<p>UcMary I am no expert. But I do have a daughter at Princeton. Princeton in particular is making an effort, under the leadership of Shirley Tilghman, to leave the "This Side of Paradise" stereotype behind. They are growing the school and will admit more kids over the next few years. When I visited Princeton - I'm an alum - for Admit Weekend with my daughter, I was struck by how much progress had been made in diversifying the school. </p>
<p>I don't know, but could certainly imagine, that Princeton would be thrilled to have a kid like yours. How to say this. Growing up African American in America, upper middle class or not, is still different from growing up white and upper middle class. Schools that are looking for top students also want top students who bring a different perspective. So who your daughter is, her interests, her sense of self, that will matter. That may be evidenced by ECs. But it may be evidenced by her essays and recommendations.</p>
<p>All the usual caveats apply. She should have safeties etc etc. And now that Princeton has given up ED, showing interest and intent to attend I bet will make a lot more difference.</p>
<p>But certainly support her dream, just do what we all have to do, build a list from the bottom up.</p>
<p>Daughter is very mature and will interview well, I'm hoping this will help at schools that still interview. Her teachers will say she is at the top of her class in terms of intellect and scholarship. This is a tough group, about one-third will go to very top colleges. So I don't want to sell her short, but she is not one of the major leaders or "shakers" at her school.</p>
<p>Just like Alumother, I have to make the disclaimer that I'm no expert. But I, for one, think she has a strong shot at Wellesley. I'm an alum - Econ major - and later got a Stanford MBA. I'm older than the hills at this point ;), but I think the situation still is that Wellesley has a stellar track record in sending its grads into top grad schools as well as into business and industry.</p>
<p>Re the "tough group" that are her current peers.... will your D get strong recommendations, do you believe? Excellent teacher recs, GC report and her own stats and essays, combined with her URM status, will - I think - be what she needs more than being a mover and shaker at the school.</p>
<p>UCMary, I think you can divide the application into three parts: first, statistical -- grades, scores, rank. The ideal applicant is at the top of all three lists, but in reality it's okay to have a weakness in one of these statistical areas as long as you make it up somewhere else. Second, subjective elements -- essays, recommendations, extracurriculars, resumes, interviews. These will flesh out the statistics.</p>
<p>Third, hooks. What makes the applicant especially appealing to the college. It can be diversity -- racial, economic, sexual, geographic, cultural. It can be an extreme EC, the best of the best. It can be whatever sets you apart from the other high achieving accomplished kids.</p>
<p>From what you've told us about you daughter it sounds as if she'll have strengths and weaknesses in both the statistical and subjective categories. It will be her goal in the next year or two to really strengthen the areas that she can control. And to think about how to enhance the "what makes her special" part of her profile.</p>
<p>I work in international business and most of the really successful people whom I encounter do not have traditional MBAs or even business undergraduate degrees. Some have gone to selective colleges, some to big state U's. They've majored in everything from engineering to botany. What they have in common is an intense curiosity, a facility to communicate orally and verbally across cultures, and an insatiate drive for hard work. Even on the CEO or ambassador level these people tend to be watchers and analyzers more than movers and shakers. I would concentrate less on studying for a career in international business than I would on preparing to live the life: read, travel, learn languages, be aware of cultural and religious differences.</p>
<p>Safeties usually fall into line once you have identified your top reaches and matches. Whatever qualities that attract you to the more selectives will also be apparent in the less selectives -- e.g., size, location, study body personality.</p>