Hi everyone! I’m currently a sophomore and I aspire to attend Princeton. I swim competitively and I’m hoping that by the time I’m a senior, I’ll be on par with other swimmers at Princeton. My GPA is 4.2 (weighted), PSAT of 1400 (haven’t done SAT prep yet), and I recently received my Math level 2 subject test score of 790!
I’m having trouble with my scheduling for next year. It is currently AP Calc BC, AP Lang, AP psych, AP Econ, computer math, academic history and physics. Does this seem like too much considering I’ll be swimming and four honor societies? If I were to take out an AP, I’d be Lang, (my strength is not english), or Econ, which I’d downgrade to personal finance.
Secondarily, I project roughly 1450 SAT and 4.25 GPA by senior year. I know my SAT is on the low end for Princeton and my GPA is outside of the top 5% at my school (still top 10%). Based off those stats I’ll get rejected for sure so what I’m wondering is: how much of an impact my being a recruit helps my chances?
I was a college recruit at Columbia just this year for track and field, and as far as Columbia goes, if they want to recruit you they do have a lot of leverage with the admissions office especially for D1 schools.
First you fill out a recruiting questionnaire (unless you’re nationally ranked or something and they scout you out themselves) which say your GPA, SAT, marks, times, what not. From what another college told me, they simply pick and choose. They contacted me via email months after I filled out the recruiting questionnaire, and there was not one mention of my grades after I sent out a letter of interest with my grades (I had a 4.46 9-12 GPA and a 2360 super score SAT). For Ivy Leagues, they most likely do a pre read (sending info over to admissions to make sure you can survive at the school/would get admitted) before they continue with the recruiting process. If the pre read comes back positive, you should be confident in the official decision when it comes around.
As for other schools I’ve talked to besides Columbia, they talk to you about any questions you may have whilst waiting on results of the pre read. Ivy Leagues probably don’t want to give you false hope by doing that, knowing the standards the admissions office holds.
As for your first question, I’m not sure when your practice is but I’m sure you will be fine if you time manage correctly. I took five AP classes my junior year and am currently taking six. If you plan to do D1 athletics, all I can say is: better to get used to it now than later.
@iamsaucy great info! My practice is from 5-7:30am so I guess the only constraint that puts on time management is my bedtime. I’m very curious about this questionnaire that you mentioned. I’d be advantageous for me to fill it out later when my times/credentials improve, right?
@swimmer69 Yes! And whenever you take the SAT/ACT. It asks for all your academic info and your times. You could take a look at it right now on Princeton’s athletic website to see what they want. It includes UW and W GPA.
Definitely do it when you think your times show your potential and when you have some noteworthy qualifications under your belt (league champion, state or section finalist, etc.).
Don’t get too worried if they’re not super on par with the team-- I didn’t think I was qualified for Ivy League D1 athletics, so when Columbia contacted me I was extremely surprised. I have a friend who is a current junior in the middle of the recruiting process. A lot of schools got back to her, recommending that she keep them updated on her times, meaning they probably anticipate to recruit should she continue to improve at the pace she’s at. I started the summer after my junior year.
Tl;Dr fill it out when you think your marks are good enough for them, probably at some point in the summer before or after junior year.
Congrats on your academics and hopefully your swim times improve
Generally speaking, your senior year times will not help very much in the application process as you will need to apply early. This will occur prior to your winter taper meet.
So, your Junior year really is your must year. Start emailing coaches after your Championship meets this/next month.
Start a dialogue, let them know of your interest. Most of the programs, the Asst coach is in charge of early recruiting.
Email both head and asst coach to begin the process and fill out the recruiting info page on the schools website.
Try and visit unofficially to meet the coach etc. You will know by next year if you will be considered a top recruit based on your times. Princeton will be extremely difficult to get into without coaches help. Look at their conference championship and see if you could score points. That is what the coaches really look for.
That is a great goal, keep working hard but do not put to much stress on yourself. Look at other Ivies, top Nescac schools as well. The top NESCACs are a little slower as are some of the other ivies.
Post this question in the athletic recruit site here you will get more swim specific answers
Best of luck
The basic requirement is 700+ on all SAT section including subject tests and a 3.8+ UW GPA with a rigorous course load. A comparable ACT is just as good, and there can be a little flexibility on the individual SAT sections as long as the total is around 2100.
If you can achieve that and the coach wants you, you should be good to go.
The data I gave you was from an Ivy League coach. When asked about GPA vs course rigor, he responded “take the hardest course that you can while still getting an A.” Good luck!
