Harry secures place at Princeton

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We are delighted that Harry Higginbottom (OKS 2016) has accepted a place at Princeton in the United States and has been admitted to the Princeton Class of 2021. We took the opportunity to ask Harry about his time here at King’s, his achievements and fabulous rowing career to date.

(Picture : Harry featured third from left)

  1. I’m led to believe that 2017 was the hardest year yet to get accepted into Princeton – with just 1,890 students accepted into Princeton’s Class of 2021 out of a record-high of 31,056 applications. You must be absolutely thrilled to have secured a place.  What motivated you to apply and how do you feel about your imminent big move across the pond?
During 5th  Form we visited Boston whilst racing at the Head of the Charles Regatta....
During 5th Form we visited Boston whilst racing at the Head of the Charles Regatta. I was immediately attracted to the life in America and seeing the top Ivy League Schools racing made me realise how incredible the American system was. I was also motivated to apply by the incredible academic standards of Princeton and the surreal university experience that seemed to be on offer. I am slightly apprehensive and nervous about going, but extremely excited and very grateful to have the opportunity. My nerves are relieved somewhat as I am fortunate enough to know some people already at Princeton, unlike when I joined King’s, where I knew no one!
  1. What will you be studying at Princeton and what particular aspects of life at the Ivy League are you most looking forward to?
My course will definitely be based on....
My course will definitely be based on an economics related major, and my minor may include either chemistry or biology, with a language on the side, which is compulsory.
  1. How does your course differ from a UK degree?
A degree at an Ivy League school, and specifically Princeton, the degree differs a fair bit....
A degree at an Ivy League school, and specifically Princeton, differs a fair bit from a UK degree. It is a 4 year course, and they operate a major minor system. Further to this, at Princeton it is compulsory to take a language as well. Unlike the UK you do not apply for a specific course, you apply for a place at the university. You then spend the first year finding the exact area you want to major in by taking broader classes in subjects of interest; for me this is economics and chemistry/biology. Over the next three years it then hugely focuses onto your major, where you come out with a very subject specific degree. This is the reason for the extra year.
  1. I’m sure many of our current pupils would love to learn more about how you went about securing your place at Princeton – do you have any hints/tips or words of advice on the subject?
My biggest tip would be to take the admission tests required (ACT + SAT) as early as possible....
My biggest tip would be to take the admission tests required (ACT + SAT) as early as possible in the process. You may also need to do retakes to boost your scores as the American examination process and question format is very different to the UK. This means UK students find it very hard to do well in them, so it is much harder to get in. Do lots of practice and the earlier you do the tests the more practice and retakes you can take (you can take them as many times as you like) – I learnt this the hard way as I left it very late to take my admission tests, so I could only take them once; luckily this didn’t affect my application. Another tip to help your application is to really focus on your A-Levels as they do count a lot. Schools in the Ivy League (Princeton, Harvard, Yale etc.) are unable to offer sporting scholarships due to the rules placed on them by the Ivy League, so being good at sport is not enough to get you into Princeton, you need to meet the academic requirements too.
  1. For the last year you’ve been training full-time at Leander Club. What has it been like training at such a renowned rowing club? I’m told the Leander Club is recognised the world over for its extraordinary achievements, having won more Olympic and World championship gold medals than any other club of its kind!
It is an incredible experience training full time at Leander Club, and I am thoroughly enjoying my gap year....
It is an incredible experience training full time at Leander Club, and I am thoroughly enjoying my gap year. Unsurprisingly it is hard work completing 15-16 training sessions a week, and on top of that having to work part time as a life guard to cover the cost of living away from home, however this is definitely worth it. Training at a club like Leander has really helped me to improve my rowing and build on the foundations King’s gave me. The training programme and coaching is helping me to make huge leaps with my technique and physiology. It is thrilling that I am fortunate enough to be able train at such an incredible club, racing with the older athletes who are the next generation of Olympians. It means I can learn as much as I can from them as they are much more skilled and experienced than me. I cannot describe how lucky I am to train at a club who’s reputation for producing the worlds best athletes is unrivalled.
  1. You must be looking forward to rowing for Princeton. What excites you most about becoming a Princeton Tiger?
I am so thrilled at the prospect of rowing for Princeton....
I am so thrilled at the prospect of rowing for Princeton. The most exciting aspect is being able to train with people from across the globe at one of the worlds top universities, racing against the best US colleges who are renowned worldwide for both their sporting and academic prowess. US college rowing is said to be the highest standard of rowing in the world outside of the international teams, and so I’m very lucky and excited to be a part of that.
  1. I see that the Princeton boathouse is often a summer base for U.S. national teams in training, and many Princeton rowers and coaches have gone on to compete at the World Rowing Championships and the Olympics. Do you have any aspirations to push for a place in the UK’s senior rowing teams? Perhaps for the Olympics 2024?
It is my goal to represent Great Britain at the U23 world championships three times and win a medal....
It is my goal to represent Great Britain at the U23 world championships three times and win a medal. Of course rowing at the Olympics is a long term dream, however I doubt I have that sort of potential as the standard is so high, but of course I would love to and will do everything I can to get to the Olympics!
  1. What is the single most important thing you learnt from your time at King’s?
The single most important thing I learnt from my time at King’s was that everyone can achieve amazing things....
The single most important thing I learnt from my time at King’s was that everyone can achieve amazing things and deal with any barriers and setbacks they are faced with. King’s taught me how to successfully overcome these barriers and with the guidance of teachers and my peers I found I could overcome anything that I put my mind to, both with academics and rowing.
  1. Are you still in contact with your year group?
I am still in regular contact with those who I was closest with at King’s....
I am still in regular contact with those who I was closest with at King’s, however I have struggled to stay in touch with lots of my year group as I have a very different schedule to them; we do not get any time off training so I am hardly ever back home, and any time I do get off does not tie in with the University holidays.  I am thoroughly looking forward to catching up with everyone over the summer and at our one year reunion though.
  1. What was the best thing about attending King’s?
I enjoyed King’s hugely, and it is so hard to say what the best thing was about attending....
I enjoyed King’s hugely, and it is so hard to say what the best thing was about attending. Some of the highlights would have to be the school lunches, the rowing and sporting facilities, the standard of teaching and all of the staff. The feeling of community at King’s would have to be the best thing about attending King’s. The support everyone gave me through all my endeavours (and failures) was so valuable and really helped me to thrive at school. I owe King’s so much for the amazing foundation it has given me for later life and I am so grateful my parents gave me the opportunity to attend.

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