Articles / Applying to College / Ivy League Chances for Squash Player

Ivy League Chances for Squash Player

Written by Sally Rubenstone | Sept. 28, 2003

Question: My GPA is on the rise--from a 3.3. in 9th grade to a 4.0 last year when I was a junior. Will this be sufficient to get me into Princeton and other Ivy schools, if I am also a recruited athlete for squash, or will my freshman average hurt my chances ?

It's hard to evaluate your chances at Princeton and other elite colleges without knowing a lot more about you. Sounds like you're an excellent candidate for a College Confidential Stats Evaluation. At only $89, it's a deal; go to http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_counseling/college_counseling.htmto sign up.

However, with the understanding that we could be off base due to lack of adequate information, we would have to say that there are four key words in your question: recruited athlete for squash.

If, indeed, squash coaches are coming after you, then that will play a big part in landing favorable admission decisions. Of course, there is a big difference between being good enough (in your own humble opinion) to play squash at Princeton (and at other comparable colleges) and having a coach drooling to get you there.

We don't know if you've taken the most demanding classes in your school or if you've fared well on AP exams. These will be factors in your admission outscomes. We don't know your SATs, either. However, if they are above about 1350 and your academic record has risen as you describe and includes most of the challenging classes offered at your high school, with a coach's push, you would certainly be in the ballpark for many top colleges. But, again, there are lots of variables and we have access to few of them.

We do urge you to consider that Stats Eval for a clearer picture. In addition, if you haven't done so already, try the College Confidential Academic Index Calculator at: http://www.collegeconfidential.com/academic_index.htm.

Meanwhile, if those squash coaches aren't already beating a path to your door, make sure that you (or your current coach) get in touch with them so that you can tout your talents and, at the same time, find out just how hot a prospect you are.

Sally Rubenstone

Sally Rubenstone knows the competitive and often convoluted college admission process inside out: From the first time the topic of college comes up at the dinner table until the last duffel bag is unloaded on a dorm room floor. She is the co-author of Panicked Parents' Guide to College Admissions; The Transfer Student's Guide to Changing Colleges and The International Student's Guide to Going to College in America. Sally has appeared on NBC's Today program and has been quoted in countless publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Weekend, USA Today, U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek, People and Seventeen. Sally has viewed the admissions world from many angles: As a Smith College admission counselor for 15 years, an independent college counselor serving students from a wide range of backgrounds and the author of College Confidential's "Ask the Dean" column. She also taught language arts, social studies, study skills and test preparation in 10 schools, including American international schools in London, Paris, Geneva, Athens and Tel Aviv. As senior advisor to College Confidential since 2002, Sally has helped hundreds of students and parents navigate the college admissions maze. In 2008, she co-founded College Karma, a private college consulting firm, with her College Confidential colleague Dave Berry, and she continues to serve as a College Confidential advisor. Sally and her husband, Chris Petrides, became first-time parents in 1997 at the ripe-old age of 45. So Sally was nearly an official senior citizen when her son Jack began the college selection process, and when she was finally able to practice what she had preached for more than three decades.