www.princeton.edu Mailing Address: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544 2008 Rank: 23 2006 Rank: 38 Matriculation Rate of African Americans: 92% Average GPA: 3.9 Total Enrollment: 4,790 African American Enrollment: 415 Number of Applications: 18,942 Acceptance Rate: 10 *Average SAT Score: Reading: 690-790; Math:700-790; Writing 690-780 Black Student Group(s): Black Student Union, Black History Month Planning Committie Summer Programs: Freshman Scholars Institute Application Deadlines: Regular Decision: Dec. 15 Acceptance Letters Sent Out: March Financial Aid/Deadline(s): Jan.1 Costs: Tuition & Fees: $33,920; Room & Board: $5,980; Books & Supplies:$3,395 *25th Percentile-75th Percentile ADMISSIONS Q&A What are you looking for in a student? Princeton University looks for students who we think will take advantage of the academic and extracurricular opportunities at Princeton and contribute to the campus community. We offer many resources to our undergraduates – access to a world-class education; funding for service projects, research and study abroad; and contact with many distinguished visiting faculty, lecturers and alumni. We look for students who will commit their time and energy in engaging these opportunities. Admission decisions are made independent of a student's financial need, which will be met through grants and work-study if the student is admitted. What advice do you have for students who might fall short of minimum requirements, but still want to attend? Princeton does not have minimum requirements for admission. We evaluate each student's entire academic record, from grades to test scores to teacher recommendations, in evaluating a student's ability and dedication to learning. While most admitted students are in the top 10 percent of their graduating class, Princeton welcomes students who, in addition, have unique talents, achievements and backgrounds. On their applications, students should relay all of their strengths, academic and otherwise. What advice do you have for applicants? Pay attention to your academics, and focus on building a sustained commitment to your extracurricular activities. With academics, we look at your transcript course by course and consider the difficulty of your classes in the context of what is offered at your school, so take the most challenging classes available to you. As soon as possible, review our standardized test requirements, and be sure to keep track of application deadlines. Also, let the admission staff know about your specific talents and achievements–in the arts, athletics, service or some other realm. Finally, make sure you apply for financial aid if you think you may not be able to cover the full cost of tuition, room and board, since Princeton has a generous need-based financial aid policy that allows students to graduate debt-free. What kind of opportunities do you have for non-traditional – transfer, international – students? Princeton does not offer transfer admission, so any student who has enrolled as a full-time degree candidate at another college or university is considered ineligible for admission. International students, however, are an integral part of our campus community. About 10% of our undergraduates are international students, and they fully take part in academics, extracurricular activities, study abroad and other elements of a Princeton education. International students are also eligible for Princeton 's financial aid policy, which provides grants instead of loans, allowing students to graduate debt-free. Princeton also considers home-schooled applicants. How does the university weigh GPA, SAT scores, extracurricular activities and college essay and recommendations during the application process? Princeton 's application process is a holistic one – the admission staff reviews each application individually to get a sense of the student's strengths. That being said, a student's intellectual curiosity and academic excellence are the most heavily weighted factors. Grades, test scores and teacher references provide a multi-faceted way to evaluate a student's academic abilities. We also examine the student's record of integrity and leadership, distinctive extracurricular talents and personality in selecting an interesting mix of individuals for each class. What is the student-teacher ratio? The ratio of students to teachers is 5 to 1. Princeton 's full-time faculty is made up of professors who are leaders in their fields, including Pulitzer Prize—winners and Nobel Laureates. Since Princeton is focused on undergraduates teaching, all professors are required to teach in addition to conducting research. Students have extensive access to professors outside of class, whether it's through casual conversations over meals, during office hours or through academic advising. Additionally, all students are required to complete an independent research project in their senior year, working in close contact with a faculty adviser. What is the university's housing situation like? Is it difficult for freshman/sophomores to get housing? Princeton guarantees on-campus housing for all four undergraduate years, and most students (98%) live on campus for all four years. For the freshman and sophomore years, students are assigned to a residential college, a supportive community for living, dining, academic and social experiences. The residential college also includes facilities such as lounges, libraries, computer clusters, dance and art studios, theaters and game rooms. In the junior and senior years, students may choose to remain in a residential college or move to an upperclass dormitory while still participating in activities within their residential college. How active is the college in helping students find internships and full-time jobs? Princeton has many resources available for students who are interested in finding internships and full-time jobs. Our Office of Career Services helps students with identifying a career and then offers numerous services through which students can pursue their plans. The office coordinates campus job fairs and recruiting, maintains a database of employment opportunities and connects students to alumni in their field of interest. In addition, the University offers funding and assistance for international and service internships, as well as specialized advising for students interested in the business, health, legal and teaching professions.