How to Get Into Princeton: What Actually Works

Acceptance Rate: 4.6%

Princeton University's acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 (admissions year 2025) is approximately 4.6%, continuing a historic trend of ultra-selective admissions. Out of roughly 40,500 applications, only about 1,800 students received admission offers, making it one of the most selective universities in the world. Getting into Princeton is extraordinarily competitive. With an acceptance rate of just over 4%, only the most exceptional applicants gain admission, and even students with perfect grades and test scores face rejection. A former Princeton admissions officer famously remarked that a student's chances of admission are roughly the same whether they apply or not, especially in regular decision. This statistic should not discourage you from applying, but it should make you understand that you need to present a truly outstanding application that goes far beyond the numbers.

Average SAT: 1540

Average ACT: 34

These scores place admitted Princeton students in the 99th percentile of all test-takers nationally. While Princeton technically remains test-optional for now, the reality is that submitting a strong score significantly strengthens your application. If you score below the middle 50% range, you start with the odds heavily against you. However, Princeton's holistic review process means that exceptional applicants with slightly lower scores can still gain admission if other parts of their application are truly remarkable. Approximately 57% of admitted students submitted SAT scores, 20% submitted ACT scores, and 23% chose not to submit either test.

Average Unweighted GPA: 3.95

Approximately 68% of admitted students have a 4.0 GPA. Around 25% fall in the 3.75 to 3.99 range, and roughly 4% have between 3.50 and 3.74. Most admitted students earned nearly straight A's throughout high school, particularly in honors, AP, and IB courses.An exceptionally high GPA is almost a requirement to even be seriously considered at Princeton. You need to demonstrate that you challenged yourself by taking the most rigorous courses available at your high school. However, admissions officers evaluate you within your own context; they understand that a small, rural school might not offer as many AP courses as a large suburban high school. What matters is that you took full advantage of what was available to you and performed excellently in those classes. Maintain strong grades throughout all four years, with upward or sustained high performance through senior year.

While perfect GPAs and top-tier test scores are prerequisites to even be considered, they are far from sufficient at Princeton. Admissions officers report that they reject far more valedictorians and perfect test-takers than they admit. What separates admitted students is their demonstrated intellectual depth and genuine curiosity about ideas. Successful applicants show in their essays and activities that they think deeply about problems, connect ideas across disciplines, and ask meaningful questions. For example, rather than simply stating you are interested in economics, show how you've explored economics through your own initiative, perhaps by reading economics books independently or by applying economic concepts to real-world situations in your community. This intellectual passion must be authentic and specific, not a generic interest in helping people or solving problems.

Admitted Princeton students typically demonstrate sustained commitment and leadership in a small number of extracurricular activities rather than a long list of clubs. Princeton specifically looks for students who have made a meaningful impact on their school or community; they want to see evidence that you didn't just participate, but that you led initiatives, started something new, or achieved distinction in a niche area. This might mean founding a tutoring program, launching a community service project, organizing a successful fundraising campaign, or becoming a recognized expert in a specialized skill. What matters is showing depth of involvement over time, not breadth across many activities. Admissions officers also pay close attention to whether you've taken on leadership positions and how your participation has directly benefited others.

Perhaps most importantly, successful applicants demonstrate strong character and personal values that align with Princeton's community. This includes showing intellectual integrity, ethical reasoning, and a commitment to service or civic engagement. Many admitted students are familiar with Princeton's Project 55 (a civic engagement program) and can articulate what service and contribution to society means to them personally. Beyond academics and extracurriculars, admissions officers want to understand who you are as a person: what drives you, what you care deeply about, and how you engage with different perspectives. They look for evidence of resilience, adaptability, and genuine care for others. Your teacher recommendations and essays should reveal these personal qualities alongside your academic accomplishments.

Princeton rates its essays as a "very important" factor in the admissions process, placing them alongside GPA, rigor of coursework, class rank, extracurriculars, and recommendations. Essays are the primary place where admissions officers hear your authentic voice and gain insight into how you think. They are often what separates a merely strong application from a truly exceptional one, which explains why many valedictorians and perfect test-takers are outcompeted by applicants with slightly lower academic credentials but far superior essays. This is your opportunity to demonstrate intellectual curiosity, your values, and your unique perspective in a way that the rest of your application simply cannot convey.

You should check out the how to write the Princeton supplemental essays article to see details on how to write the Princeton essays.

Your supplemental essays are critical, so approach them with serious thoughtfulness and authenticity. Rather than writing what you think admissions officers want to hear, focus on revealing genuine intellectual curiosity and depth of thought. When responding to the prompts about your academic interests, avoid simply listing subjects you find interesting. Instead, tell the story of how your curiosity developed. Show specific moments that sparked your interest, describe the questions that fascinate you, and explain how you've pursued deeper understanding on your own time. Admissions officers want to see that you think in sophisticated ways; demonstrate this by connecting ideas across different disciplines, applying concepts from one field to another (such as combining physics with philosophy or economics with creative writing), and showing how your various interests complement each other. Be specific about which Princeton programs, courses, professors, and research centers align with your intellectual interests, going beyond surface-level name-dropping to explain concretely what you hope to gain and contribute.

Rather than joining numerous clubs and activities, focus your energy on a small number of pursuits where you can create meaningful impact and develop genuine expertise. Choose activities you truly care about, not those you think will look impressive on an application. Once you've selected your extracurriculars, pursue them with real commitment over multiple years, taking on leadership roles whenever possible. Show how you've made a concrete difference: did you launch a new program, increase membership, improve efficiency, secure funding, or help others grow? When describing your extracurriculars in your application, focus not on the hours you've logged but on the specific challenges you faced, the initiatives you took, and the outcomes you achieved. Admissions officers are looking for evidence that you didn't just participate passively but that you contributed meaningfully to your community. If you participate in arts, include that prominently in your application. Princeton particularly values students who have pursued the visual or performing arts, whether at a high competitive level or through meaningful personal engagement.

Every component of your application should work together to tell a coherent story about who you are and why you're a strong fit for Princeton. Choose rigorous coursework across all core subjects (English, math, science, history, and foreign language), particularly taking AP or IB courses if available at your school, as this demonstrates that you've challenged yourself and are prepared for Princeton's demanding academic environment. Secure strong letters of recommendation from teachers who know you well and can speak to not just your academic abilities but your character, intellectual curiosity, and potential. Treat your teacher recommendations seriously by selecting teachers who have taught you in rigorous courses, can speak to specific examples of your engagement, and ideally can describe you as one of the most impressive students they've taught. Finally, understand that Princeton is looking for students who will contribute to its community in meaningful ways. Show throughout your application that you understand the university's values, that you're genuinely interested in being part of a residential community built on honor code principles, and that you have thoughtful ideas about how you'll engage with others and take advantage of the unique opportunities Princeton offers. If applicable, consider submitting work that showcases your writing ability, as this further demonstrates your intellectual capabilities.