating in, and with Cancer Together Dhaka, I really got an opportunity to help people afflicted by the deadly disease. We created awareness, promoted cancer research, raised charity for victims of cancer, and even reached out to hospitals that required medical equipments.

vii) Words From My Notebook (Class 11 and 12):

SHOUT OUT TO MY BLOG! This blog was a passion project for me for a long time, and when one of my friends started his blog, I followed and started my own. My ultimate goal was to share my love for films with people, and also to share some random write-ups I wrote using words from the deepest recesses of my mind. Today, it is still a platform that I use to channel my thoughts and voice my opinions, and one that I’ll use to help people around the world to get into top-tier colleges. Ohh, yes, along the way I also learned how to build and design websites.

viii) Unstitched Women’s Tapestry (Class 11 and 12):

I joined UWT as a content writer, and my primary purpose was to write articles based on topics like feminine hygiene, gender-based violence, and mental health. I raised awareness of STDs and also promoted women’s rights. Shoutout to our President Tayieba Rahemin, this organization has helped me learn about taboo topics and even teach other people.

ix) Scholastica Voice Club (Class 9,10,11):

I became a member of the Scholastica Voice Club ever since its inception. Again, I really love writing, and I found Voice to be my primary platform for voicing my opinions. In Grade 11, I became the Editor of the Bangla column and edited Bangla write-ups. I even led projects on Teacher’s Day and Scholastica’s Foundation Day on behalf of the Voice Club.

x) Scholars in Communication by Harvard Student’s Agency Tutoring Partnerships (in partnership with Learn With Leaders) (Class 11):

Sign up for this program if you can! I was one of the two Bangladeshi students participating in the program. It was a capstone project held over 4 sessions, each every Saturday. We were basically tutored on how to deliver TEDx-styled speeches, and in week 4, we had to present our own speeches. The program costs $290 but is worth it.

TIPS: YOU NEED TO HAVE A SPIKE.

Now, what’s a ‘spike’? A spike is basically when you concentrate on 2-3 categories of ECA and present at least 2-3 activities related to that category. Closer attention to my activities list will help you realize that my activities can be categorized into three categories- science, community servicing, and writing, with the Harvard one a little different.

Spikes are extremely important, and they raise an applicant’s chances of getting in. This is because AOs want to build a well-rounded class; they don’t want well-rounded applicants. Moreover, 2-3 activities related to a single type of ECA shows dedication, and dedication plays a huge role in college applications. So try developing spikes. The best way to do so is by starting as early as possible and then discovering your interests.

Remember, your ECAs do not have to be related to your intended major, but mine was, and maybe it might’ve helped me (Not sure about that tho ;-;). Also, as mentioned before, if your awards can also be related to your spike, it gives a definite boost.

Another important thing to keep in mind: Colleges want potential changemakers. They want students who have had an impact on their society, so that they can continue making impacts (and ultimately bring the college money and fame). Hence, taking initiative in one’s own milieu is important. Activities that can be considered impactful are raising charity, feeding underprivileged people, etc.

Another thing that I believe corroborated my love for writing was my publications in local newspapers. Moreover, my write-ups were based on important topics like how crucial vaccines are in order to fight through the pandemic, and I believe this showed my affinity for research, which is again another plus point in a college application.

So, that’s all for this post! I’ll definitely come back with a post soon on how to fill up the CommonApp. Till then, tata!