“There has been an update made to your application status.”
These words spark an automatic adrenaline rush in the hearts of many seniors, whether it’s because of an acceptance, rejection or waitlist they’ve endured. But even though senior Krish Bharwani has gone through all three of those outcomes, only one really mattered.
After applying to 12 different colleges across the country, varying in program strength and prestige, Bharwani was finally given his final answer on March 26, with an acceptance to Princeton University.
“I began the ‘college app process’ during my freshman year, really,” Bharwani said. “I knew to be mindful of the components that make a successful college application early on, so that influenced the activities I participated in and the classes I took for most of high school. But it was less about explicitly planning every action during high school and more about being aware of the opportunities that could be valuable.”
Bharwani applied to the University of Houston, The University of Texas at Austin, New York University, Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Rice University, Northwestern University, the University of California – Berkeley, the University of California – Los Angeles, the University of California – Irvine, the University of California – San Diego and Princeton University.
“I chose schools based [on] program strength and location,” Bharwani said. “Some schools I just applied to because the application was easy to submit, though.”
The notification of Bharwani’s application decision came to him in an email while he was attending the DECA End-of-Year Banquet and Awards Ceremony, a club he is president of.
“After we wrapped up the banquet, I returned home, anxious to open the application,” Bharwani said. “Clicking the update revealed the large head of a tiger — Princeton’s mascot. [At that] moment, time seemed to slow down, so it took me a moment to register ‘CONGRATULATIONS!’ written in bold, orange letters and tucked away under the tiger.”
Bharwani was rejected from MIT the week before, so he had been bracing for a similar result from Princeton.
“I could feel the adrenaline rushing into my head, and I just remember yelling ‘I GOT IN,” Bharwani said. “I opened the decision in front of my mom, so she was the first person I told. After her, though, I called my brother. They were both extremely excited.”
This acceptance marks the first time since 2015 that a student from the school has been accepted to an Ivy League university on the basis of academics.
“I’ve enjoyed my senior year,” Bharwani said. “The first semester was especially demanding, mostly because I decided to put my essays off until the last minute. As we approach graduation, [though], work has begun to loosen its grip, allowing more time to be spent with friends and family.”
Bharwani credits his experiences in high school for some of his success.
“High school has definitely helped me become more independent — how I choose my classes, when I decide to study, when I decide to spend time having fun and more,” Bharwani said. “I think that independence will matter even more in college.”
Since Princeton was Bharwani’s dream school, he committed to the school immediately after receiving his acceptance.
“I’m planning to spend my time before university relaxing by spending time with friends, family and enjoying hobbies purely for recreation and fun,” Bharwani said. “I’m excited for the number of resources available at Princeton — both for learning but also the ones that cater to building new hobbies.”
An important aspect of college admissions is the unpredictability of some factors, such as essays, extracurricular activities and what a specific university wants in an applicant.
“I would tell [my younger self] not to worry too much about outcomes,” Bharwani said. “It’s really important to know that being you, and doing your best, is all you can do — and you’ll end up where you’re meant to be.”
