I will not be the first, nor the last to say this: Welcome to Princeton, congratulations! You should be incredibly proud of yourself, your hard work and dedication to school, and your journey up until this point. The Tiger community can’t wait to see you at “the best old place of all.”

As a bit of a side note for those reading this that did not get in or are hoping to in the future: just know that everyone’s journey is different and ‘success’ isn’t bound to getting into somewhere or not. Make the most of whatever situation you find yourself in and the world will be your oyster!

For those of you who will be coming to Princeton next year as the great class of 2029, you have a lot to look forward to! This includes so many things—lookout for future blogs or check out ones written by my peers—including but not limited to: Academics - famous professors, research opportunities, and cool classes; Social - student organizations/events/shows, school sports, or Eating Clubs; Professional - access to alumni, networking/info sessions, and unique opportunities.

Before then, however, you may be wondering: “I got in, but now what?” I definitely went through this when I opened my decision in December 2021. From what I can recall, the process of matriculating was very smooth so long as you read the emails the university sends. Basically, just make sure all of your paperwork, forms and eventually AP/IB exam results are sent in.

Some time after the regular decision results come out, you will be invited to meet other admitted students and alumni near your geographical area. I am from Sarasota, Florida and there were five students admitted from Southwest Florida so we met via Zoom (it was also 2022). Some of my friends from NYC and LA have told me that they went to much larger in-person gatherings, so it really depends. Regardless, it is a great opportunity to connect with future peers or alumni who may be open to mentoring you!

Speaking of meeting other students, Princeton Preview is a great place to meet other kids who got into Princeton. This happens in the spring after regular decision results come back, so one advantage to getting in early is that you can plan travel a little better (I enjoyed this perk haha). Take full advantage of meeting prospective students, or meeting up with others you’ve met online beforehand. I’m sure they have unofficial Instagram pages where you can send a profile for someone to post (I didn’t do this and definitely don’t pay money—that a scam). The official class of 2029 Instagram made by Princeton is a good place to start following other kids. I also joined Facebook and Discord groups since there was some good information about rooming. That said, it doesn’t really matter if you meet peers online beforehand since the orientation events once you get here are amazing.

While this has been a really brief overview of what happens after you get into Princeton, I hope it was somewhat helpful. I would say the most important thing right now to do is: enjoy the time you have left in high school and don’t slack off (for the most part). If you have any questions about this transition or want some advice from my experience, feel free to send me an email, thomas.danz@princeton.edu! 

I can’t wait to see you on campus. Welcome to Princeton!

As I approach my second to last year at Princeton, I find myself astonished at how quickly time passes; days blur into weeks, weeks into months, and then eventually, a whole year has gone by and I find myself looking back at where I was previously and where I am today. Two years is a lot — three is even more. Three years is the right amount of time to self-proclaim myself as an expert on all things Princeton, yet also, a decent duration that leaves me time to humbly realize there is still a lot I have (probably) yet to learn. 

 

For now, here are some lessons, experiences, and findings I wish a 17 year old me knew when I was applying to Princeton. 

 

1. Princeton has a lot of resources — a TON. For example, Lewis Library has the Makerspace, which rents out plenty of portable gadgets, devices, and tools for both personal and academic use. The Career Center has frequent drop-in hours for advising sessions alongside numerous networking opportunities. Dillon Gym has a wide breadth of unique classes that one can explore when choosing to work out. Truly — every building here has its own subsection of departmental resources that help to enrich your life at Princeton. 
2. There is plenty of free food on campus. Aside from the dining halls, eating clubs, and numerous cafes at Princeton, one can find food through the FreeFood listserv. The listserv frequently promotes uneaten (and fresh) food that can be found across campus. It redirects leftover food from clubs, halls, and departments, preventing it from going to the landfill by circulating it to anyone interested in grabbing a small bite to eat or a larger meal for the day. It is simultaneously sustainable and convenient for those who find themselves wanting a snack.
3. The Residential Colleges (ResCo) at Princeton host plenty of social activities . Aside from the weekly socials that each ResCo hosts for their members, quite often, there will be opportunities to sign up for excursions with the members of your college. Some examples include going to a baseball game or a musical in Broadway.
4. Princeton has lots of fairs — career fairs, academic fairs, ResCo fairs, etc. From professional networking opportunities to extracurricular and study abroad exploration, these fairs are rich sources of snacks, merch, and information for those on the hunt for opportunities.
5. Orange grows on you — there’s something slightly obnoxious about the color that screams pride. Whether you find yourself intentionally sporting the color on a game day or just hastily slapping on the abundance of merch you find yourself accumulating, you begin to grow a deep found appreciation for orange.

 

These aren’t the most innovative or extraordinary findings but they are things I assume my younger self would greatly appreciate (or at least find amusing). Perhaps as you embark on your own college journey, you’ll find yourself creating your own list of musings that one day you can look back at with profound gratitude and nostalgia. 

It’s the summer before senior year and you’re set on becoming a Princeton tiger, all ready to stride through FitzRandolph Gate next August—or honestly insert your dream school. One obstacle remains though, you’re being asked to collapse your values, achievements, personality, identity, skills, and aspirations into the tiny question boxes with character limits. No brainer, right?

 

Looking back to my own college application struggles in the fall of 2022, certain advice still sticks out. Below, I’ll summarize five guiding principles that helped me the most.

 

 

1. Know who you are. 

College applications ask students to articulate a sense of self that can be the most difficult aspect of applying. What’s your deepest belief? What’s something you talk about for hours on end? What do you do with your friends? If you have answers to these questions, they’ll translate into a compelling story.

2. Do your homework. 

There’s no formula for piecing together the professors, student groups, classes, research institutes, and social components that make Princeton right for you. Chat with current students, learn about the school's research focuses, read about the senior thesis. Is there a professor that recently published a paper that sparked controversy on philosophy Twitter? Make it clear you’ve made an effort. Through this you might also find clarity on which schools shouldn’t be on your list.

3. Envision the future. 

While many kids hold national titles or start nonprofits, I think applications are less about raw achievement and more about your vision for yourself. Think less about what you’ve done; rather, how are the people and resources at Princeton going to make you the best version of yourself? If you’re not sure of your direction, what are different avenues the school can facilitate you in exploring? What do you want to learn, study, accomplish, that you can’t find elsewhere? How is this shaping you into someone they'll will be proud to call an alum when you’re a decade post-graduation?

4. Understand what you bring to the community. 

This doesn’t just mean your big award or largest community service project—this is anything you’ve poured your heart into. What would you mention while meeting a stranger at Sunday brunch? What’s something you did in high school that you could bring to colleges and really add to what exists there? Make them remember you.

5. Own what you have. 

Writing essays is not the time to focus on justifying why your achievements are particularly impressive, or conversely, why your circumstances prevented you from doing more. Context is good, always share it, but substance is key. Show colleges the best of your high school journey, and be proud of it! Whether you won the International Math Olympiad, taught the SAT math section to local students, or spent your evenings taking care of siblings, your experiences are what you make of them, so talk about what you learned and how it shaped you for the better.

 

Good luck, future tigers!

“Just trust me, you’ll be fine.” 

These are the words I wish someone would have told me after college decisions came out; that period of my life feels like it was ages ago, but it has only been two years since I opened my application portal with a feeling that can only be described as both anticipation and anxiety. 

This anxiety doesn’t go away after the dreaded decision day. It manifests itself days and weeks after too — especially when you start weighing your choices of where to go — or for the early birds — what to pack, what to expect, and what will happen in the next 4 years of your life. 

Understandably, a lot of big changes will come about in the next few weeks and months. Here’s an unofficial guide of what to do (and expect) if you are feeling lost and something that I wish younger me had access to: 

1. Be kind to yourself —Whether or not you got in, or are still waiting for a decision, celebrate yourself and how far you’ve come! It can be a hard day for everyone but remember that these decisions don’t determine your worth. So congratulate your friends, celebrate yourself, and hug your loved ones a little tighter. 
2. Most colleges will send an email with next steps outlining different events or things to anticipate in the coming weeks or months. Make sure to read each and every email thoroughly! You might be asked to send photos for your student ID cards, verify your financial aid information, or undergo a series of educational programs that will help you better acclimate to campus life once you’re there. 
3. Start crafting a list of things you need to purchase, bring, and pack. What’s the weather like in the Summer and Winter? Will you need a bike? It might be a good time to start curtailing a spreadsheet of items to look over and doing some research. 
4. Ask for help — there are a lot of resources online that prepare you for what move in day will look like, different orientation programs, meal plans, etc. Each college is unique in what it has to offer but current students and the school’s official website will be your best friend during this time, so don’t be afraid to consult these resources. 
5. And lastly, take it slow! You’ll have a whole Summer ahead of you to figure things out and figure out the next steps. Be present — cherish your remaining time at school. Spend more time with your loved ones. But most importantly, be excited! 

In the blink of an eye, time will fly by — while this period will usher in many changes, some things will stay the same. 

You’ll always have your home, your family, and your friends to support you, but most importantly, you’ll always have yourself. Be your biggest cheerleader and look forward to the next couple of months! 

As an entering Sophomore at Princeton University, I cannot help but reflect back on my freshman year and the absolute awe that followed my arrival on campus. It felt like a dream come true. However as I reread my journal today, two particular entries reminded me of how my dream to of Princeton has evolved into my reality as a student. Like many high schoolers, Princeton initially was a dream come true. But I soon realized that Princeton placed me in an exhilarating environment with beyond talented individuals, challenging academics, and inspiring opportunities. Princeton turned out to be much more than I had dreamed of. 

October 12th, 2022: 

“Every time I walk past Blair Arch, I remember that I’m literally living out my dream of going to an Ivy League [school]. This wasn’t supposed to happen. The odds were not in my favor. The acceptance rates are so small. Yet here I am. I never thought much of that, but now I realize how momentous it is! “

A month into school, and I am very clearly enamored with the “idea” of Princeton. 

March 22nd, 2023:

“I got an iced coffee at Campus Club today. The weather is still cold outside, and the crisp air kindly reminds me every morning that I live on the East Coast rather than Texas. The old wooden doors of Campus Club welcomed me in as I ordered an iced coffee. As I sat down, I found it odd that I’m currently sitting inside an old mansion: the only way I can truly describe eating clubs to my friends back home. Dark wood frames the diamond patterned windows, and I feel cozy inside here. The room is quietly bustling with student activity, and I eavesdrop on other students discussing math and physics. I observe the room around me, wondering what's happened in this room, a room with 100+ years of history. It’s odd that this room used to only occupy men, and now here I am, occupying this space. Drinking my coffee, a young woman, bright and curious, diving into my electrical engineering homework. “

By my second semester, I found a more accurate dream of Princeton. I recognized the privilege of this education on a deeper level. Princeton is not just a name or the face of our iconic Blair Arch, is a school with complex history. I take pride in being a woman in STEM, continually contributing to Princeton’s history--while drinking coffee in Campus Club. Since my first year here, I’ve realized that my dream of going to an Ivy League school has not really come true. As a woman in STEM, in an amazing academic environment, rich with history, I've been given a spot. I believe my dream has just started. 
 

It’s that time of year again. My team and I are making last minute tweaks to the incoming first-year class.

We’ve spent the past several months reading, re-reading and discussing the applications that many of you reading this blog put hours of preparation into. We have appreciated learning about your academic pursuits, the activities that intrigue you outside of the classroom and the factors that led you to apply to Princeton. We have laughed at your funny anecdotes, cried (yes, cried) over some of the situations you have trusted us enough to share and thought about how you might add to this vibrant community. And now it comes down to your receiving a decision.

You might not believe it, but this is not my favorite part of my job. Don’t get me wrong, I think I have one of the best jobs on this campus – being able to serve my alma mater in a way that introduces her to prospective students around the world. But in this moment, providing decisions that will exhilarate some and devastate others is not my idea of fun.

So, each year, I try to remind ALL applicants that receiving a decision from a college (whether it’s Princeton or some other amazing institution of higher learning) should not make or break you. If you receive positive news, that’s excellent! Celebrate, decide if it’s the place you can see yourself learning and growing inside and outside of the classroom and base your decision on whether or not to enroll on whether or not the school is a fit for you academically, socially and financially.

If you receive not-so positive news, know that one school’s decision does not indicate anything about your ability to be successful in college. I can only speak for Princeton, but each year we receive applications from many more highly qualified students than we could possibly admit. And, each year we have to say no to many of those same students. I realize that doesn’t take the sting out of receiving anything other than an admit. Still, I hope that you will not let the received decision keep you down. Rather, take a minute to absorb it, and then regroup and put your efforts into your senior year activities. Importantly, remember to enjoy the remainder of your high school senior year, as making those memories are as important as figuring out the next phase of your life.

Whatever decision you receive from Princeton or any other college or university you have applied to, please know that we have enjoyed getting to know you. Your story is unique to you and important. And whatever campus community is allowed to benefit from your presence will be all the better for it.

Good luck with this next adventure!

For prospective transfer students considering Princeton, know that you are not only valued here, but supported financially, academically and personally by systems that were created specifically for you. You can experience a residential liberal arts college as robustly as any other student without compromising your goals and individual needs. Princeton’s incoming transfer students have a supportive cohort within the tight-knit transfer and veteran student body as well as across the greater community. And when it comes to your strengths and achievements – not only academically, but also otherwise, such as in your military service, professional work, etc. – know that these are valued and appreciated in our process not in spite of their difference compared to the average traditional student, but because of them.  The life experience and perspectives you bring from those achievements — and maybe from the learning experiences and tenacity you have shown in overcoming some negative experiences — give us a unique perspective about your ability to thrive and contribute to an environment where academic rigor and exploration are encouraged, and close community relationships are forged.

When presenting your body of work since your high school years — which can be from a range of time and experiences across the transfer student spectrum — we ask for the full range of academic records and non-academic experiences so we can best understand your trajectory, and how you have become the strong and motivated student you are now, and how you’re prepared for the kind of experience offered at Princeton. Academically, your level of preparation will mostly be evaluated on the strongest, most recent academic record in place of maybe suboptimal prior experiences. If there are reasons to explain why past experiences — academic or otherwise — did not meet your current high levels of achievement, it’s helpful to address those extenuating circumstances, regardless of whether they were within or outside of your control. This can be in the form or a resume charting out the road map, or a short paragraph in relevant optional sections of the application.

Whatever the case may be, and whether you traveled the straight and narrow path to this juncture, or a wider, more meandering one, know that you can absolutely be a worthy and highly competitive candidate for Princeton or any similar elite college that values transfer and non-traditional students, no matter how highly selective. Do not be discouraged by statistics of admission rates or academic metrics that are largely comprised of the majority of our applicants in much more linear pathways who do not bring the range of life experiences and perspectives that you might. Instead, show us your strengths as they exist today, as well as the road you traveled that contributed to who you are and why this is the right moment where your goals in higher education and beyond intersect with what a college like Princeton can offer you, and what you can offer to the community in return. Find your greatest advocates in your current community — whether that’s at your college, at your job, in your military cohort, or elsewhere — to support you in this process, and importantly, reach out to us directly, as well as our counterparts in the offices of other colleges you’ll be applying. This process is complex enough for any student, and we’re happy to assist and support however we can on our end as you continue this journey, and prepare for the next steps ahead.

It’s that time of year again. Here in New Jersey, the weather has turned colder, the trees have surrendered the last of their leaves, and my team and I are making last minute tweaks to the incoming first year class.

We’ve spent the past several weeks reading, re-reading and discussing the applications that many of you reading this blog put hours of preparation into. We have appreciated learning about your academic pursuits, the activities that intrigue you outside of the classroom and the factors that led you to apply to Princeton. We have laughed at your funny anecdotes, cried (yes, cried) over some of the situations you have trusted us enough to share and thought about how you might add to this vibrant community. And now it comes down to your receiving a decision.

You might not believe it, but this is not my favorite part of my job. Don’t get me wrong, I think I have one of the best jobs on this campus – being able to serve my alma mater in a way that introduces her to prospective students around the world. But in this moment, providing decisions that will exhilarate some and devastate others is not my idea of fun.

So, each year, I try to remind ALL applicants that receiving a decision from a college (whether it’s Princeton or some other amazing institution of higher learning) should not make or break you. If you receive positive news, that’s excellent! Celebrate, decide if it’s the place you can see yourself learning and growing inside and outside of the classroom and base your decision on whether or not to enroll on whether or not the school is a fit for you academically, socially and financially.

If you receive not-so positive news, know that one school’s decision does not indicate anything about your ability to be successful in college. I can only speak for Princeton, but each year we receive applications from many more highly qualified students than we could possibly admit. And, each year we have to say no to many of those same students. I realize that that doesn’t take the sting out of receiving anything other than an admit. Still, I hope that you will not let the received decision keep you down. Rather, take a minute to absorb it, and then regroup and put your efforts into your senior year activities and any other applications that need to be finished. Importantly, remember to enjoy the second half of your high school senior year as making those memories are as important as figuring out the next phase of your life.

Whatever decision you receive from Princeton or any other college or university you have applied to, please know that we have enjoyed getting to know you. Your story is unique to you and important. And whatever campus community is allowed to benefit from your presence will be all the better for it.

Good luck with this next adventure!

On a recent Sunday, my friend Hannah took the train from New York City to visit me in Princeton. In planning our itinerary, I considered what sites would be essential to give her the complete Princeton experience. I wanted to show her the traditional Princeton sites and give her a feel for what a typical day of traversing campus for classes, meetings, and activities is like for me. These are the locations I decided to include on the tour, and we had a lovely time exploring them throughout the afternoon.

1. The Dinky

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The first stop was meeting Hannah at the Dinky train station. The Dinky is a short rail line connecting campus to Princeton Junction, which is a major train station hub with connections to cities like Philadelphia and New York. Once off the Dinky, Hannah entered the Wawa there to grab a coffee while she waited for me to arrive (who was caught off guard by how fast the Dinky was, and consequently late!)

2. My residential college

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After leaving the Dinky station, our first tour site was naturally Forbes college. Forbes, my residential college, is located just across Alexander Street from the Dinky. I explained that the building was formerly the Princeton Inn, and I showed her where my dorm was.

3. Nassau Hall, Firestone Plaza, and Blair Arch

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Next up on the tour were several historic sites without which no Princeton tour would be complete. We walked up to Nassau Hall, the iconic ivy-covered building just past the front gates, passed through Firestone Plaza, and posed for a photo in front of Blair Arch (cover image of this blog), the famous steps of which used to welcome visitors off the train (the train station was moved a quarter mile south, to its current location near Forbes, in 1918). With my camera and map in hand, I think I looked much more like a tourist than a student here!

4. Fountain of Freedom

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It was a very hot day, so we decided to cool off by the Fountain of Freedom. The breeze blows a spray of water as you pass by, which was cooling and much appreciated that afternoon. There's also a reflecting pool in which children play and swim, and it was so hot that I took off my shoes and decided to wade in too! It was a much-needed refresher.

5. Eating Clubs

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I'm not a member of an eating club, but I still felt a Princeton tour would not be complete without a stroll down Prospect Avenue to see the eleven historic buildings. We appreciated the architecture and peeked through the windows to see inside the (summer-emptied) clubs.

6. Palmer Square

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After exploring campus, I took Hannah down Nassau Street to see the town. We window shopped in Palmer Square (a high end shopping and dining square in the heart of town), and we actually shopped at my favorite thrift store, Nearly New. I'm pleased to report I found some Princeton socks for $3.

After exploring campus and town, we walked back to the Dinky and Hannah departed suburbia to return to the big city. There are certainly more sites to see, but I think my tour provided a nice overview of the campus and town.

Dear Great QuestBridge Match Class of 2027,

Has it sunk in yet? The fact that you are now an invaluable member of Princeton’s newest class?

It may not fully sink in until you step foot onto Princeton’s campus for orientation and your first day of classes, but regardless, I welcome you to Princeton’s Great Class of 2027!

Not to date myself, but I am a member of the QuestBridge Match Class of 2025. Even though it’s been two years since the fateful day when I matched to Princeton, I remember the process like it was yesterday: I remember the suspicion I first felt as I googled “Is QuestBridge a scam?” I remember the feverish race to submit all of my supplements by November 1st. Most clearly of all, I remember the day I received my match letter. I remember my hands shaking as I opened the email notification and the adrenaline that coursed through my body as I realized that everything I had been doing for the past four months—heck, the past four years—was about to culminate with this. Exact. Moment. 

As a first-generation, low income student navigating Princeton for the past two years, I have grown immensely. I’ve grown, and yet I am continuously grounded my home community and the on-campus QuestBridge community. 

As I write this letter to you right now, I hope to share a core lesson I’ve learned this past semester that may serve as food for thought as you close out your high school career:

A couple weeks ago, I was participating in HackPrinceton, and I went to a team-building event to meet some of the students who had driven and flown in from all around the world.

I walked up to the first person: “Hi, my name is Aminah! What’s your name?”

“Angel,” she said, smiling.

“Angelica?” I asked, echoing back what I’d heard.

“Angel,” she clarified.

Next to me, my friend snickered, incredulous at how I could have misheard the name so badly.

But it gets worse: this happened repeatedly.

“What’s your name?”

“My name is Alayna!”

“Allison, you said?”

At this point, my friend was dying of laughter. “Wow, you’re really playing life on hard mode aren’t you?!”

This moment from the hackathon has stayed with me, and I realize that my friend was right. In almost every way, I have always approached life assuming that it would be more difficult than it sometimes actually was. I have always assumed that I would be asked to jump through more and more hoops ad infinitum.

Now, some of this is a product of my low-income upbringing: nothing has been given to me on a silver platter and so I have come to expect struggle and pain as necessary prerequisites to my moving through the world.

What I have as a response is not some grandiose solution or overarching statement, but a question: What if life (or at least some parts of it) is actually simple? What if there are areas in your life right now where you are struggling because you think you have to, not because it is actually necessary?

You’ve done it. You are on track to become a graduate from one of the top universities in the country. You are in great hands. You have an opportunity to end high school hopefully in person, as the ramifications of the global pandemic have begun to recede.

Take this win. You’ve earned it. Congratulations!

 

With infinite love, 

Aminah