As a part of your Princeton application essays for admission to the University, you will be asked to submit a Supplement which incudes, along some fill-in forms, some prompts, specifically two short-answer essays, one longer essay, and a section entitled “More About You” that asks applicants to list:
- What is a new skill you would like to learn in college?
- What brings you joy?
- What song represents the soundtrack of your life at this moment?
As for these three short Princeton essay prompts, it is advisable for a student not to overthink them and be honest and simple. Go for what first comes to your mind — these answers just complete a picture of your personality. Despite 50 words limit, besides the listing do provide some explanation. Present the skill you want to learn connected to your areas of academic.
There is a question on extracurricular activities. These are nothing more than hobbies and passions that do not strictly concern the future professional and educational life of the candidate, but which may be relevant to the application. They allow the committee to get to know the applicant better, evaluating him/her not only for academic achievements, but also for his interests and his way of being. For instance, being a student representative is a great way to strengthen your network and acquire different skills (communication skills, public speaking, organization, etc.), consistently dedicating yourself to sporting activity is a great way to demonstrate perseverance, competitiveness and team spirit. Any volunteer activity carried out on a regular basis will certainly put you in a good light and convey the idea that you are an involved person and attentive to the needs of others. Empathy, listening skills, cooperation and proactivity will be just some of the skills you can learn during your volunteer activity. What you write in your Princeton University Admission essay or Supplement essays should not contradict any other part of your application, nor should it repeat it. This is not the place to list your awards or discuss your grades or test scores.
As for longer Princeton essay topics, for A.B or B.S.E Degree Applicants, to answer it you do need to study thoroughly Princeton’s programs, research projects, clubs, policy, values and traditions to find what really resonates with you, and how you are going to fit to its environment and contribute. Adding that allows the school to tailor questions for applicants around topics that are their academic priorities.
The last long essay, “Your Voice”, consists of two particular questions which purpose is to reveal whether your values and civic engagement coincide with the University’s. These are about your soft skills and civil consciousness and empathy. Bring in your personal experience here, a story illustrating your relevant abilities, character development, active actions, the insight you have learned. Again, you may connect the commitment part to Princeton’s cultural missions and your future goals at this University.
