FAQs

All first-year students and sophomores are required to live in one of Princeton’s seven residential colleges. First-years are assigned randomly to a residential college and to a room and roommate(s) by the residential college staff and Housing & Real Estate Services. For sophomore year, students select their own rooming groups and choose rooms in their residential college through a lottery. Juniors and seniors may live off campus if they wish, although houses and apartments in town are in short supply and rents are high. More than 96% of Princeton undergraduates live on campus. 

Though you are welcome to indicate on your application if another relative attended Princeton, you are considered a “legacy” applicant only if your mother, father, stepmother or stepfather attended Princeton.  

Yes. Princeton requires both parents to provide financial information in most cases. Please review the Family and Household Status page for more information. 

Although students are not eligible for credit for college courses taken through a dual-enrollment program, students may earn advanced placement (AP) for high scores on departmental placement tests offered by some Princeton departments. Consult the reference table for AP credit.

Optional means optional, so these are not required, and most students do not submit additional nonacademic recommendations. However, many nontraditional applicants do find it helpful to submit optional references from individuals who know them better than their required academic references, such as supervisors or colleagues from work or the military, who can speak to their character, work ethic and other personal qualities that they would bring to our campus

Please do your best to adhere to our Graded Written Paper guideline, which states that we will accept a paper or essay that is approximately five pages or 1,000 words.

In addition to academic qualifications, we are interested in the talents and interests you would bring to Princeton outside the classroom. We don't value one type of activity over another. Rather, we appreciate sustained commitment to the interests you have chosen to pursue. Some of the students we admit have one well-honed talent; others have participated in a range of activities. We take particular note of leadership and exceptional talents or accomplishments.

Academic and other advising resources are integrated into Princeton’s residential framework. Students are assigned a faculty academic adviser before arriving on campus in the fall of their first year, and each residential college has faculty fellows who take part in various components of residential college life. Each residential college also has a network of deans and directors who ensure that our students thrive both academically and personally. Beyond the residential colleges, there are numerous offices on campus that offer advising of all kinds. The Center for Career Development offers career counseling. If you need help with any part of the writing process, our Writing Center will provide a free, one-on-one consultation with one of their trained Writing Fellows. University Health Services provides comprehensive medical, health and wellness services to our students. The Undergraduate Financial Aid Office will help with any financial aid issues, and the McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning helps our students become more powerful, productive and independent learners. This is just a small sampling of all the resources Princeton has to offer.   

Every year, Princeton Reunions weekend attracts almost 25,000 alumni, family and friends. Alumni come back to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones, engage intellectually with faculty panels, participate in community service projects and enjoy great music. The style, scope and fanfare of this yearly event is uniquely Princeton.

The Princeton area, which has a population of approximately 30,000 residents, has tree-lined streets, speciality shops, restaurants, parks, and a friendly and safe atmosphere. Some local attractions include the Princeton Battlefield State Park, Princeton University Art Museum, Palmer Square, Princeton Cemetery, Drumthwacket (the governor's residence), Albert Einstein’s home, Morven Museum & Garden and Princeton Record Exchange. Farmlands, the Pine Barrens, the Jersey shore, the Appalachian Trail and even ski slopes can be visited without leaving New Jersey. Learn more.