Princeton University
Application Checklist:
1) You should submit your application through the Common Application (Princeton’s CEEB Code is 2672)
2) Princeton’s Supplement (specific questions you need to respond to in a written format)- you need to submit this alongside the Common Application. It gives the admission officers a chance to get to hear your voice and learn more about you. You will have to answer one of two academic prompts depending on your chosen degree which you will be pursuing, as well as other sections that will help you express your voice.
3) Application fee or fee waiver
4) Graded paper which you have written for subjects such as English, social studies or history – the idea of this is to showcase your writing in an academic setting
5) You will also need to have your official transcript with grades sent by a school counselor or school official
6) School Report (SR) – this is available from the Common Application website, and you should ask your school counselor or another school official to complete and submit this form.
7) You should include one counselor recommendation – this is separate from the SR, and your school counselor or academic adviser should complete both the SR and the recommendation
8) Recommendations from two of your teachers – it is important to ask teachers who have taught you in different academic areas to complete the teacher recommendation forms on the Common Application website. Note that the subjects should be in core academic areas, and examples include English, language, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, math.
9) Midyear School Report – your school counselor or other school official should submit this form when your midyear grades are available
10) SAT or ACT exams – you should take the SAT or the ACT by the October test date for early action and the December date for regular decision. When you register for the SAT or ACT, you need the following codes in order to make sure that your scores will be sent to Princeton – SAT: 2672 and ACT: 2588.
11) TOEFL, IELTS or PTE exams – if English is not your native language and English hasn’t been the language of instruction in your high school, you have to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System Academic (IELTS Academic) or the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic). Make sure that your scores are sent directly to Princeton – TOEFL: 2672
Optional application components
Arts Supplement – If you are passionate about architecture, creative writing, dance, music, music theater, theater or visual arts, you can submit an optional Arts Supplement. You should indicate your intention to submit an Arts Supplement in the Princeton’s member questions on the Common Application or the QuestBridge one. You will be able to submit an Arts Supplement through the Princeton Applicant Status Portal. However, it is important to mention that you have to submit your application to Princeton first, and only then you can submit the Arts Supplement. Students who are participating in the QuestBridge National College Match won’t have the chance to submit an Arts Supplement considering the timeline.
- Interview – Princeton offers optional alumni interviews which take place after your application has been received by the Admission Office. Because of the timeline, students who are participating in the QuestBridge National College Match won’t be able to complete an interview.
Financial aid
You can apply for financial aid. Make sure to look at Princeton’s cost and financial aid website.
Recommended course of study
Four years of English (including continued practice in writing)
Four years of mathematics (including calculus for those who want to study engineering)
Four years of one language
At least two years of laboratory science (including physics and chemistry for those who want to study engineering)
At least two years of history
Keep in mind that this is not a list of requirements for admission. There are, of course, different academic opportunities in different schools.