Princeton 6k time

Question
Hi Al,

I am a High school senior rowing for the LGRC in California. I am 5'9" and I weigh 140-145 lbs. I was a novice as a junior, and this year I am stroking the JV8, the Ltwt 8, and I am a very fast single sculler.

As a novice last year, and at about 138 lbs, I pulled a 6:48 2k. This year, my 6k record is 21:41, and on that day I weighed in at 142 lbs. I have yet to do a 2k test this year.

My question is whether or not my qualifications meet those necessary for recruitment to a school like Yale, Harvard, or Princeton. I have a weighted GPA of 4.1 and an ACT of 35. I have gotten plenty of offers from less elite light and heavy programs like Delaware, USD, and Gonzaga, and I have gotten offers from UPenn and Cornell, but I want to go to either Harvard or Princeton.

Answer
Hi Cody: Based on your 6K time, you rank in the Top-15% for 16-18 year old male lightweights.  Your 2K time is in the Top-20%, but it might be even better since that was a year ago.

I'd say academically, you are a likely candidate for an Elite Ivy school.  I'm more familiar with the SAT than the ACT, but your score is outstanding.  The academics are much more important than the rowing pedigree when it comes to getting accepted to these types of schools.  They say that these schools take either Straight-A students who were Captains of their High School crews or A-/B= who are the best rowers in the world.

I'd suggest applying to two of your "dream schools," and one of the "safety schools." If you get accepted to Harvard or Princeton, great!!  But if they turn you down (sometimes you just never know what these schools are looking for or it's not what you know but who you know), going to U. of Penn should not be considered merely a consolation prize.

Good Luck/AP