Part 2: Answers From Princeton’s Dean of Admission

Applying Early Action

Would my daughter’s chances of admission be increased by applying early action instead of regular admission? Her SAT scores are currently 2100, but she believes she can boost them. We wonder if she should hold off on submitting her application in the hopes of increasing her November scores. Thanks!

— Linda Roache

High school students frequently wrestle with this issue, and it is understandable. They are receiving advice from many sources as they consider where to apply and which colleges and universities might be the right fit. Some schools have binding early admission programs, other schools have two or more early admissions options, and there are a variety of deadlines and plans depending on the college or university. The process is complicated.

Princeton has a single-choice early action program, which is a nonbinding program. It means that if you decide to apply early to Princeton, you may apply early only to our institution. Once we make our decision in mid-December, however, you are free to apply to any other school. If you are admitted, you are not required to give us a response until the deadline for the regular admission cycle on May 1. That gives you an opportunity to compare offers and make the choice that best suits your academic and financial needs.

We advise you not to apply early to Princeton unless you are sure it is your first choice. We want you to research all your options and consider the best fit for you. If you decide Princeton is where you want to go more than any other school, then applying early might be right for you.

However, if you are applying early to Princeton because you believe it is the right strategy for increasing your chances of admission, we would advise against it. Our admission process is not weighted toward early applicants. The early admission programs at most colleges, whether binding or not, are intended for students who think it is the right match for them.

This past year we admitted 726 students early from a pool of 3,443 early applicants. The early pool is very competitive because it is a self-selected group of excellent students. So it is not “easier” to be admitted early in our process, even though the statistics seem otherwise. If you are considering applying early to any school, please do your homework about the possible outcomes. In the early process at Princeton, you either will be admitted, deferred into the regular decision round — where you will be reviewed again with the entire applicant pool — or refused.

We hope that the students we refuse will make other plans and apply to a broad range of colleges in the regular decision round. We do not want to give them false hope in this process, knowing that we will not be able to admit them in the spring. If your college counselor is telling you that applying early to a college or university is unwise, you may do well to listen to them; they are trying to help you.

Ultimately, you should consider carefully all the factors before deciding whether you apply early to a college. Over the years, the program has attracted growing interest from students, but because of the reasons noted above, it is not for everyone. Do your best to weigh the pros and cons at each school you are considering and then choose carefully.

Strategically Choosing a Major

How important is the applicant’s choice of major to the admissions process at highly competitive schools? For example, is it harder to get into Princeton as a potential psychology major than a potential physics major? If the applicant wants to go to medical school, is he more likely to be accepted if he expresses an interest in a relatively unpopular major (let’s say chemistry) compared to a popular major (let’s say biology)? Obviously, the applicant has to be interested in the major and likely to do well.

— Scott

At Princeton, the major you choose does not have an impact on our admission decision. During the admission process we ask students to indicate their possible major (we call them concentrations), as well as subjects that might be of interest in certificate programs, which are to some extent comparable to minors in other universities. These choices are not considered binding, however, which is clearly stated on the Princeton application. The only exception is for students who indicate that they will be applying to the bachelor’s program in the arts or in science and engineering. Within those two programs, they are encouraged to explore the academic offerings until they declare their majors after either their freshman year in science and engineering or their sophomore year in the bachelor of arts program.

You should know, however, that this is not the case at all schools. At some colleges and universities, the major you indicate will affect your chances of admission. You need to do your homework on this issue. Ask your school counselor and the admission officers at the schools where you intend to apply about the policies regarding academic majors.

One reason the choice of a concentration has little bearing at Princeton is that most of our students change their minds after they begin taking classes. About 70 percent of our students graduate in a major different from the one they indicated on their admission application. We think this is exactly the right approach. We expect that students will explore their intellectual interests, and we want them to follow their passions, wherever they may lead them.

Research Experience

Princeton requires that all college juniors and seniors write research papers and theses, in addition to their regular course loads. Is that graduation requirement unique to Princeton? Does the admission process look more highly on an applicant with significant research experience outside of the classroom?

— Mom from CT

Princeton provides all undergraduates with the opportunity to pursue original research and scholarship. All bachelor of arts students complete junior papers or projects and a senior thesis. Similarly, nearly every Princeton student pursuing a bachelor of science in engineering completes a senior thesis or a substantial research project, such as building a robot.

Although some prospective students apply to Princeton with research experience, and we value this experience, we do not expect this to be the norm. We know that some students will have better access to such opportunities than others. We do, however, expect that the students who come to Princeton will have the writing skills, intellectual curiosity and drive that will equip them to engage in original research.

Most colleges and universities have avenues for undergraduates to conduct significant research, and many academic programs provide exciting opportunities for extensive study. If this is something of interest, you should explore the options with your college counselor and the admission officers at the schools you are considering.