Princeton Admissions Information

Princeton University was chartered in 1746, making it the fourth oldest university in the nation. It is a member of the Ivy League and is a world-renowned academic and research institution. In fact, Princeton requires all students–in their junior and senior years–to conduct independent research with a faculty member his or her major department. Projects span all disciplines; some are research based, some experimental and others are conducted through fieldwork or artistic projects.

Two noteworthy components of the academic structure at Princeton are the freshman seminars and the preceptorial system. Each year, more than 70 seminars are available for first year students. They are conducted in small groups comprised of no more than 17 students and are led by some of Princeton’s most distinguished professors. As a continuation of the freshman seminars, most lecture courses include a preceptorial, or small discussion group, that meets once or more a week to discuss course information in further detail. These individualized academic experiences are fostered by the very low student to faculty ratio of 6:1.

Beyond the academic prestige of Princeton, the school is also noted for its location in a suburban area of central New Jersey, which fosters an excellent sense of community on campus. This is evidenced by the fact that 98% of students live on campus throughout all of their undergraduate experience. During the first two years, all students live in one of six residential colleges, which focus on intellectual, social and cultural activities. Furthermore, students are involved in a wide array of organizations and community service efforts, from Amnesty International to the Yoga Club. In addition, Princeton’s location allows easy access (via car, bus or train) to nearby cities, including Philadelphia and New York.

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Princeton is one of the most selective universities in the country, with an annual acceptance rate of 10%. According to the admissions website, Princeton seeks students whose high school record reflects excellence both inside and outside the classroom.

Admissions officers seek a variety of talents, personal qualities and individual achievements in their applicants. To assess this, a variety of factors are considered. These include essays, recommendations, extracurricular activities, community service, transcripts and standardized tests. While cutoffs for grades or standardized test scores exist, it is important to note that most accepted students are highly academically achieving with average total SAT scores of about 2100. Overall, they recommend that prospective students use the application and particularly the essays to paint an honest picture of themselves beyond grades and test scores. An applicant should show the admissions board what makes him or her stand out and how he or she would contribute to the university if granted admission.

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