Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Anyone Here Go to Princeton? Or any College?

gan6660

gan6660

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Aug 18, 2008
1,417
0
Hi, I am starting my search for college as I am a Jr. in Highschool. My GPA is 3.6/3.7 and on my PSAT I got a 1660. I will be taking my SAT's on May 1st. Know my question is what colleges do people here go to and how similar were you grades to mine? Princeton is my dream school so if anyone here goes there Id love to hear from you. But again its a dream school so I must be realistic and would like to hear from anyone. I must confess that my moms cousin is the vice dean of admissions at Princeton so that may help. Thanks everyone in advance for your help!
 
You'll need a higher GPA for Princeton; or a lot of money.
 
Repo said:
You'll need a higher GPA for Princeton; or a lot of money.
Click to expand...

Is 4.0 still the highest you can have? Also my GPA over the last 3 years comes out to be 3.8 and thats with a few honors classes. Next year I will be taking an AP class if that makes a difference.
 
gan6660 said:
Is 4.0 still the highest you can have? Also my GPA over the last 3 years comes out to be 3.8 and thats with a few honors classes. Next year I will be taking an AP class if that makes a difference.
Click to expand...

You can take a GPA up to 5.0.
 
gan6660 said:
Really? Is that just with AP or Honors classes?
Click to expand...

Yes. Standard classes max out at 4.0, which is why AP/IB/GT students can't theoretically get a perfect 5.0, because there are required "regular" classes where a 100 will result in a 4.0.
 
Repo said:
Yes. Standard classes max out at 4.0, which is why AP/IB/GT students can't theoretically get a perfect 5.0, because there are required "regular" classes where a 100 will result in a 4.0.
Click to expand...

I will be in only 1 AP class next year so Im not sure how this will affect me because I dont think my school goes up to 5.0.
 
If you want to go to an Ivy League, I hope you have a lot more going for you than just GPA. You need to be doing an excessive amount of extra-curriculars and volunteer work.
 
puma1552 said:
If you want to go to an Ivy League, I hope you have a lot more going for you than just GPA. You need to be doing an excessive amount of extra-curriculars and volunteer work.
Click to expand...

See thats were my biggest problem comes in. I dont have much of that but I do have some. My school isnt the best in helping find oppurtunities.
 
I'm in pretty much the same situation as you. I've got a GPA of 3.95, and the maximum GPA you can get is 4.33 (exceeding perfect lol).

I've been browsing around these forums, and found out some really useful things. Its also nice to know someone high up in the school :D
 
Just remember, you will be in a competitive applicant pool consisting of other students who have stellar academic records and near perfect test scores. Finding a way to stand out among applicants, aside from your academic record, will be the key to winning a seat in an Ivy class.
 
puma1552 said:
If you want to go to an Ivy League, I hope you have a lot more going for you than just GPA. You need to be doing an excessive amount of extra-curriculars and volunteer work.
Click to expand...

Besides GPA, extracurricular activities is the second most important. You can't just be busy though, you need to be consistent in your activities. Colleges love students who pick something and stick with it; it usually signifies a well-rounded, hard-working student.
 
puma1552 said:
Nor should they be. It's on you to get out in the community and find places to volunteer or help out.
Click to expand...


I know that they shouldnt be searching for me but local oppurtunities do arrive and they ask the school to spread the info that the oppurtunity is their and my school turns them away. I have asked my counseler for information but she isnt any help and my mom emails and calls here put she always finds away around the question.

Repo said:
Besides GPA, extracurricular activities is the second most important. You can't just be busy though, you need to be consistent in your activities. Colleges love students who pick something and stick with it; it usually signifies a well-rounded, hard-working student.
Click to expand...

As extracurricular activities I am in FBLA, played soccer, baseball,been in plays, and run a pretty successful little ebay business but Im not sure that counts.
 
Sorry buddy, but if you're already a Junior and have to ask what it takes, I don't think you'll meet their criteria - at least without being in a position to have some strings pulled from the inside.
 
it's fine to apply to a reach school like Princeton, but don't get you're hopes up too high. Make sure to apply to a few safety schools and something a little more realistic for you.
 
Do you even have the funds for Princeton? Not to bash the school, but you could easily get an equal education at another college for much, much less.
 
Repo said:
Do you even have the funds for Princeton? Not to bash the school, but you could easily get an equal education at another college for much, much less.
Click to expand...

Not fully but I can pay up to $35,000 a year and I believe Princeton is $50,000.


And to answer others yes Princeton is my "reach" school and I will apply to other state and private schools. And yes I can have strings pulled on the inside with my mom's cousin and I also have strings at Rutgers were my mom's friend is on the board of directors.
 
Repo said:
Besides GPA, extracurricular activities is the second most important. You can't just be busy though, you need to be consistent in your activities. Colleges love students who pick something and stick with it; it usually signifies a well-rounded, hard-working student.
Click to expand...

Good advice. What the OP should really be looking for is some type of community service and volunteer work, and stick with it.

gan6660 said:
I know that they shouldnt be searching for me but local oppurtunities do arrive and they ask the school to spread the info that the oppurtunity is their and my school turns them away. I have asked my counseler for information but she isnt any help and my mom emails and calls here put she always finds away around the question.
Click to expand...

Then you can't rely on the school to hand you anything. Go out and actively seek it. One type of volunteer work I did was spend 3 years volunteering at a local Japanese garden. Easy peasy, and relaxing to boot. You just gotta go out and find what's in your community.
 
gan6660 said:
And yes I can have strings pulled on the inside with my mom's cousin and I also have strings at Rutgers were my mom's friend is on the board of directors.
Click to expand...

Strings: meant for pulling.
 
puma1552 said:
Good advice. What the OP should really be looking for is some type of community service and volunteer work, and stick with it.



Then you can't rely on the school to hand you anything. Go out and actively seek it. One type of volunteer work I did was spend 3 years volunteering at a local Japanese garden. Easy peasy, and relaxing to boot. You just gotta go out and find what's in your community.
Click to expand...

Wow that kind of sounds cool. What did you do there? Anyway I dont have anything like that around where I live and I just have common things like: library, nursing home, I dont even have an animal shelter. I have done road side cleanups with FBLA and the advisor said she would right a letter of recomendation when the time came, and I also have a math teacher and a guidance counseler who would right one also.

Repo said:
Strings: meant for pulling.
Click to expand...

I do hope so if need be.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back