Princeton University is an Ivy League school in you guessed it, Princeton, New Jersey. The student to faculty ratio is 5:1, just over 5,200 undergraduate students attend, and the academic programs are fantastic. The school is hugely popular for many reasons: exceptional resources, lovely facilities, loan-free aid packages, and its long-standing reputation as a school where smart kids have tons of fun. Princeton also has a long and checkered past with early action applications. We wrote a long-form blog post about it here, please read it!

Last year, Princeton went test-optional in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, and application numbers went through the roof. When testing requirements were removed, we saw high school students everywhere submit applications to schools they wouldn’t otherwise bother applying to. A lot of people failed to realize that top-tier schools will always look for top-tier applicants, and a one-year test-optional policy doesn’t excuse mediocre grades and a lack of extracurricular activities. We have a feeling that Princeton, and all schools for that matter, loved the influx of applications because they drove down their acceptance rate. Being admitted to Princeton is no easy feat, and as always, the school is top of mind for high school juniors from almost every corner of the universe.  

If you’re asking yourself if you should apply to Princeton, you likely fall into one of three categories. If we haven’t covered you, drop us a line. Below, we’re responding to all three students:

You have the grades and test scores that you need, but you’re not sure if Princeton is for you:  

It’s time to do some research. A lot of people think that all Ivy League schools are automatic great fits, and some of those people have no idea what they even want to study. “I want to go to a good school, so I’m applying to all of the Ivy’s” is not an application strategy, it’s a waste of time. to go to Princeton’s website, and go crazy! Even if you think you’re already familiar with the school, start from the very beginning. Yes, even the facts and figures. From there, research their academic programs. You don’t need to look through every major, but you should click into what you’re interested in and see how their programs match up to other schools that you’re liking so far. It’s true that Princeton has great programs, but that doesn’t mean that everyone belongs there. Read about their student organizations and while you’re at it, do some social media stalking. We know you know how to do it! Look at Instagram, Twitter, and Google. Read their newspaper. Get in touch with current students if you can. If you’re still interested in applying, put together an application plan that includes staying on top of your grades, studying for standardized tests, and staying committed to your extracurricular activities. Basically, go above and beyond in every area of your life.  

You love Princeton, but your metrics aren’t there:

Read this blog post. We’re all for dreaming big, but we’re also realistic. If you’re slightly below the stats of admitted students, you might be able to consider Princeton a reach. A lot of people think that a reach school is any school that’s hard to get into, which is not the case. You need to be within range. Identify what you like about Princeton, make a list, and then turn to Google to find schools that are more realistic.

You’re just “throwing your hat in the ring”:  

Princeton’s acceptance rate is below 6%. It’s insanely difficult to get into Princeton when you have perfect grades and scores. And when people apply “just because,” it only decreases this already insanely low rate. Everyone seems to think that they’ll be the outlier, the one who gets in just because. We don’t say this to hurt feelings, rather we’d like to save you time. If your performance in high school thus far doesn’t compare to what Princeton is looking for, you’re much better off balancing things out and putting together a school list that makes sense for you.  

Some people like to think that the college process is a game of luck and good fortune. The reality is that there is very little true randomness in this process. The good news is that it’s entirely possible to find what you’re looking for, Princeton or somewhere else, if you’re willing to do the leg work. If Princeton is truly the place for you and your metrics match up, we absolutely encourage you to apply. Just make sure you’re applying for the right reasons. If you love what Princeton has to offer but it’s out of reach, we urge you to look beyond the Ivy League and find similar offerings elsewhere.

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