Princeton is a school that needs no introduction, but let’s do it anyway. Princeton is an Ivy League research university in New Jersey. While they offer many different majors, some of the most popular are through Princeton’s School of Engineering and Applied Science. Unlike some other schools, Princeton applicants don’t apply directly to the engineering school. Instead, applicants indicate (in a non-binding way) if they intend to pursue a BSE or AB and their likely area of interest (for engineers, there is also a short essay, but more on that later). This is all non-binding and once at Princeton, it is easy to change your plans.
But first, you need to get in. And at Princeton, this is easier said than done. Last year, Princeton’s acceptance rate was only 4.6%. Whether you are coming in as a Classics or a Chemical Engineering major, you need to be a top candidate. But how? We are glad you asked. We have a couple of steps that you must take if you hope to gain admission to Princeton.
Get the Grades
Before Princeton looks at anything else, they are going to make sure you have a great transcript. Last year, over 72% of applicants who submitted a GPA and over 68% of enrolled students had a 4.0 unweighted GPA in high school. The average applicant had a 3.95 GPA… not the average accepted applicant, just the average applicant. TL;DR: you need a 4.0 or extremely close to it to be a competitive Princeton applicant.
But in all honesty, a 4.0 isn’t really enough. You also need to be challenging yourself in your class selections. If your transcript is all easy A's, Princeton won’t be impressed with your outstanding GPA. You want to pack your schedule with as many Honors, IB, AP, Accelerated, and/or Dual Enrollment classes as you can while still doing well in them. While IB English or AP Spanish will help you, as an engineering major, especially make sure you are also taking the highest level of math and science courses available to you.
Princeton is one of the few Ivy League schools that has extended its test-optional policy for fall 2025. However, great test scores will help your application. Last year, 77% of applicants submitted scores. We would guess that number is actually higher for STEM majors as well. We recommend submitting scores, but they do need to be good. Last year, the 50th percentile was 1530 on the SAT or 35 on the ACT. In the ACT and SAT Math sections, the 75th percentile was a perfect score. That means 25% or more of the students who submitted scores had perfect scores in math. Perfection is a lot to ask for, but it’s Princeton. You need to shoot for similar scores to be a competitive candidate.
Build a Niche
It needs to be clear exactly what you want to study from your resume. Note that we didn’t say from your application. Princeton’s supplement asks the following:
Please describe why you are interested in studying engineering at Princeton. Include any of your experiences in, or exposure to engineering, and how you think the programs offered at the University suit your particular interests. (Please respond in 250 words or fewer)*
While you can write “I want to major in Bioengineering,” if you don’t have the right resume to back that up with specific experiences you can speak to, you won’t be able to answer this question. You need to build a history of academic curiosity and involvement with your educational interests, aka an academic niche. The more defined and specific, the better. Establishing an academic niche won’t just help you with this question; it will help you stand out as a serious applicant. BTW, if you need help answering this question, we have a whole blog about how to write the Princeton supplemental essays here.
Courses and Reading
The first step in exploring your academic niche is learning as much as you can. Part of this needs to be reading books. Before you say anything, “Yes, there are books about engineering.” You don’t need to be a literature major to read, and honestly, a lot of students don’t read outside of class. Reading books also makes you better at speaking and writing about your interests. So make yourself a reading list! Trust us, it's the first step to becoming an expert in your desired field. You can supplement this list with podcasts, scientific journals, tech blogs, etc. See what's out there and what you can explore.
We also recommend taking online classes to help build your knowledge base. Resources like Coursera offer many pre-tapped (and often free) courses. Taking a class that relates to your niche builds a history of academic curiosity. You can also look for courses through your local library, community college, or university summer programs. We love students who take the initiative to learn outside of school.
in-School Extracurriculars
Princeton-level applicants are involved in their high school communities. Ideally, you are signing up for activities that connect to your academic niche. It's a win-win: get involved and build on your academic passions. Popular activities for engineers include robotics teams, science olympiads, mathletes, STEM tutoring clubs, solar car teams, computer science societies, etc. Depending on your specific niche, some of these clubs will be more relevant than others. Find the one that speaks to you. If your school doesn’t offer STEM-based clubs, talk to the administration about starting one.
Once you have found a club or two, it is essential to take on responsibilities and leadership roles in those activities. Princeton won’t be impressed with a one-hour-a-week commitment as a member, so run for that board and get ready to spend time and effort on the activities that matter to you.
Out of School Extracurriculars
You can do out-of-school activities all year, but for Princeton hopefuls, you must specifically strategize your summers to help build an impressive resume. Your summers should include opportunities like an academic summer program, an internship, and/or research. While there are many other great extracurriculars you can also do in the summer, these three will specifically help build your academic niche (when you specifically choose them in areas that connect to what you hope to study). While we love to see hopeful engineers who volunteer at repair cafes or job shadow, Princeton-level applicants usually have at least one related internship and research on their resumes.
Setting up a strategic summer plan can be tricky. We work with students as early as their freshman year to ensure their summer plans work for their goals. Take some time to strategize your summer. This likely means applying to programs, leaning on your network, and putting yourself out there. If you don’t know where to start, reach out. We can help.
Build Something Cool
Engineering requires skills. Whether it is a drone, computer, solar panel, or anything else, you can show off your skills by using them to build something impressive. Show off what you can do, or even better, challenge yourself by choosing something that requires you to learn new skills. We love students who push themselves to build their repertoires.
Apply Early
Princeton doesn’t publish its Restrictive Early Action acceptance rate, but we don’t need it to know that REA is the best chance at getting in for qualified applicants. Princeton is extremely competitive, and you need to take every opportunity you can to stand out. Applying early shows Princeton that it is your top choice and that you are a serious candidate. Good application strategies include an EA/ED plan. If Princeton is your top choice, you need to seriously consider applying early.
No matter if you are a freshman or a senior, we can help you with all things college. It takes a lot to get into Princeton, but you can set yourself up for success by following these steps and being ready to put the work in.
Ready to start strategizing? Reach out today!