Hi, I was just wondering if Ivy League schools (specifically Princeton) accepts students from all over, rather than just in the big cities. Like students from small towns in southern states? Also does it matter what your parents’ jobs/salaries are? Do Ivy League admissions mostly just care about if you’re rich or not? I hope this isn’t the case but I thought I’d ask anyway. Thanks!
Yes, they do. If very few people from your area go to schools like PTon, this can qualify as something called “geographic diversity”. Since most of PTons applicants are from New Jersey and New England, a small (and possibly rural) town down south could help.
Also, they don’t care if you’re rich or not. Princeton has enough money to give really generous aid, and they do. Don’t get that perception from what you see/hear on TV. Yes, a lot of kids come from prep schools like Exeter and Hill School, but everyone I’ve known to go there came from public high schools in my area.
Good luck!
Thank you so much! Your answer really helped and gave me more confidence about applying. I really appreciate it! 
As an example, we live in a town in the Mountain Time Zone with a population of under 8,000 people. My son’s public high school has a long history of sending kids to great colleges. His graduating class sent kids to Princeton, Columbia, Brown, and Harvard. Another recent class had acceptances to Yale, MIT, and CalTech.
Are these kids getting into great schools BECAUSE they’re from a small town in a semi-rural area? No! Their successes are primarily the result of their individual efforts and the resources their community has chosen to provide their school district; this HS produces a hugely disproportionate number of National and State AP Scholars.
Clearly their small town backgrounds aren’t being held against them in admissions.
Right. I completely agree that an individual’s success determines their acceptance rather than where they’re from. However, I attend a private prep school in my town (which is slightly bigger than yours) and we’ve hardly had any graduates gone to Ivy Leagues. Maybe one or two last year. I think this is due to the fact that all the really amazing universities are fairly far away from where I live, not that my school doesn’t provide a good education.
My question is, if I had the individual success and grades that a school like Princeton was looking for, would my application be overlooked because my small town and my small school has not had a history of having Princeton alum?
I do appreciate hearing about your son’s school. That’s really great that a town that small has such success in sending students to incredible colleges. Thank you for your answer, @sherpa!
“My question is, if I had the individual success and grades that a school like Princeton was looking for, would my application be overlooked because my small town and my small school has not had a history of having Princeton alum?”
I seriously doubt it. We’ve met Princeton students who come from both scenarios, with or without ‘hooks’. The difficulty in admissions is that many, many successful students with stellar academics are turned away every year. Admissions truly does not care if you can afford to attend…their endowment is upwards of 21 billion dollars and realistically they could afford to pay for every single student who attends without making much of a dent in that pot. My guess is that they don’t because they want to appear fiscally responsible to their very large donor base.
More likely, students who are otherwise qualified are turned away because their application doesn’t stand out enough from the others. Too many students try to cater to what they think admissions wants rather than focusing on what makes them an extraordinary candidate.
Thank you @Cantiger. I’ll remember this when I apply. So in your opinion, if you don’t mind my asking, what would exactly distinguish a student as having the qualities that makes them an extraordinary candidate?
If I may,
A combination of a few of these
-High rank
-High SAT/ACT scores
-URM
-Legacy
-Leadership and standing out in extracurricular activites
-Demonstrating passion and interest in a program and the school
-Being a lucky SOB.
Among other things. Mostly the last thing I mentioned.
Haha yes, I definitely agree with the lucky son of a bitch combination. I only hope I have that streak of luck. Thanks so much @codemachine!
If I may, I’d like to offer a slightly different perspective. While everything that @codemachine listed above is true, I’ve see quite a number of students who were declined by admissions who had the top 5 or 6 out of those 7 things. In my opinion, great scores and marks/rank are what gets you past the first read. You also need really great essays and recommendations.
The other attributes may help but I really believe that what they are most looking for are students who will put Princeton “on the map”. In other words, what do you bring as an individual that could make the school stand out? If you are a widely recognized, published author, a nationally ranked athlete, a high level science award winner, acclaimed musician, chess master etc who also has great academics and can clearly convey your accomplishments in your application, I believe you have a much greater chance of getting an offer.
Yes there are also students who are just really great, all around people with some interesting EC’s but this is the largest part of the applicant pool. So in such a large pool, what separates you from the rest of the crowd? How can you distinguish yourself as unique and innovative? For example, leadership qualities are wonderful…leadership with a creative and proven effective approach to a societal problem is extraordinary.
Thank you @Cantiger. I really appreciate hearing both yours and @codemachine’s perspective. You both make some really great points and I will remember and take into account everything you guys mentioned. Thank you so much!
They want to see indicators that you can make an impact on the world. Grades/scores are a proxy for intelligence, which can help someone make an impact. URM status may mean you have come a long way to get where you are. Extra-curriculars indicate you have the energy and skills to go after something. Recommendations validate all of the above, as do essays.