Savanna Hoffman
Princeton University is committed to principles of fairness and respect for all applicants, regardless of citizenship or high school location. The university seeks to attract the ablest individuals as students, faculty and staff, and does not discriminate on the basis of personal beliefs or characteristics such as political views, religion, national or ethnic origin, race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, marital or domestic partnership status, veteran status, disability, genetic information and/or other characteristics protected by applicable law. Princeton evaluates all aspects of a student’s academic preparation, and while high grades and high scores on standardized tests are important, they do not provide a complete picture of each student’s academic accomplishment or potential. The university looks for students with intellectual curiosity, who have pursued and achieved academic excellence, and who have strong personal and extracurricular accomplishments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Application review | The Office of Admission reviews each applicant's entire file holistically. No particular factor is assigned a fixed weight. |
| Academic preparation | Academic preparation is evaluated, including high grades and high scores on standardized tests. |
| Written paper | A graded written paper is required, preferably in English or history. |
| Citizenship | Citizenship has no impact on the determination of an applicant's status. |
| Financial aid | Princeton's admission and financial aid policies are the same for all students. |
| Interviews | Interviews are optional and do not impact the application if not completed. |
| Subject tests | No subject tests are required, but it is recommended that students submit two SAT Subject Tests. |
| Recommendations | Two teacher recommendation letters are required, preferably from teachers of upper-level courses in different academic areas. |
| Courses | Applicants are expected to have taken courses in English, mathematics, foreign language, laboratory science, and history, if possible. |
| Essays | Essays should be the student's own work and reflect their own voice. |
| Extracurriculars | Extracurricular accomplishments and leadership activities are considered. |
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What You'll Learn
Princeton's holistic admissions process
Princeton University is committed to principles of fairness and respect and providing a top-quality education to students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. The admissions process is holistic, and no particular factor is assigned a fixed weight. The process involves an individualised assessment of the applicant's talents, achievements, and potential to contribute to learning at Princeton.
Princeton considers all applications the same way, regardless of citizenship or high school location. The university makes no distinction between international and domestic students when considering financial need. International students are eligible for application fee waivers and financial aid.
Princeton's admissions criteria include strong academic performance, including high grades and comparatively high scores on standardised tests. However, these criteria do not provide a complete picture of each student's academic accomplishment or potential. The university evaluates all aspects of a student's academic preparation, including their transcript, teacher recommendations, and a graded written paper. Princeton also considers the student's personal and extracurricular accomplishments, such as leadership activities, interests, special skills, and community involvement.
The application process includes an optional interview with a member of the Princeton Alumni Schools Committee, which is an informal conversation for the applicant to discuss their interests and ask questions. Applicants are also encouraged to submit an optional Arts Supplement if they have devoted significant time and energy to one or more art forms.
Princeton does not require subject tests, but it is recommended that applicants submit two SAT Subject Tests. The university expects applicants to have taken courses in English, mathematics, foreign language, laboratory science, and history if possible.
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Academic and extracurricular accomplishments
Princeton University seeks to attract the "ablest individuals" as students. The university is committed to nondiscrimination based on personal beliefs or characteristics such as political views, religion, national or ethnic origin, race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, marital or domestic partnership status, veteran status, disability, and other characteristics protected by applicable law. The university also does not discriminate based on citizenship or high school location.
Princeton University's admissions process involves a holistic review of each applicant's entire file. No particular factor is assigned a fixed weight; instead, the process involves a highly individualized assessment of the applicant's talents, achievements, and potential to contribute to learning at Princeton. The university looks for students with intellectual curiosity who have pursued and achieved academic excellence. They also look for students with strong personal and extracurricular accomplishments.
In terms of academic preparation, Princeton considers all measures within the context of each applicant's school and situation. Generally, the most promising candidates tend to earn high grades and have comparatively high scores on standardized tests. However, these criteria do not provide a complete picture of each student's academic accomplishment or potential.
When applying, students are asked to submit their transcripts and recommendations. Princeton wants to know more than just the statistics in an applicant's file. They want to understand the applicant's story, their talents, academic accomplishments, and personal achievements. Applicants are encouraged to showcase their leadership activities, interests, special skills, and other extracurricular involvements. They should also demonstrate how they have taken advantage of the opportunities available to them in high school and how they have contributed to their communities.
Princeton requires a graded written paper, preferably in English or history, as part of the application process. This helps the admissions office assess the student's written expression in an academic setting. While there is no requirement for subject tests, it is recommended that students submit two SAT Subject Tests. Additionally, applicants are encouraged to provide two teacher recommendation letters, preferably from teachers of upper-level courses in different academic areas in core subject areas.
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Non-academic considerations
Princeton University is committed to providing a top-quality education to students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. The university considers all applications in the same way, regardless of citizenship or high school location, and does not discriminate based on personal beliefs or characteristics such as political views, religion, national or ethnic origin, race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, marital or domestic partnership status, veteran status, disability, or genetic information.
Princeton's holistic review process involves a highly individualized assessment of the applicant's talents, achievements, and potential to contribute to the university. The university looks for students with intellectual curiosity who have achieved academic excellence and demonstrated strong personal and extracurricular accomplishments. Applicants are encouraged to showcase their unique talents, academic accomplishments, and personal achievements in their applications.
While academic success is important, Princeton also values students who have made a difference in their schools and communities. Leadership activities, interests, special skills, and extracurricular involvements are considered essential aspects of a student's application. The university seeks students who have taken advantage of the opportunities available to them and contributed positively to their communities.
Princeton also welcomes applications from homeschooled students and those without a traditional high school diploma. The university encourages students to submit a graded written paper, preferably in English or history, to assess their written expression in an academic setting. However, the absence of a graded paper will not disqualify an application, as the university considers each applicant's unique school and situation.
Additionally, Princeton offers fee waivers for low-income students and applicants serving or having served in the U.S. military. The university also provides equal opportunities for undocumented and DACA students, ensuring that their full financial needs are met if admitted. Overall, Princeton seeks to attract students from diverse backgrounds and evaluate their potential based on a comprehensive review of their academic and non-academic achievements and contributions.
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Application requirements
Princeton University is a private institution with a highly selective admissions process. For every 100 applicants, only 5 are admitted, translating to an acceptance rate of 4.5%. The university welcomes applications from students around the world and reviews them all in the same manner, regardless of citizenship, country of residence, or high school location.
The application requirements for Princeton University are as follows:
- A completed application submitted online through the Coalition Application or Common Application.
- Responses to Princeton-specific questions, submitted online through the Coalition or Common Application website.
- Application fee or fee waiver. Fee waivers are available for applicants from lower-income backgrounds or those who can demonstrate financial hardship.
- High school transcripts and test scores. While there is no minimum GPA requirement specified, the average GPA of current students at Princeton is 3.94, so applicants should aim for a high GPA to be competitive. Additionally, Princeton considers SAT or ACT scores as part of the admissions process.
- Extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation are important components of the application and help to showcase the applicant's interests, achievements, and potential.
- While not mandatory, Princeton offers optional alumni interviews as part of the application process. These informal conversations provide an opportunity for applicants to ask questions and discuss their interests with a Princeton alum.
- For homeschooled students or those with non-traditional high school backgrounds, Princeton considers academic preparation and rigorous college coursework aligned with the intended areas of study.
- International students whose first language is not English may need to submit additional documentation, such as language proficiency test scores or a written paper in English.
It is important to note that Princeton considers the entire application holistically and evaluates all aspects of a student's academic preparation. While high grades and test scores are important, they do not solely determine a student's admission. The university seeks to attract individuals with strong academic potential and a commitment to fairness and respect for all.
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Interviews
Princeton University does not evaluate or advantage applicants differently based on their citizenship or high school location. The university does not discriminate on the basis of personal beliefs or characteristics such as political views, religion, national or ethnic origin, race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, marital or domestic partnership status, veteran status, disability, or genetic information.
Princeton's holistic review of each applicant's entire file means that no particular factor is assigned a fixed weight. The process involves a highly individualized assessment of the applicant's talents, achievements, and their potential to contribute to learning at Princeton. The university looks for students with intellectual curiosity who have achieved academic excellence and demonstrated strong personal and extracurricular accomplishments. Applicants are asked to submit transcripts and recommendations and to discuss their leadership activities, interests, special skills, and extracurricular involvements. While high grades and high scores on standardized tests are important criteria, they do not provide a complete picture of each student's academic accomplishment or potential.
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Frequently asked questions
The University looks for students with intellectual curiosity and those who have pursued and achieved academic excellence. They also consider students with strong personal and extracurricular accomplishments. Princeton evaluates all aspects of a student’s academic preparation. They look for students who have taken advantage of what their high school has to offer and how they have achieved and contributed in their own particular context.
No. Princeton considers all applications in the same way, regardless of citizenship or high school location. They also make no distinctions between international and domestic students when considering financial need.
No. While Princeton encourages legacy students to apply, they do not receive any preference in the admissions process.
Yes. A graded written paper is required, preferably in the subjects of English or history. If you are unable to provide a graded written paper, they will still review your application, but they will have less information with which to review your file.
