Is it enough?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
1

<p>So I am really interested in going to an Ivy League and Princeton is my top choice. My grades are pretty good, I take the hardest courses possible (except in math I'm in the second hardest) and am earning A's in almost all (8th grade year: spanish 1, and Honors Algebra 1. freshman year: Honors English, Bio, Geometry, and World History 1; as well as art, spanish 2, and gym. sophomore year: Honors English, Chem, Algebra 2; fashion marketing, gym, spanish 3, and AP World History), I earned a B+ in Honors Bio freshman year. I'm a sophomore and my classes next year are some of the most rigorous of everyone's. My school doesn't do rankings, but just from talking with people I'm most likely in the top 10%. For extracurriculars I don't really do a whole lot through my school just because there is nothing that I really like. However freshmen and this year I played field hockey, I was jv this year, but I won't be able to play in the fall because I tore my acl... this means playing senior year will be a stretch.</p>

<p>I am a competitive dancer outside of school and am in my studio's dance company (you have to be invited) I do that for about 10 hours a week so that takes up a lot of time. I am also in Girls Scouts and have been since I was 5 and have earned by bronze and silver awards and am currently working on my gold. This year I joined my schools junior math league and am planning on joining the senior one next year. I also won first place at my school's National History Day (NHD) competition as well as regionals and states and am competing at nationals (NHD is an in depth history research competition). Next year I am planning on joining two honor societies and have already been accepted in student government.</p>

<p>However the one place I am lacking is summer programs. Freshmen year I wasn't able to do much as field hockey started in august and my family and I took a 2 week vacation to Hawaii so I could learn about the culture since I was born there. This summer I am having ACL surgery mid July so I won't be able to do much, however I do have a week internship as a Congressional Aide.</p>

<p>I just don't know if all of this is enough. Or if I need to do more.</p>

2

<p>I think you’re on track. Don’t sweat the B+. Princeton takes out freshman year when calculating GPA anyway.</p>

<p>I’m a dancer and Girl Scout too. Both are awesome extracurriculars and show long term commitment. :slight_smile: So sorry about your ACL!</p>

<p>But anyway, chance threads are better post SAT and AP exam scores. It’s hard to say anything definite before that. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Since these colleges are so competitive, it’s impossible to know whether or not an individual person will get in or not. Since I’m also just a high school student, I don’t know how much advice I can give. What I’ve heard repeatedly in info sessions of ivies and other top colleges is that it is better to have a couple extracurriculars that you are passionate about instead of a bunch or random things. It sounds like you are very committed to dance, which is good. One important thing is to have leadership positions in your extracurricular activities if you don’t already.</p>

<p>As for academics, if you’re taking the hardest courses possible and doing well, you’re in good shape. One thing I read in a college admissions book is to show that you are passionate about learning, not just a person who is a hard worker and gets good grades.</p>

<p>Other than that, study hard for your standardized tests, write some good essays, and see what happens.</p>

4

<p>“What I’ve heard repeatedly in info sessions of ivies and other top colleges is that it is better to have a couple extracurriculars that you are passionate about instead of a bunch or random things.”</p>

<p>This is very true! And it doesn’t even matter that much what it/they are. I applied with an intended major of math and my big ECs were all music related (hardly any math).</p>