<p>The application became available online today.</p>
<p>Is it just me, or do the essay questions really suck this year? I don't like the questions at all. I think I will use the commonapp essays.</p>
<p>Where do I find the supplement? The website says that it is available on the website. However, I am unable to find it.</p>
<p>You can find the supplement through the link in commonapp probably.
Can you post the questions?
Usually there are two that are pretty much open ended...</p>
<p>What are the questions?</p>
<p>The supplemet link in commonapp says "revising" or something.</p>
<p>Anyways, here are the questions:</p>
<p>We hope to get to know you even better through your thoughts on three of the following topics. Please select three of the following themes to write three essays: two brief essays (of about 250 words) and one longer essay (of about 500 words). The choice of topics and their relative lengths are up to you.</p>
<pre><code>*
Princeton's unofficial motto is "Princeton in the Nation's Service and in the Service of All Nations". In what ways do you imagine using your talents and convictions in service to communities - large or small - during your lifetime?
*
"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when one contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries to comprehend only a little of this mystery every day." - Albert Einstein
Write about a personal experience or an aspect of the world that has engaged your curiosity or inspired awe in you.
*
What historical event of the 1990's has most influenced your perspective on the world or your approach to life, and how?
*
Tell us about a person who has influenced you in a significant way.
*
What is your favorite quotation, and why?
</code></pre>
<p>now that I look at them again, they don't look THAT bad. However, I was kinda disappointed when I saw them at first.</p>
<p>Does Princeton really care if one uses their application or commonapp?</p>
<p>Wow, that does seem less open than last years...no "topic of your choice"? But the quotation one seems relatively open...and they're not really BAD questions...I'm sure you'll think of something.</p>
<p>Princeton doesn't care if you use their app or the common app.
I think the common app has that extra question about your most significant activity though?</p>
<p>I used the original, but I don't recall any of those questions. I remember I answered a question about what you would do with one year and another one about a significant moment in your life...which I guess is kind of like questions no. 3, but a bit simpler. There are no free for all questions this year?</p>
<p>If I remember correctly, the supplement is essentially the same thing as the original. For example, you'd do the common app essay, and then you'd get to pick to do 2 essays from these same questions.</p>
<p>But the common app essay would be an open choice (since they always have "topic of your choice") is what I guess annandale's saying...
Yea, last year's questions were completely different. There was "tell us something about yourself" "topic of your choice" "most significant activity" "what would you spend one year doing"</p>
<p>I like "most sig activiy", coz I raised 30G for tsuanmi, and I am doing a lot of work to help immigrants assimilate in the U.S. They could both be used for the essay.</p>
<p>The significant activity is on commonapp this year....could that be a reason why Princeton doesn't has it.</p>
<p>I also like the "tell us about yourself", because then you can just narrate you lifestory.</p>
<p>Should one be casual , or should you try to sound erudite. I find being myself and expressing myself is a lot easier using plain english, rather than using big words.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I don't mind using big words either.</p>
<p>Definitely casual and honest, I think. I wouldn't go around throwing big words into the essay, because then you just look like you're trying too hard. </p>
<p>You can definitely use this question to talk about your community service work:
"Princeton's unofficial motto is "Princeton in the Nation's Service and in the Service of All Nations". In what ways do you imagine using your talents and convictions in service to communities - large or small - during your lifetime?"</p>
<p>I think Common App has the same questions every year, so I don't know how much they affect Pton's questions.</p>
<p>Please please please don't make your essay sound overly academic. It's obvious when someone is purposely trying to insert more sophisticated and less concise vocabulary and syntax into his/her essay, which makes it sound blocky and forced. Add to that the fact that it often detracts from your voice (unless very craftily used) and you can see why it's often better to be less technical and "thesaurus-y" in your word/syntax choice. That's not to say you should avoid advanced vocab/structures entirely, but just don't go out of your way to put them into your essay. When you read it aloud, it shouldn't make you want to slap yourself, basically ;)</p>
<p>I remember my favorite essay from last year was "Tell us about yourself in such a way that we will have a good sense of who you are." I went metaphorically and wrote about my voyages as a firefly. Craziness.</p>
<p>I like the favorite quotation and "Princeton in the Nation's Service" topics this year. There are many different ways you could approach both, so good luck! :)</p>
<p>guyz, thank you so much for your advices.</p>
<p>Ya'll are the best. I just hope I get in....I know it would take a miracle or something.</p>
<p>I am very happy with these questions- they are fun to write about (favorite quotation and event of 1990s-I like it).</p>
<p>If you think about it, these questions are similar to the ones from last year but they are worded differently. For example, the first question is similar to "What talent, accomplishment, or pursuit has given you the greatest joy or satisfaction?" I wrote the essay about research before I saw these new questions, and it still answers the new question. The second question KINDA (but not really) is similar to that of significant experience but talks about 1990s. </p>
<p>I am also happy with no "topic of your choice" because I had a hard time thinking of a subject, and my essay bombed without any direction. So, now I have some guidance to write the essay.</p>
<p>Oops, I found some mistakes I made. </p>
<p>2nd question--> "what talent, accomplishment....?"</p>
<p>3rd question--> "Significant event (of 1990s)"</p>
<p>I am having hard time with the third question. What historical events related to science and humanitairan happened in 1990s?</p>
<p>Princeton's was one of the most enjoyable applications I had to fill out. It's much more personal than the other school's.</p>
<p>Don't look at the questions as difficult, but thought-provoking. They give you the opportunity to show different sides of yourself, and therefore distinguish yourself from the rest of the applicant pool. And don't feel pressured into writing anything too "out there." Not all of us can pull off an essay about our voyages as a firefly (unless you're Phil, who is insane/a genius), nor do you need to.</p>
<p>Btw, I used a pdf writer on my applications. I don't know how much of an advantage it gave me, but it definitely made the forms look neater. I'd highly recommend you download one.</p>
<p>I hope they fixed the online form because last year everything got smushed together if you didn't use HTML to make paragraphs. </p>
<p>I really enjoyed Princeton's app last year. It made me feel like I told them everything I wanted to about me (some other apps made me feel like they got an incomplete picture of me)</p>
<p>Be hardcore and write it out! That's what I did...haha.</p>
<p>But still, no matter what you do, Princeton's app is going to be one of the best to fill out. I'm assuming they still have that section where you get to tell them your favorite book and song and record and such stuff. There's just some stuff that you can't write into an essay. Lol.</p>
<p>qtip: that section doesn't exsist in this year's application. I saw last year's application and loved the section on fav. book/movie/new source etc. I didn't see it this year. I might have overlooked it.</p>
<p>They don't have that section?! That would suck, that was like my favorite part. Maybe they're getting more apps than usual and don't have the time to read through it :( </p>
<p>qtip, you wrote out all your essays?!</p>