<p>I am a rising high school senior from Massachusetts who is completing my last two years of high school by taking a full college course load at Harvard Universitys Extension School. I am a ballet dancer and dance professionally with a company in Boston. I am also a competitive figure skater and compete at fairly advanced levels in individual free-style and ice dancing. </p>
<p>My first year of high school was completed at a very competitive public high school where I took the maximum number of honor courses and received all As. In my second year I attended a well-respected arts conservatory (for ballet) with a very good college preparatory program and again received all As.</p>
<p>This last year at Harvard I completed a program that included Calculus A and B; a 300-level World History class; Expository Writing; a 300-level Conversational Spanish course; Bio-chemistry and Earth Science courses and a course in the English novel. My unweighted GPA is 3.75. </p>
<p>In addition to my ballet and skating, I have participated actively in a Model UN program for home-schooled students. In August I will travel to lecture at several Model UN programs in Puebla, Mexico. I also tutor 4 high school students in Spanish and participate regularly in 3 volunteer community groups.</p>
<p>This summer I have a paid internship as a research assistant in a highly respected molecular biology laboratory at Tufts NE Medical School, a position I held last summer as well. </p>
<p>My SAT score (first time) was 2100+ (700s across the board). I took the biology SAT II freshman year and received a 710. Recently I received at 760 on Spanish Sat II and a 690 in Math2. </p>
<p>I am beginning to look at colleges for the fall of 2008. I intend to enter as a freshman. There are a few things important to me in a college The school should have excellent biology and language programs. It should also present me the opportunity to participate in either dance (ballet) or figure skating. A cohesive school spirit" would be great. The only school I've looked at to date has been Dartmouth, which has a great skating program and an interesting and flexible curriculum (the D-Plan). I am interested in both LACs and universities in the northeast and west coast.</p>
<p>I would like your feedback on the attractiveness (or not) of my application at Princeton with suggestions, most importantly, as to whether or not this a fit for me academically and extra-curricularly.</p>
<p>Your scores are far from impressive, especially math IIC. 690 must be like 60th percentile. I'm curious how you went to harvard extension school.
You are asking if it is a fit like you are guaranteed admission; you have a lot to learn. Yes, you are a professional ballet dancer. You're certainly not THAT rare, I have read at least 5 others who have posted on this board, and how will ballet dancing improve their school. It is a very limited hobby. Apart from that, your ECs are dull, and scream privilege, not the best thing when it comes to college addmissions, especially with your scores. Adcoms will be expecting a whole lot more from you than a 2100, 690 math ii, and 710 bio. Your spanish is very impressive if you are not a native speaker though, which I assume you are not. All of the ivy's are the same for what you said, they all have great language and bio programs. I suggest dartmouth if you want the flexibilty to dance, because colleges have quite limited professional dance options.</p>
<p>I'm not saying you aren't a good candidate, but assuming that you are getting in and asking if this school is right for you rather than weighing your chances? That's ridiculous.</p>
<p>You misread my post totally. Let me clear up your confusion. Firstly on your inference as to my background. My mom is a high school teacher, not a lot of priveledge here. My early ballet lessons and my conservatory training were paid entirely through scholarships. I have self-funded my own skating lessons for many years by teaching young children how to skate. </p>
<p>I attend Harvard Extension in the evenings because, in part, it has allowed me to pursue my passion -- ballet. Harvard is funded from what I earn dancing. Ballet is an art form by the way, not a hobby. Whether it is rare or not, I can't answer. I do know that Princeton has a serious commitment to dance and has a cooperative relationship with the American Repertory Ballet. </p>
<p>On your comments about my SAT scores. I did mention that they were based on a first time take and, that while there is room for improvement, I do think that they are within striking range on a retake. As to your comment that my ECs are "dull", I can only say that I find them really exciting. </p>
<p>I am asking two questions in my post. Am I an attractive candidate to Princeton and, given my interests and background, would I like Princeton?
It appears from your response to me and from a review of your other posts on CC that you are not qualified to answer either question. If I can be permitted an inference of my own, from reading your posts, I would say you are tad bit angry for such a young lad.</p>
<p>Oh and lest I forget I am not a native Spanish speaker. My trip to Mexico is my first to a country where Spanish is spoken ..... and I paying for it with the money I make in the lab.</p>
<p>You have as good a chance as anyone. Nobody here is going to know whether or not you're a fit for the school, but there's nothing about you that seems subpar. I'd think your passion for ballet could only be a good thing. I know how much it takes to be a good dancer. I realize that calling ballet a hobby is like calling nuclear fission a hobby... heh.</p>
<p>If that is true, you will be a competitive candidate. Ballet, skating, internship, harvard extension school, trips to mexico for community service, and home school all scream opportunity which is not reflected by your scores. If you clear this up with adcoms and write your essay about loving dance so much that you use the money to fund your education, you will stand a good chance. Retake your tests though.</p>
<p>I apologize, the fact that you paid for your trip, school, and conservatory makes all the difference in the world. You are now not just another girl with all the opportunity in the world and mediocre test scores, but a girl who created opportunity.</p>
<p>Get your test scores up a little and you'll be a very competitive candidate. </p>
<p>"I do know that Princeton has a serious commitment to dance and has a cooperative relationship with the American Repertory Ballet. "</p>
<p>Based on this, it sounds like you would be a good fit for Princeton. Without knowing your prospective major, no one can really say if Princeton is a good fit for you. I know someone who went on a tour there, and he said it was very "elitist" compared to other Ivies--but that's just one opinion.</p>
<p>Do you have to be competitive to take classes at Harvard's Extension School or will they let you if you are willing to pay? Is it like Summer School at Harvard? If it is competitive then that looks awesome. If not, then who cares.</p>
<p>Princeton is looking to increase its performing and other artists. It is one of the few top schools where you can take a modern dance and choreography curriculum for credit. There are also killer dance troupes that, pardon this expression from a middle-aged mom, rock the campus when they perform with hooting and hollering from the audiences. Go to the website, <a href="http://www.princeton.edu%5B/url%5D">www.princeton.edu</a> and look up Disiac, Expressions, Body Hype, etc.</p>
<p>Ballet however costs money, although very little.</p>
<p>I'm in BodyHype and the Dance Dept and am happy to answer any questions you may have about either! (and yes, I do think being a dancer helps these days, they really are trying to expand the dance program)</p>