<p>This section kind of makes me nervous! I don't really have a favorite book or favorite movie, not because I'm an uninteresting person but because I like so many books and movies. Also, how is this section looked upon as a component of your aplication?</p>
<p>If you write that your favorite movie is something silly and completely worthless in terms of intellect or art, is that looked down upon? If you write that your favorite book is something that you had to read for school, will you look like you're lying?</p>
<p>Also, does favorite recording mean favorite song/track or favorite album/CD? </p>
<p>I know that Princeton is just trying to get a better feel for you as an applicant, but how is this section evaluated?</p>
<p>If it's, like, Legally Blonde, it could hurt. If it's A Beautiful Mind, it could help.</p>
<p>No, seriously. That section has no bearing on admission. It's just to make sure you're a human being filling out the application and not a cold-hearted robotic set of field values.</p>
<p>There's no reason to stress about this section. It just adds a bit of dimension and humanity to your application. I know it's tough to choose just one favorite book or movie, but the people who read your app. won't judge you for your taste or make assumptions about yout intellectual ability based on your choices.
I've talked about this section with friends and people have interpreted the "recording" in different ways. Some people list songs, and some list albums. I'm sure the admissions people don't care either way.</p>
<p>I obsessed over this section for weeks :P I am glad that they don't really use it, since my favorite source of inspiration is a book by one Dr. Seuss.</p>
<p>I actually kinda like the way Princeton includes that section in their application.</p>
<p>Over the three or so weeks since I've opened my Princeton app, I've been noticing things about myself that I never really paid attention to before (for example, I mulled about 'favorite word' for a long time until I remembered one that I loved back in ninth grade).</p>
<p>I think most answers would be fine and won't hurt you or help you. Legally Blond would be a fine answer because it shows you have a sense of humor. A Beautiful Mind would probably HURT you because it will make you look like a suck-up (which you would be!).</p>
<p>The worst things you could put would be something like Star Wars or Lord of the Rings for a movie or something like that because Princeton wants to keep the really nerdy people out so they can go to CalTech.</p>
<p>I'm putting Lord of the Rings down...as my favorite book (read it through 8 times). I thought about putting A Beautiful Mind down, because it really is one of my all time favorites, but I put Master and Commander as a compromise (Crowe and Bettany...and I love that one too). I hope they don't put too much weight on it. I guess I better just be honest.</p>
<p>jon314, I was in the same boat about A Beautiful Mind....it really is one of my favorite movies, but I put down another classic instead...Schindler's List.</p>
<p>My opinion is that you ought to respond truthfully to these questions. They know you are teenagers after all, and many teenagers have as their favorite anything teenagerish kinds of things. The best outcome is for your application to give a whole picture of you, and it might be that a future captain of industry really really likes Veronica Mars....or that a future Nobel prize winning physicist loves Panic at the Disco.</p>
<p>A common complaint with prospective students is what to do about their 250 word essay that wound up to be 500 words. The students want an opportunity to show off or at least demonstrate their unique traits. Therefore, be thankful for the favorites. I find the favorites a novel way to partially draw a picture. Relish the opportunity.</p>
<p>Well said wsox- I've probably spent more time thinking about that section than any of the others, not necesarily because I felt it was necesary, but because I enjoyed the focus for introspection. I mean, how many people can, off the top of their heads, name their favorite recording, book, movie line, and movie? I bet those aren't very interesting people.</p>
<p>Princeton wants people that give real and honest answers. Don't answer the movie or other questions in a way that you think will please the admission people. If your favorite movie is Legally Blond, then put it down. It may show the admissions people that you have a strong sense of humor. IV League schools don't want people that are boring and obsessed with boring activities. They want students that are well-rounded and not obsessed with trying to impress. When I applied to Princeon I think I might've put Their Eyes Were Watching God as my favorite book and Lord of the Rings as my favorite movie and I was accepted to Princeton (I chose Stanford though!!). But please, make sure you be honest and yourself. NOTHING LESS!!</p>