For the past years at high school I feel like I tanked. I’m in accelerated courses for my grade but not in Honors/AP/IB. My grades really went down due to my mom having stage 3 breast cancer during high school and it really tripped me up. I’m starting to get school back on track for my junior year. I have around a 3.0-3.1 GPA and I’m in a few college courses but not AP ones (ones they offer through a credit program through a few universities). Next year I plan on taking a good amount of AP’s for my senior year and I will be taking my sat soon. I have a good amount of extracurricular and volunteer Work. Please let me know if it’s still possible to do good in life or if a amazing college essay has any help.
Are you asking specifically about Princeton or about colleges in general? (This thread is in the Princeton forum, which is why I’m confused.)
Princeton may be out, as it is for >90% of applicants, but there are colleges that would love to have you.
My apologies I didn’t realize I was in the Princeton section (I’m kinda new to this website)
Yeah, it’s possible. Your GPA is going to be below what top-flight colleges look for. And while you definitely had extenuating circumstances, it’ll still hurt you. If you do wonderfully on the SAT, or if you have any really cool ECs, or write some great essays, you can still get in to a lot of great places. If you get some combination, then you can get into an even better one. Keep your grades as high as you can. That’ll show colleges that although you had a tough time with your mom, you’re able to get through it. Study hard for things, it’s still very possible for you to go somewhere great.