Princeton University

Princeton University: Saarthak Chaturvedi

Podcast Transcript

Transcript organized for clarity and readability

Attendees:
Saarthak Chaturvedi, Ashish Bhargava

Ashish Bhargava:
Saarthak, welcome. We are thrilled to have you on our podcast. We want to learn more about you as an applicant and as an individual to help other applicants currently thinking about colleges. Whether they're just starting their high school journey or they are seniors ready to start putting together their applications, learning from your success can help them see how they can replicate it. So, to begin with, could you share a bit about your background and what inspires you?

Saarthak Chaturvedi:
Hi, I'm Saarthak. Thank you for having me. I'm happy to be here and help as much as I can. A little about my background: I grew up in Jaipur, India, and attended JCB International School, where we studied the IB curriculum. Coming from a business-oriented family, I always had a competitive nature and an enterprising, creative personality. I started engaging myself in computer science at about 12 years old, building websites, then apps. High school was a great learning experience, particularly in computer science, which was central to everything I did.

My parents and grandparents, who come from different walks of life and places, have been a significant inspiration. They provided me with opportunities and comfort, for which I'm very grateful. Their effort and hard work to provide for their family inspire me to take things to the next level—from a small village to New Delhi and now from New Delhi to the United States.

Ashish Bhargava:
That's awesome, Saarthak. So right now, you're at Princeton. Tell us about where you are in your journey.

Saarthak Chaturvedi:
Right, I got accepted to Princeton University in 2021 and just finished my junior year. I'll be a senior this fall, studying computer science and working on entrepreneurship. I founded my own company two years ago at Princeton, and that's been my primary focus. I'm still excited by and engaged with technology and computer science, aiming to create an impact on the world and the environment.

Ashish Bhargava:
Thanks for sharing your background. Let's go back to your application journey. When did you decide to aim for the Ivy League, and why?

Saarthak Chaturvedi:
That's a good question. It started very early for me, probably earlier than for most people. I was close to my siblings, who were going through the application process when I was still in middle school. My brother got into Princeton, his dream school, and he was a computer science major. He has always been a mentor to me, helping me make the right decisions. That introduced me to Princeton, and I was always ambitious, aiming for the Ivy Leagues, influenced by my high school environment, family, and elder siblings.

Ashish Bhargava:
Wow, it must have been great to get into your dream school. How many colleges did you apply to, and what was your yield?

Saarthak Chaturvedi:
I applied to five colleges and got into two, so my yield was 40%. I applied to Princeton, Yale, Harvard, MIT, and Stanford. I got accepted to Yale early on, so I withdrew from other schools like UC Berkeley, UCLA, Georgia Tech, and USC because I wouldn't have gone there over Yale.

Ashish Bhargava:
That's an elite list. What was your selection criteria?

Saarthak Chaturvedi:
My selection criteria were pretty complex. I wrote an algorithm to rate each category I cared about and scored each university. Categories included academic prowess, personal preference, culture, and vibes. For me, Princeton and Stanford stood out. I wanted an academically rigorous school, particularly strong in STEM and computer science. Personal preferences also played a significant role, like the school's culture and environment.

Ashish Bhargava:
Got it. What about your application statistics? What were your SAT scores and class rank?

Saarthak Chaturvedi:
My SAT score was 1590, and I had an 800 on the physics SAT subject test. We didn't have a GPA system in my high school, but I had a 97.4% in my IGCSE exams, where I took 11 subjects and scored A* in all of them. In my final two years, I did the IB curriculum and ended up with a perfect 45/45. My class rank was first.

Ashish Bhargava:
That's impressive. What role do you think luck plays in the admission process?

Saarthak Chaturvedi:
Luck plays a significant role. Despite how hard you work, getting accepted into elite schools with low acceptance rates involves a lot of luck. You can be brilliant and still get rejected. It's essential to work hard and control what you can, but also understand that luck is a factor.

Ashish Bhargava:
What advice would you give to high school students balancing schoolwork and extracurricular activities?

Saarthak Chaturvedi:
Stop trying to do everything. Focus on a few things you are passionate about and excel in them. Colleges are looking for students who are exceptional in specific areas, not just good at many things. Prioritize your mental health and invest time in meaningful activities that showcase your strengths and interests.

Ashish Bhargava:
Thanks for that perspective. Let's talk about application essays. How did you approach writing your essays, and what aspects did you highlight?

Saarthak Chaturvedi:
Be honest and genuine. The purpose of your essay is not to impress but to express who you are. Admissions officers have read thousands of essays and can spot insincerity. I wrote my Common App essay about my skin condition and how it shaped me. It's essential to connect with the reader and make them care about you as a person. Focus on storytelling and how your experiences have made you who you are.

Ashish Bhargava:
That's such great advice. Thank you, Saarthak, for sharing your journey and insights. It's been enlightening, and I'm sure our listeners will find it very helpful.

Saarthak Chaturvedi:
Thank you for having me. It's been a pleasure.

Ashish Bhargava:
Thank you for your time, Saarthak.