<p>I have a few questions, and would appreciate any help.</p>
<p>First of all, I know that Princeton is definitely a Reach school for me - mainly due to my lacking involvement in school activitities. However, I've held a job for the past year and a half, and I've been working around 30 hours a week at a four star restaurant since May. Will the admissions officers take this into consideration? I've also tested out of three courses, and dual enrolled since last January at a community college, if that adds anything. </p>
<p>(Here is my grades and stats, if they help.)</p>
<p>GPA: 3.83
ACT: 33
AP Classes Taken - AP Calc BC (4 on BC, 5 on AB), AP Language (5), and AP Biology (3)
Current AP Classes - Literature, Psych, Statistics, Physics (expecting 5's for at least 3)
Clubs - Treasurer of NHS, leader of VEX robotics team for a year, I volunteer to help Yearbook
Other - Work at Holly Hotel (25-35 hours weekly) and I also help my mother's candle shop for a few days a week. </p>
<p>Thanks for all the help!</p>
<p>I would also appreciate anyone who would like to read through my finished Common App essay; I'm a bit proud of it, but I want to make sure I got my point across completely.</p>
<p>I won’t be 18 until April. Without a doubt I’m working over the state limit, but considering my parents aren’t contributing to college and I have living expenses to upkeep, it’s kind of necessary. Granted, I’m not supporting my family with my income - just bolstering my savings account and paying off my car, gas, cloths etc.</p>
<p>Working that much is definitely not illegal. I work that much, and in the summer a minor can still work 40 hours per week - maybe up to 45. Yes, working will be taken into consideration. However, working and NOT supporting your family (i.e., not working because your socioeconomic status demands it) will NOT “make up for” your grades or involvement in other ECs. You are working because you want to, not because you need to. School is supposed to be your primary focus as a teenager and colleges will still consider your grades, SAT scores, and ECs primarily. On the other hand, low-income students occasionally get a break on grades, SAT scores, and ECs when they work as much as you because they often have no choice. I don’t think working that much will help you or hurt you, but it definitely won’t compensate for another portion of your application.</p>
<p>EDIT: Wow. I completely misread your last post. What I said still stands, but you would be able to think of it in reverse, potentially (if your family’s income is low enough).</p>