Perspective

Princeton is the fourth-oldest college in the United States. It has been and is home to a renowned group of scholars, scientists, writers, chief justices, and statesmen who include four United States presidents, two of whom graduated from the university. James Madison and Woodrow Wilson graduated from Princeton, Grover Cleveland was not an alumnus but served as a trustee, Chief Justice Oliver Ellsworth; for several years while he spent his retirement in the town of Princeton, and John F. Kennedy spent his freshman fall at the university before leaving due to illness and later transferring to Harvard University. Additionally, First Lady Michelle Obama graduated from Princeton.

Princeton University offers advanced degrees spanning the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and engineering. Doctoral education available in all disciplines emphasizes original and independent scholarship, while master’s degree programs in architecture, engineering, finance, public affairs and public policy prepare candidates for careers in public life and professional practice. They encourage scholars from all disciplines, backgrounds and interests to apply.

Applying for Admission

Princeton’s admission process goes beyond simply looking for academically accomplished students. For each freshman class, they bring together a varied mix of high-achieving, intellectually gifted students from diverse backgrounds to create an exceptional learning community. They care about what students have accomplished in and out of the classroom. The process is highly selective. In recent years, the university has offered admission to only about 10 percent of applicants.

If possible, it is expected that students will complete the following courses before beginning study at Princeton:

• four years of English (including continued practice in writing)
• four years of mathematics (including calculus for students interested in engineering)
• four years of one foreign language
• at least two years of laboratory science (including physics and chemistry for students interested in engineering)
• at least two years of history

The University asks for your transcript and recommendations, and wants to know more than just the statistics in your file. Tell them your story and show us what,s special about you. Tell them how you would seize the academic and non-academic opportunities at Princeton and contribute to the Princeton community. Above all, please write in a style that reflects your own voice. Students may request a fee waiver if they are applying for financial aid and the cost of applying to Princeton represents a financial hardship for the family.

How to Apply

The University accepts both paper applications and online applications. You may choose any of the following application formats:

Princeton’s Online Application: Fill out your application online using a secure log-in. The application also requires the Secondary School Report and Teacher Reference forms.

The Common Application online version: Submit both the Common Application and the Princeton Supplement using a secure log-in. Make sure you follow the instructions for submitting the Common Application.

The Common Application-paper version: If you apply using the Common Application you must also submit the Princeton Supplement, which is available on line. Your guidance counselor can provide you with the Common Application, or you may download a PDF version of the Common Application from online. Be sure to follow the instructions for submitting the Common Application.

Finally it should be clarified; the University’s admission process involves a holistic review of each applicant’s entire file. No particular factor is assigned a fixed weight; rather, the process involves a highly individualized assessment of the applicant’s talents, achievements and his or her potential to contribute to learning at Princeton.

Please contact the Undergraduate Admission Office if you have any questions.

Undergraduate Admission Office
P.O. Box 430
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ 08542-0430
Phone: (609) 258-3060
Fax: (609) 258-6743
E-mail: uaoffice@princeton.edu
visit: http://www.princeton.edu/main/admission-aid/