Princeton Class of 2024 acceptance rate
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Home » How To Get Into Princeton Move over, Harvard. Princeton is the best university in the country, according to US News and World. And with that kind of prestige, you can rightly assume it’s nearly impossible to get accepted into Princeton. If you are feeling discouraged, remember that nearly impossible doesn’t mean entirely impossible. So, never mind that Princeton accepts just 5% of its hyper-competitive applicant pool, and the school ranks among the most selective in the country. You’ve got Princeton in your sights. You dream in Princeton Orange and you secretly have a stuffed animal tiger mascot that you look to for strength. Sound familiar? Well, if Princeton is your dream school, then you’re reading the right article. Here we will discuss:
If you’re ready to discover what you can do to increase your odds of admission into Princeton, read on. Get the SAT score you need to get into Princeton: Discover How Top Students Like You Get Killer SAT Scores ➡ Princeton History
First chartered in 1746, when it was known as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest college in the United States. It was originally founded by the New Light Presbyterians to train ministers dedicated to their views. However, the school was unique amongst the colonies in that its charter granted by the Province of New Jersey stated that “any Person of any religious Denomination whatsoever” might attend. A group of six men became the college’s first graduates in 1748. In 1756, the school relocated to Nassau Hall in Princeton. At Nassau Hall’s competition, it was the largest stone building in America. It was named after King William III of English, Prince of Orange, of the House of Nassau, and would go on to withstand occupation by both British and American troops during the Revolutionary war as well as two catastrophic fires during the 1800s. It housed the entire college, from the dormitories to the kitchen, for nearly half a century. In 1768, John Witherspoon, who had been a prominent evangelical Presbyterian minister in Scotland, became Princeton’s sixth president and transformed the school from one designed to train clergymen into one which produced leaders of the Revolutionary War. His students during this period included James Madison, Aaron Burr, Philip Freneau, and John Breckinridge. Ace the SAT in just 10 minutes a day.Our 10-minute microlearning system engages, guides, and gets students to mastery, no matter their starting point. Unbelievably smart. Affordable for all. Get Your 200+ Score Increase Now ➡ Ace the SAT in just 10 minutes a day.Our 10-minute microlearning system engages, guides, and gets students to mastery, no matter their starting point. Unbelievably smart. Affordable for all. Get Your 200+ Score Increase Now ➡ The 1800s marked a century of upheaval and transition at Princeton. The school’s religious roots resulted in strict rules which led to student riots in the early 1800s. Later, those same conservative roots caused pre-Civil War disputes over slavery and abolitionism which later gave way to the school supporting Lincoln in the late 1850s. Then again, during the late 1860s and 70s, Princeton became a microcosm over the debate between religion and science brought on by Darwin’s work. A Milestone in Princeton HistoryIn 1896, as part of it 150th anniversary, the College of New Jersey achieved university status and was officially renamed Princeton University. In 1902, Woodrow Wilson became Princeton’s 13th president and brought about several reforms, ranging from doubling the faculty size to developing the small discussion classes called precentorials. Around this time, liberal Christians also began to dominate the student body. However, it was not until the 1950s and 60s, after World War II, that the university expanded its admissions policies to admit more minorities and began to admit women. Princeton University TodayToday, Princeton’s campus has grown to 600 acres encompassing 160 buildings. Its 1,200 full and part-time faculty publish over 2,000 scholarly documents every year, and the school hosts approximately 5,000 undergraduate and 2,500 graduate students every year, most of which live on campus. Moreover, as one of the smallest leading research universities in the nation, Princeton boasts close interactions between its students and faculty as well as a host of research opportunities for its students.
Princeton University Fun Facts & Trivia
The FtizRandolph Gateway was first erected in 1905.
Nassau Hall was where the British’s officially surrendered to George Washington after the Battle of Princeton in 1777. During the battle, one of the shots from Alexander Hamilton’s battery mutilated the portrait of King George II which hung on the wall of the Hall. Remnants of the cannonball can still be seen in the Hall today.
The first Legislature of New Jersey met in Nassau Hall in 1996 where it approved the State Constitution.
Nassau Hall also served as the Nation’s Capital from June to November 1783.
More Princeton Alumni attended the Constitutional Convention of 1787 than those from any other American or British college or university. They have since been dubbed the 1787 Tiger Nine and include: Alexander Martin, William Paterson, Oliver Ellsworth, Luther Martin, William Houston, James Madison, William Davie 1776, and Jonathan Dayton. Princeton University Majors & IdentityPrinceton can best be summarized as primarily a liberal arts college with a focus on research and its undergraduate students, which produces some of the best-trained students of politics, economics, and computer science. Princeton confers approximately 900 Bachelor of Arts degrees and 300 Bachelor of Science and Engineering degrees every year, so the institution’s focus lies primarily in Social Sciences and Natural Sciences. For instance, the B.S.E. degree only includes six programs, while the B.A. Degree offers 33. That said, all of the university’s B.S.E. programs are highly ranked nationally, with Computer Science being the standout at 5th in the nation. It is simply that the majority of Princeton University students pursue a B.A. The three most widely pursued programs are:
Computer Science can be pursued either through the A.B. or B.S.E degree programs. After those, the most popular programs are Politics, Ops Research and Financial Engineering, and History. Ops Research and Financial Engineering is Princeton’s only major related to business and finance. Ace the SAT: It only takes 10 minutes a day with Power Play. Get Your 200+ Score Increase Now ➡ Overview of Princeton UniversityAcademic Freedom at PrincetonPrinceton lies in the middle ground between complete academic freedom and rigid structure. It has a set number of core, required classes, which include writing, calculus, literature, and computer science. However, it is relatively easy for students to pursue at least one minor, even for engineering students. Princeton’s AtmosphereIn terms of atmosphere, Princeton is frequently described as more collaborative than competitive. Most students are undergraduates, compared to less than a third of students at Harvard and less than half at Yale. Much of the student body is actively involved in politics, both related to the campus specifically and to the nation at large. Princeton does not have any fraternities or sororities. Instead, they have “eating clubs” which students may join after their sophomore year. Eating clubs are essentially social clubs, with an application process and which host events for their members. Ironically, Woodrow Wilson tried to abolish the eating clubs during his time as Princeton’s President but failed to do so. Princeton Location & SettingPrinceton University is located in Princeton, New Jersey. The campus is in a suburban setting, although—not completely isolated, like Cornell and Dartmouth are, but neither is it in the middle of a city like Harvard and Penn are. However, students who want easy access to a large city can commute to either New York or Philadelphia. Take A Princeton University Campus TourLet a student show you around with their version of a virtual Princeton University campus tour in the video below.
Athletics at Princeton UniversityPrinceton has a competitive athletic program. It has won over 200 individual and team championships since 1897 and participates in 37 varsity sports. Its athletic program ranks 3rd amongst Division 1 schools in the Director’s Cup. No other Ivy League School even comes close to Princeton’s athletic performance. Dartmouth is the closest ranking 55th in the same cup. Aiming for Princeton? Get SAT prep off your to-do list: Discover How Top Students Like You Get Killer SAT Scores ➡ Princeton Alumni
The roster of Princeton alumni has several notable graduates, including Woodrow Wilson, Michelle Obama, James Madison, F. Scott Fitzgerald, John F Kennedy, Jeff Bezos, Alan Turing, and Ted Cruz. Many Princeton alumni and faculty members are Noble Laureates. Most recently, Princeton’s Nobel Laureates have been:
Princeton also has many winners of the National Medal of Science, National Humanities Medal, Fields Medal (Mathematics), and the Pulitzer Prize. What Kind Of Student Is Princeton Looking For?Like most Ivy League schools, Princeton is looking for students who are intelligent, self-motivated, and work well under pressure. Unique things Princeton University admissions look for in students are a student’s readiness to take advantage of research opportunities (Princeton is ranked 5th in the nation for undergraduate research and creative opportunities), participate in community service (the school’s unofficial motto is “Princeton in the Nation’s Service and the Service of Humanity”), and interest in creating alumni connections. Also like many other Ivy League Schools, Princeton is looking for a well-rounded student body rather than well-rounded individual students.
In this same vein, exceptional athletes and artists are also desired. Princeton is proud of its athletic performance, so students who want to seriously pursue both division 1 sports and a top tier education may have an advantage in the admissions process. While less widely known, Princeton sends out talent scouts to recruit students who excel in writing, music, visual arts, or theatre and dance. Microlearning works: we’ve proven it.The average student who studies for 8 hours will gain 90 points on the SAT. Power Play students gain 200 points in the same amount of time. How it works:
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Is Princeton University The Right School For Me?If you find that you fit the ideal type of student Princeton is looking for, then it is probably a good choice for you as a school. Students looking for smaller class sizes and more facetime with professors will also find what they are looking for at Princeton, as it boasts more intimate seminar style classes than other schools. Students are also required to write a Senior Thesis (or an independent project for some engineering students). So, if the idea of pursuing your own research sounds exhilarating to you, then Princeton is probably a good fit. However, students who are highly competitive may not find the atmosphere they are looking for at Princeton. Princeton University Admission RequirementsNow, let’s get into the finer details of getting accepted to Princeton. In the following sections, we will discuss some of the Princeton University requirements that may not be hard and fast rules, but should certainly be looked at as a requirement. Princeton Acceptance RateThe Princeton acceptance rate was 5.6% for the class of 2024. All Ivy League schools have an incredibly low acceptance rate compared to other schools, and Princeton is no exception. As such, it comes as no surprise that the Princeton University acceptance rate is so low. In fact, the Princeton University acceptance rate has been steadily lowering over the past few years and will likely continue to gradually decline in the future. For the class of 2019, the Princeton acceptance rate was 6.99%. Somewhat surprisingly, Princeton University’s acceptance rate for the Class of 2014 was 8.3%. So, while Princeton’s acceptance rate has never been high, it will only become more difficult to gain acceptance as time goes on. Princeton Early Decision Acceptance RatePrinceton’s Early Action acceptance rate is 13.93%. As you can see, applying early decision can be an advantage to students who truly have their hearts set on attending Princeton. We’ll talk more about the importance of applying early action a bit later on in the article. Princeton Admissions DemographicsThe ratio of male to female students at Princeton is roughly equal, with slightly more male students matriculating in the class of 2024. 11.3% of students were legacies; 16% were first generation college students; and 19.3 qualified for a Pell grant. The majority of the Class was white, followed closely by Asian Americans, then by International Students. The smallest proportion of the class were American Indian and Hispanic. Students in the Class of 2024 came from across the United States and the world, but the majority of students accepted came from the East Coast, which made up 53% of the class. The West Coast, Mid-West, and South East each make up about 12% of the student body. However, California, Texas, and Florida were the biggest contributors to that number. California sent over 100 students, and both Texas and Florida each sent about 50. Students from the South West and North West made up about 8% and 3% of the student body, respectively. Source: Princeton University (https://admission.princeton.edu/how-apply/admission-statistics)Princeton GPA RequirementsBy the end of high school, students should have a minimum 3.9 GPA. Students who want to be accepted to Princeton should plan on taking:
In addition, Princeton’s admissions webpage states that “most candidates have had some study in the visual or performing arts,” so applicants should look into creative classes and programs offered by their school. Princeton University SAT and ACT RequirementsCompetitive applicants should aim to achieve an SAT or ACT score at or above the accepted average if they want to get into Princeton. SAT Scores For Princeton AdmissionsThe average accepted SAT scores for Princeton for the Class of 2024 was around 1500. The middle 50% of students scored 1450 and the upper percentages scores closer to a 1600. ACT Scores For Princeton AdmissionsThe average Princeton ACT score was 34, with the middle 50% scoring a 32 and the upper percentages scoring near or at a 36. Ace the SAT: It only takes 10 minutes a day with Power Play. Get Your 200+ Score Increase Now ➡ Additional Princeton Admissions RequirementsLetters of RecommendationPrinceton has notable requirements for submitted letters of recommendation. They require a recommendation from the student’s school counselor as well as from two separate teachers. They specify that both teachers should have taught the student a high-level course (such as AP, IB, Higher/Standard Level, or A-levels), and each teacher should be from a different academic field. Essays and deadlines and recs—oh my!When filling out college applications, there is a lot to juggle, and plenty of reasons to stress. But remember: keep perspective and know what’s important, and what isn’t. Graded Written PaperPrinceton also requires students to submit a “graded written paper”. This is a 1-2 page essay, with teacher’s comments, which was written for an academic course, preferably in either English or History. Throughout their Junior years, students seeking to apply to Princeton should be on the lookout for such a writing assignment where they excelled. Princeton also has six writing supplements: three essays (ranging from 150 to 250 words apiece) and three short-answers (50 words each). The prompts are as follows:
Students should consider each prompt throughout and well in advance. Know this: These supplements along with the Personal Statement are the best chances a student has to distinguish themselves from other Princeton applicants. Students should not waste precious words regurgitating accomplishments or resume items that appear elsewhere in their application. A student’s response to each prompt should be carefully considered in the context of the complete portrait they paint of the applicant. How To Get Into Princeton By Getting An Edge On The CompetitionThere are different ways students can get an edge on the competition when seeking admission to Princeton University:
Let’s consider each: 1. Apply Single Choice Early ActionWhile not available for students applying during the 2020-2021 cycle due to Covid-19, applying early action is always a good decision for students serious about getting into Princeton. If you recall, we reported earlier in the article that Princeton’s Early Action acceptance rate is 13.93%, a great deal higher than its regular admissions rate. Early admissions applicants are generally stronger than regular decision applicants and applying early better demonstrates genuine interest in the school. The one downside is that Princeton stipulates that students applying early action cannot apply to any other private university early, though they may apply early to any public or international institution early as long as the decision is non-binding. This means that if a student applies to Princeton early, they lock themselves out of applying early to any other Ivy League School, so students should only take advantage of this if Princeton if their first choice. 2. Apply To A Smaller MajorIf you can demonstrate a genuine interest in a smaller major, it may give you a leg up in the Princeton admissions process. The Humanities and Engineering make up the smallest proportion of undergraduate concentrations, making them a good option here. This is especially true if you come from a demographic underrepresented in the field. For instance, women make up a smaller portion of Engineering majors than men, and there is evidence that Princeton has been trying to increase the number of female B.S.E students who attend their school in recent years. However, this particular piece of advice can be a double-edged sword. Most Princeton admissions officials can tell when students choose a major as their intended concentration simply because they think it will look good on an application. Furthermore, for students who are genuinely interested in a less prominent major, there may be other institutions with better programs in that field. Choosing a smaller major is a good option if you are genuinely interested in the major, can demonstrate your interest in it, and are certain that you want to go to Princeton. Get SAT prep off your to-do list: Discover How Top Students Like You Get Killer SAT Scores ➡ 3. Unique BackgroundPrinceton values diversity in its student body, so students should try to bring a unique perspective to the table. That perspective can be from location, ethnic group, or unique life experiences. A massive number of qualified students who apply to Princeton come from the East and West Coasts, so applying from states with fewer applicants, such as Wyoming, South Dakota, and so on, can give students a slightly better chance at acceptance. Furthermore, students who are part of a minority group, especially Hispanic, African American, or Native American, may have an edge in the application process, as those are the most underrepresented minority groups at Princeton. Just remember that both geographic location and racial identity will only give you an edge to get into Princeton if you already meet the baseline academic expectations for an accepted student. 4. Get The Most Out Of Your ACT/SAT Test PrepAchieve Maximum Point GainsEfficiently and Effectively.Our Proven Approach Creates Higher Test Scores, Guaranteed. Schedule a FREE ConsultationFind out how Powerful Prep can build a customized, one-on-one program to suit your student’s needs and goals, and increase their chances of getting into Princeton. Give us a call at 714-312-1393 or complete the form below. Does Princeton require SAT for 2024?Are standardized tests (SAT/ACT) required? The impact of COVID-19 has caused the cancellation of many test administrations. As a result, we will not require the submission of standardized test scores in order for an application to be complete for the 2022-23 application cycles; this includes transfer applicants.
Is Princeton or Harvard harder to get into?Founded in 1746, Princeton is the fourth-oldest college in the US.
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Harvard vs Princeton Overview.. How hard is it to get off the Princeton waitlist?Overall Acceptance Rates Over Time
From 2003 to 2020, Princeton offered a spot on the waitlist to an average of 1,153 undergraduate applicants. On average, 823 applicants accepted this offer.
What is the acceptance rate for Princeton in 2022?Princeton University admissions is most selective with an acceptance rate of 4%. Half the applicants admitted to Princeton University have an SAT score between 1460 and 1570 or an ACT score of 33 and 35.
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