Does the highschool you attend matter?

Colleges & Universities Princeton University
1

Let me start with a backstory: I did terribly in my freshman year (B’s and C’s), and I’m doing considerably well in the first quarter of sophomore year (so close to ALL A’s). I moved to the Northeast from Texas to a high school I probably shouldn’t mention, and to put it in a few words, it’s VERY different from the high school I attended back in Texas. The high school in Texas was a very wealthy one where many Ivy Leagues would visit, and the smartest kids attended Rice with a handful getting into Ivy leagues (like Cornell, Brown, Dartmouth, and one Harvard) and a few Georgetowns, Vandys, tons of A&M and UT. Over there no one has attended Princeton for about ALMOST 20 YEARS. My guidance counselor told me after my first report card, in nicer words, that there was no way in hell I was getting into Princeton, I have to say it hurt my feelings. I’ve heard Princeton doesn’t really consider freshman year grades (same with Stanford), but I’m not sure if that’s true.

Anyway, now I’m in a small Northeastern state, in a school that’s not NEARLY as academically or economically advanced at my Texas school, where my sister is. I was moved her to live with a parent, so I could get my grades up. This school is about 1/2 white, 1/3 black and 1/6 other. I fall in the black category, BUT I take the most advanced courses possible, like AP World, and Stat AP as a sophomore.NO ONE in this school has attended Princeton. They all go to Temple, Penn State, University of Delaware, or some other state school. (No one even tries for UPenn) Meanwhile, they ( the other blacks) all take the normal level, no AP’s, and don’t care about school. I know I stand out among them, but the real question is: would I stand out to Princeton?

Princeton has been my dream school for as long as I can remember. I’m a New Jersey native, but I moved to Texas about 5 years ago. My parent, that I live with has given me the option to stay in the Northeast because he claims coming out of a school like this gives me a much better opportunity if getting into Princeton rather than my Texas school. Please, let me know what you think!

P.S. I do have EC’s, I’m in Math Club here and I was in Texas, ( we won a few titles), and I run track (JV). I don’t do school-affiliated volunteering because I know it doesn’t stand out, and I’m on the hunt for medical internships, I have my eye out on Stanford’s cardiothoracic program. I’ve wanted to be a cardiologist since I was eight years old, and I’m in Anatomy in my current Northeastern school

Right now my sophomore GPA is a 3.4 unweighted, as of first quarter, not first semester.

2

To be honest I don’t think it matters which school you attend because at this point you simply don’t have the grades for Princeton to be on your radar. I think it would be best for you to be more realistic and start thinking about different colleges and fall in love with some others.

At your Texas school you would need to be amongst the top, and at your new school you would need to be a true SUPERSTAR. A 3.4 gpa is not at all competitive, and you don’t have any real ECs at this point. Standing out amongst the other black students that don’t take a rigorous course load means nothing.

Princeton considers your entire high school history, they do not dismiss your freshman year, btw.

3

Don’t lose hope! A positive upward trend in grades and course rigor will be appreciated by selective universities. You may or may not get into Princeton, but there are a lot of great colleges/universities that will love to help you succeed in your passion to become a cardiologist. Good luck to you in the rest of your high school journey and beyond.

4

@alchr2

Please read Princeton’s Common Data Set (https://registrar.princeton.edu/university_enrollment_sta/CDS2015-16.pdf). At a 3.4, you are at 2.55% of admitted students. Unless you are a recruited athlete, or a development $tudent, I don’t think Stanford and Princeton (lottery schools for the best students) are very realistic. True, you are only a sophomore, but it is hard to take a rigorous class schedule and raise your 3.4 to a 3.75 or higher, while prepping for SAT/ACT, PSAT, APs, etc. And don’t forget ECs (youll need more than Math Club).

Section C11

C11 Percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first-year (freshman) students who had high school grade- point averages within each of the following ranges (using 4.0 scale). Report information only for those students from whom you collected high school GPA.

Percent who had GPA of 3.75 and higher
87.64%
Percent who had GPA between 3.50 and 3.74
8.26%
Percent who had GPA between 3.25 and 3.49
2.55%
Percent who had GPA between 3.00 and 3.24
1.16%
Percent who had GPA between 2.50 and 2.99
0.31%
Percent who had GPA between 2.0 and 2.49
0.08%
Percent who had GPA between 1.0 and 1.99
0.00%
Percent who had GPA below 1.0
0.00%
Totals should = 100%
100.00%

5

Just wanted to point out, unless it’s suddenly changed, Princeton is confirmed to NOT look at freshman grades. So you don’t need to worry about that year bringing you down. Honestly if you’re a soph, you have a whole nother year and a half to see where you stand before you can even apply. You CAN do it, theoretically. I don’t see a reason why you would be deemed incapable because you’re off to a shaky start.

6

@Seniors.yikes.us Since Princeton doesn’t look at freshman year grades, are those grades still factored into the GPA as reported on its Common Data Set?

7

@Seniors.yikes.us Where has it been “confirmed” that Princeton ignores Freshman Year Grades? I believe this is a myth.

Here is Princeton’s Admissions on what they look at, nowhere is it stated that they ignore anything: http://admission.princeton.edu/applyingforadmission/admission-faqs/reviewing-applications

Stanford does ignore Freshman Year Grades, notice it is explicitly stated: http://admission.stanford.edu/application/freshman/transcripts.html

Can someone please show me where Princeton’s policy on ignoring Freshman Year Grades?

8

I recall when my son was admitted (class of '16 grad now) freshman grades were definitely included.

9

Freshman grades are included, let’s not spread false information.

10

Freshmen year grades are included.

@seniors.yikes.us Experienced and informed posters are trying to share realistic information with the OP. Students with impeccable gpas, test scores, and ecs are rejected by the THOUSANDS.

11

No… the high school you attend or attended does not ultimately matter. It is what you do with the opportunities, educational and otherwise, available to you that matters most. Selection into Princeton or any Ivy League college or HYPMS level college/university does not hinge on what particular high school or prep school you attended.

And it goes well beyond just college admission. The majority of college students who are ultimately accepted for Rhodes Scholarships, Truman Scholarships, Fulbright Scholarships, Gates Scholarships, Mitchell Scholarship and Marshall Scholarships attended public high schools. Moreover, the majority of scholarship winners also did not attend HYPMS level colleges/universities either.

Princeton is likely not the best fit for you and your stats, OP, but that reality is not the end of the world. There are many exceptional colleges and universities out there to later excel at and serve as a potential foundation for greater things even beyond college. It is up to you to maximize your potential at whatever high school you find yourself at and at whichever college you eventually select.

Good Luck…

12

I have a 3.7 weighted if that changes anything. Princeton also mentioned their preference to report cards that had “upward trends” (as mine does)

13

If you cumulative weighted GPA is a 3.7 then PTon should only be your last, hail mary application after you’ve applied to the first list of more realistic schools. For perspective, there will be tens of thousands of students rejected with unweighted cumulative GPAs higher than 3.7.

14

yep, 3.7 a bit low for the top.