Applying to an Ivy League School gets tougher and tougher each year. Layering a pandemic onto the application process isn’t going to make things easier. We have some advice for students interested in attending Princeton. Namely, you will need to work extra hard to maintain a structure for yourself. Don’t let this be an excuse to let your Ivy League dreams fall to the wayside.

Testing

In a normal year, testing is a crucial part of nearly any application. Princeton’s acknowledges the uncertainty this year brings for testing. For one, they underscore that SAT IIs are optional and that students who wish not to sit for them (or are unable to) will not be penalized. But the real question is around the SAT and ACT. Princeton also nods to the fact that cancellations and social distancing might lead to a limited number of opportunities to take the exam. But unfortunately, Princeton is not going test optional—not even during a pandemic. What they do highlight is that they don’t expect students to take the exam more than once and reassure students that the tests are just one part of a holistic application review.

So, what are you to do with that information? This is a tough year, but the circumstance should not be an excuse to fall behind. If you want to maintain a competitive advantage for schools like Princeton, we recommend you have high tests scores. Besides, there is a real possibility that you won’t be able to retake the test, meaning there is more pressure than in prior years to do your best the first go. We are advising our clients to use this time to study hard for standardized tests. We realize that if things don’t change by the fall, you might never be able to take them, but it’s better to be prepared in case the tests do happen.

Grades 

On its website, Princeton says it will accept grading formats high schools use at the end of this school year. While that doesn’t provide much clarity in terms of what you can expect from the application process at this point, the lack of info sends a message: grades are still really important. There will be no leniency in this department. Our advice is for kids who want to go to Princeton to get the highest grades possible. You might feel as though the pandemic provides you with an excuse to slack off a bit. Some people have legitimate special circumstances and challenges brought on by this crisis. But most of us need to just power through the feelings of not wanting to do much. Use the extra time to study and maintain your grades. 

Demonstrated Interest

The website states that “demonstrated interest” is not part of the official review. However, the university does encourage students to visit the website and take a virtual tour. You should absolutely attend virtual tours and information sessions. This category is more for you, the student. Touring universities is a really important part of the college selection process. Needless to say, COVID has temporarily upended that step. In order to build a college list, you need to know if a school’s vibe is right for you. It’s a way to help you decide if you like a big school vs. a small school, a school a plane-ride from home or a train-ride from home, a school with football, or a school with Quidditch. While we do tend to recommend students take the school-sanctioned campus tour on their visits, more importantly, we recommend kids take the opportunity to chat with current students about their experiences. So, in lieu of the standard routine we usually outline, we absolutely recommend taking advantage of whatever virtual opportunities are available.

Extracurriculars 

Extracurriculars are not canceled. In fact, granted you have more time at home than usual right now, we expect you to fill at least some of that time by expanding upon your demonstrated interests and areas of expertise in a creative way. Build out your extracurriculars by using the tools that are currently available to you. Read books. Take online classes. Reach out to professors virtually and do research in a field that interests you. Organize a team of people to do something in your area of interest. Organize a team of students to make an impact on a community that really needs it right now. Teach a free online class in your area of interest for elderly people who are bored or can’t visit with family. Create an Etsy shop. Do something that genuinely engages you (that’s a natural extension of an area you’ve been developing throughout high school) and give it your all.

Essays 

We spend a lot of time on essays with our students. They are a way to let your personality shine through a piece of paper. With tests and clubs and classes in flux this year, essays are going to count more than they ever have before. You really need to focus and work hard on the essay portion of the application. Identify 2-3 characteristics you haven’t expressed anywhere else in your application (like your resume) and tell a story with a beginning, middle, and end that demonstrates those traits. Keep it lighthearted and funny if possible. Write it, then spend a lot of time editing it. Best to get started on these as early as possible. We cannot overstate how important the essays will be this year.

Recommendation Letter 

Thus far, nothing has changed for Princeton’s practices regarding letters of recommendation this year. They want you to ask two of your teachers from higher-level courses in different academic areas to submit recommendations for you. What has changed is the environment in which your teachers are, well, teaching. If you are choosing a teacher you currently have, you need to be conscious of spending your last few days and weeks of class working hard and standing out. That’s much harder to do while taking virtual classes. If extra time or virtual office hours are offered to you, take advantage. In addition, remember that your teachers have many, many challenges in their professional and personal lives that they are currently dealing with. While we hope you would be kind to them anyway, be extra conscious when asking for and following up about teacher recommendations.

Need help figuring out the college application process while in quarantine? Give us a call. We’re working hard to make sure our students don’t miss a beat.