Although I know there are a lot of other threads about this topic, just wanted to ask how important GPA is for Princeton. I’m applying early this fall, and have a 3.95 GPA, which is basically 2 B’s junior year and straight A’s all other times. How badly will this affect my application? One was in AP Physics C and another in AP Psychology, and I have pretty okay test scores otherwise (2310 SAT and 800/790 SAT II’s on U.S. and World History.) I was taking 5 AP classes total that year (the maximum per year at my school), but still worrying about it since everyone says junior year is the most important and all. Thanks for the help! :x
GPA is important, but it’s highly doubtful 2 B’s on your transcript will send your application to the reject pile.
Keep in mind that Admissions does not evaluate your transcript in a vacuum. Even if your high school does not provide ranking, nothing precludes Admissions from lining up all applications from your HS and putting them in GPA order. So your transcript – with it’s 2 B’s – will be noted and compared to all other students from your HS applying to Princeton.
However, as there is absolutely nothing that you can do to alter the trajectory of your application, why worry over something you can’t control? Instead, you should be focusing your energies on revising and polishing your essays. You should be giving your essays to your recommendation writers and asking for their comments. You should be asking them if your essay “sounds like you.” You should be doing the same with your guidance counselor. You should be asking your teachers and GC out for coffee so they can get to know you outside of a classroom.
In that way you will receive positive feedback from adults who know you well. In addition, it will allow your teachers and GC to understand how you are presenting yourself to Admissions and will give them an opportunity to pro-actively write on your behalf and emphasize the qualities that make you an outstanding student – which will go a long way to counter those B’s you are so worried about.