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SAT I: 1340
SAT II: not taken yet but expecting 700-800 in French and Writing, 700 maybe Match IIC
GPA: 4.2
7 APs
top 17% in most competitive public high school in my state


Horrible sophomore year grades: 2 semester Cs and one semester D, the rest As except for 2 Bs but VERY SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: school play in school that works with a community theatre with a very high reputation, lead role in historical play with dialect and 100+ lines, first play ever been in, rehearsals till 9 every night and till 12 two weeks before the play, while in first period class and in an extracurricular club that met once a week, one AP and the rest honors

Junior year grades: next to perfect -- 2 B's the entire year with three APs, extra 1st and 8th period classes, performed in THREE plays with the same and worse rehearsal schedules, community volunteer work, and tech theater class requiring 30 hours outside work per semester

lead roles in 5 high school plays of a high caliber (since it is a community theater as well)

probably best high school theater program in state, maybe entire region of U.S.

Major NYC publisher is publishing my collection of short stories this fall

exclusive university summer theater programs (Duke, NYU) with very few applicants accepted (at NYU 8 male, 8 female acceptances out of 400+ applicants)

weekly music lessons

founder of a capella group

extensive arts resume

400+ volunteer hours, will be about 1000 by graduation

taught art, music, theater classes to young kids every summer for every summer since 8th grade at a local camp

volunteer in local community and university theaters as an usher, regularly

babysitting

planning on getting a job for senior year if it works with my arts schedule

despite bad grades, many academic honors - mostly in french and english since those are my best subjects

skipped a lot of french classes based on test results, which had never been done for students at my school before except native speakers (I'm not one)


I've got two teachers lined up who will give EXCELLENT RECOMMENDATIONS, one of them in whose class I made a C and D during sophomore year but now have As in Precal, also am going to use optional reference form for my drama teacher, who wrote great recs for summer programs

With all this... what are my chances at Princeton? Should I just not even apply with my 3 screwed-up grades? I'm planning on applying ED and including an arts resume with my app.

Any other suggestions on how to make my application shine? I really need help... I feel like I can't compete ANYWHERE just because of my grades. My guidance counselor and friends reassure me but I'm looking for other input..
Should I send in anything else with my application? DO anything extra? Help!

What if I don't get into school ANYwhere?!?!

By Dave Berry on Sunday, April 28, 2002 - 04:09 pm: Edit

>>What if I don't get into school ANYwhere?!?!<<

If you apply to a carefully selected group of candidates, Rianna, your chances for this happening are approaching zero. As for the majority of Princeton aspirants, I'd say that you should consider it a stretch. However, with the right approach to your application presentation, especially your essays and short responses, I'd say you have a chance to profile yourself with the late-bloomer or Comeback Kid hook, which could catch Princeton's eye.

If you want to get some good ideas on how to handle a Princeton (or other) application, check out the book America's Elite Colleges co-authored by yours truly. Best wishes, Rianna. If you need help at application time, let us know.

By Rianna Lind on Sunday, April 28, 2002 - 05:13 pm: Edit

Thanks! I'll let you know.

By Rianna Lind on Sunday, April 28, 2002 - 10:21 pm: Edit

I also forgot to add some other stuff... I play varsity tennis and am going to states this fall, also I am extremely active in my school's vocal music department and am in an honors choir and a state honors choir. Also I am going to be taking a second language through a local state college ranked as one of the "public ivies."

Will these help?

By Dave Berry on Monday, April 29, 2002 - 11:12 am: Edit

Obviously, Rianna, these activities won't hurt! State-level honors, such as your tennis and choir, are always an eye-catcher. If your tennis is good enough for DI competition, so much the better. Has your coach done any advance promotional work for you? If not, maybe he should place some inquiries to attract some interest.