<p>I was looking on <a href="http://www.collegeboard.com%5B/url%5D">www.collegeboard.com</a> at the Princeton stats and it says 19% of undergraduates are from New Jersey (it says in-state). This seemed like an incredibly high number given I doubt that many more applicants from New Jersey applied and were that much more qualified than kids in the rest of the country. So, do you gives think Princeton has a soft spot for new jersey applicants?</p>
<p>i thought it was a disadvantage to live in jersey to get into princeton....</p>
<p>Students from New Jersey are much more likely to apply.</p>
<p>NJ is also a very competitive state academically, which partially why so many are admitted, but it is true that instate applicants have a slight advantage. IMHO, I believe this is because they are perceived as more likely to matriculate.</p>
<p>Also, the children of many faculty and administration members attend NJ schools and they probably represent a good number of NJ students that are admitted.</p>
<p>NJ is also home to several major feeders such as Princeton High School and the Lawrenceville School.</p>
<p>there is probably some preference toward NJ kids. Explanation is provided by the higher matriculation.</p>
<p>well, besides that, i know that Princeton gives slightly more FA to jersey kids...</p>
<p>You can't just give out princeton's in-state % and say it favors Jersey kids.<br>
Let's take a look at the other universities of similar stats:</p>
<p>(In state %)
Harvard-N/a
Yale-8% <a href="http://college.sparknotes.com/school/index.epl?inun_id=9785%5B/url%5D">http://college.sparknotes.com/school/index.epl?inun_id=9785</a>
Princeton-15% <a href="http://college.sparknotes.com/school/index.epl?inun_id=8207%5B/url%5D">http://college.sparknotes.com/school/index.epl?inun_id=8207</a>
Stanford-44% <a href="http://college.sparknotes.com/school/index.epl?inun_id=8805%5B/url%5D">http://college.sparknotes.com/school/index.epl?inun_id=8805</a>
MIT-9% <a href="http://college.sparknotes.com/school/index.epl?inun_id=7358%5B/url%5D">http://college.sparknotes.com/school/index.epl?inun_id=7358</a>
UPenn-20% <a href="http://college.sparknotes.com/school/index.epl?inun_id=9334%5B/url%5D">http://college.sparknotes.com/school/index.epl?inun_id=9334</a>
Columbia-26% <a href="http://college.sparknotes.com/school/index.epl?inun_id=5887%5B/url%5D">http://college.sparknotes.com/school/index.epl?inun_id=5887</a>
Duke-14% <a href="http://college.sparknotes.com/school/index.epl?inun_id=6146%5B/url%5D">http://college.sparknotes.com/school/index.epl?inun_id=6146</a>
Caltech-41% <a href="http://college.sparknotes.com/school/index.epl?inun_id=5496%5B/url%5D">http://college.sparknotes.com/school/index.epl?inun_id=5496</a></p>
<p>So Princeton doesn't look that bad compared to some, but it is much higher than Yale and MIT though. Also, looking at Stanford's and Caltech's instate %, you can pretty much tell, if the university is situated in a competitive state, it will take more from nearby areas, so that's probably the reason for Princeton's %.</p>
<p>I don't think Princeton gives preference to in-state at all... Rather, I think that in-state students give preference to Princeton, so they can be closer to home; they probably admit without anything based on location, but the yield is better when the school isn't that far away; I know the reason I thought of going to UCLA instead of Princeton is so I can be just a couple hours' drive from home!</p>