Princeton REA or RD w/ drop in junior year grades?

Colleges & Universities Princeton University
1

I recently visited Princeton and I really loved it, to the extent where I’m thinking about applying REA there instead of Stanford, my original top choice. The thing is, I just finished up my junior year and my grades have dropped. My cumulative average didn’t really drop significantly, but I received an 85 in precalc, an 88 in APCS, and an 88 in AP Spanish, which are the lowest grades I’ve ever received in those classes. I’m especially concerned about precalc and APCS since I’ll be applying as a CS major.

Is it a better idea to apply to Princeton REA if it’s my top choice, or should I improve my senior year grades and just apply RD? I have okay ECs, but I’m pretty confident about my essays, my standardized test scores, and my recs. Also, I’m a female and I’ve heard that it might give me an advantage since I’m applying as a CS major, but I feel like this probably will be a very small factor into my admissions decision, if it even plays any role at all?

2

Do you have some good safeties?

ETA - your stats from April (before your junior year grades) -

As you know, Princeton will be a reach either SCEA or RD. Being female won’t help. Maybe RD the better option so you can get your grades up?

3

@GnocchiB For safeties, I’m thinking Stony Brook (I’m a NYS resident) and possibly Drexel as well.

4

@GnocchiB Yeah, my average was a little higher than 93 back then, but now it’s just a flat 93. RD does sound like the better option right now.