Do you have to be a valedictorian to get into Yale, Harvard, Stanford, or Princeton university?

I think for first year all the above advice is perfectly relevant and you should listen to it. Please also remember you can always get in your sophomore year if you have high grades your first year in college and reapply. This is an option if you do not get in the first time around. I must disagree with my friend down below I personally know four people who recently got into Harvard and Yale the second year. They got in due to the usual amount of people leaving as well as being extremely good students themselves in high school and their first year of college. They did not come from wealthy families but from middle class families. Also, I am a relative of several university professors. It is a known fact that it is usually easier to get into most school the second year. Although keep in mind, some to perhaps all of your classes might not transfer and your GPA will be completly new. As for Princeton not accepting transfer students, I have to assume they know what they are talking about there; I have no connections there.

Not really but you better not be too far behind them.

No, but it would definitely help. The higher your GPA is, the better chance you will have to get in...as long as the courses you get good grades in are part of their admission requirements

just see if they have a website and write to them to find out.

not neccesarily. but it is important to be in the top 5% in your senior class. you must have over a 3.7 gpa to be considered over others. many things are also taken into account: SAT scores, AP/honor classes, and extracirrciular activities.