Princeton is one of the most prestigious colleges in the world. You might think that everyone who is in Princeton must have a perfect GPA and perfect SAT scores and all 5s on AP exams. It is not true. Many people get into Princeton University with a low GPA because they play sports. Last Saturday, I attended the Junior Day in Princeton University with my daughter. She is a YMCA national swimmer. We met with the head coach, the girls swimming team and the admission director at the campus. The new head coach was not allowed to speak to any swimmers directly until after July 1st according to NCAA rules. But the old swimming coach was there if any swimmers had questions.  She spoke to the parents and swimmers after the admission director gave the swimmers tips about admission. The following are some of the tips we learned in the trip that might help you get into Princeton University with a low GPA using swimming. It can be applied to other sports as well.

1. Get all your ducks in a row before October 1st if you want early admission decisions. That means you need to have all your SAT I scores or ACT and two subject test scores ready.  You need to have two copies of recommendations from your classroom teachers.  You need to submit your application by Oct 1st.
2. Send all your applications in as regular admission. Once you have more ideas as to which IVY school you really want to go and which one is most likely to admit you, you call the admission office and ask them to change from regular admission to early admission. You are only allowed to commit to one school for early admission.
3. You must take SAT I with the writing section, Princeton University requires writing section. You must have two subject test scores.
4. They care more about your school grades than your SAT I grades.
5. Any early admission decision must come from the admission office, coaches don’t have the authority to grant early admission likely letter.
6. If you are admitted, the school offers average $48,000/year financial aid. The money is offered on need basis not on academic performance.
7. If you get a call from another school, the coach wants to know, all IVY schools compete with each other for the best athletes.
8. The average GPA for athletes in Princeton is around 3.6.
9. Make sure you are proactive and contact the coach in your Junior year to get yourself noticed and invited to their Junior day to meet the coach and the team.
10. They usually send out 30 invitations for their Junior day. They usually admit around 6 swimmers per year.
11. It is possible to have a very vigorous major while playing sports. There are a few students who are engineering major in the swimming team.

Overall, if your time is faster than or equivalent to their current swimmer in the team for the  same stroke and your GPA is 3.5 or higher, it is possible that you too can get into Princeton University with a low GPA.