Any Advice for a Freshman in High School

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
1

Hi, I am currently a freshman in high school at probably one of the most recognized schools in California according to the world report. That being said, it is a pretty hard school, and it is also small (my class of 2019 has about 200 students in it. I Have big dreams and I was wondering if you guys could give me some advice for the road.

Classes This Year-
Geometry (Pre-Cal next year- I am taking algebra 2 this summer)
Biology
English
Spanish 1
PE (required for all freshman)
Ceramics One
World Cultures and Geography (elective class, no freshman have history as an academic class)

Classes Next Year-
Pre-Cal (no honors or ap offered)
Honors Chem
Spanish 2 (no honors or ap offered)
English (no honors or ap offered)
Law and Society
Modern World History (no honors of ap offered)
Weightlifiting
Ceramics 2

History has always been my favorite so I will for sure take AP history as a junior and a senior.

Extra Curriculars- Have always loved basketball, and plan to be a captain on varsity by the time I am a senior. I want to do something with perhaps building basketball courts for less fortunate kids or anything of that matter (I live in Oakland and there are a lot of poor areas). I’ll also be in Student body next year and junior year I’ll be in national honor society. As I did last year I will be returning to Mexico to build houses for less fortunate. Church is also a large part of my life. Avid guitar player.

Myself-
Black
Male

Any advice for me? Everything is appreciated

2

@ballboy45

My advice:

  1. Do interesting things.
  2. Enjoy school, while you take the hardest classes you can enjoy and can do well in (well = all A's)
  3. Your E.C.'s are generic (basketball, community service, church), keep doing them if you enjoy them, but they won't be enough
  4. See if you can create an innovative combo of your interests (e.g. An innovative community service that combines basketball and at risk oakland youths)
  5. You need to something "interesting" that differentiates you. Princeton will have hundreds of straight A, full of APs black males that love basketball, church and community service who will apply, why should they let you in? What is compelling about you? How are you different?

Good news you have three years to answer these questions. Do not “fake” being interesting, adcoms can tell. Be interesting and the rest will follow.

Good luck!

3

Also, invest in your writing skills and finding your voice. Well-written, interesting essays are critical to your application.

4

Thanks so much!

5

Make sure your volunteer work in Mexico is paralleled by similar volunteer work in your community. You don’t want it to look like you’re 'doing good in exotic places, not bothering with people in need nearby '. This is a huge pet peeve in competitive admissions. Build some consistency into your profile.