thoughts on the super short answer part of the supplement? (favorite word, movie, book, etc.) are people elaborating a bit on the answers or just leaving them short?
@wishhhh I’m personally just listing the answers, but I’ve heard of people elaborating on answers as well.
I believe that they just want a brief and concise answer to the question. These questions are not going to make or break your application. They are just giving the admissions officers context to you as an individual. They would rather see more depth on the essays than an irrelevant explanation as to why “Gone with the Wind” is your favorite movie. In fact, this explanation may even clutter your application, so I would avoid it.
However, this is just my opinion! 
Do whatever you feel will represent you best on your application!
My son is attending Princeton as a first year. For the short answer questions (favorite book, movie, website, recording, word, etc.), he just answered the question with zero additional explanation. The questions seem just like ways to get quick glimpses of random facts about a person. Extra explanation is unlikely to help (and has the potential to hurt in my opinion). Then again, the sample size for my opinion is 1.
@wishhhh You can elaborate if you want to, but given that the section is titled ‘A Few Details’, I honestly doubt that they’ll be wanting you to explain anything.
Also, Has anyone been contacted by alumni for an interview yet?
My son (class of 2020) elaborated on 3 of the answers, but mostly just answered the questions. I agree, if not well thought out, longer answers could hurt more than help.
Which of these 3 subject test scores should I submit to Princeton?
Math II:750, Physics: 780, Lit: 730
I am more of a humanities kinda guy and have taken 5 humanities APs (scored 5s on all), so I wanted to use the subject tests as a way to ‘round myself out.’ Knowing that a lot of applicants will have 800 on Math II, should I send my 750 in or no?
Is there any advantage (from an acceptance POV) to applying BSE vs AB? I’m taking Comp Sci and I can’t decide between CS AB and CS BSE, so i was wondering if one is relatively easier to get into than the other.
similar question to @gmanhax should I submit math 2 780 or no? I’m worried about how it will look considering that I’m applying to engineering…
@wishhhh, you should send the score, because engineering applicants are recommended to send a Math Score.
@samc24 they’re both equally hard to get into, it’s Princeton! The course content, of course, varies a bit. The AB degree is a bit more concept-oriented, while you’ll be getting more practice on the BSE one. (According to the Princeton website, atleast.)
@wishhhh My goodness do you think a 780 in math is a problem? It’s an excellent score. Report it.
@samc24 My son was a BSE class of '16. There is no advantage to applying to BSE over AB because it is quite easy to switch between the two once admitted provided you have the prerequisites for each concentration. Apply to the area of your greatest interest.
I have strong AP (5 in AB Calc and Physics C: Mechanics and EM) and Subject Tests (Chem: 790, Math 2: 800, Physics: 800); however, my SAT 1 is a 1450 superscored (680 R/W 770 M 7-7-7 essay). I am retaking again in November. Should I still self-report? Also how heavy does Princeton weigh SAT 1 if my extracurricular activities, honors, recs, essays and other test scores are strong? Thanks and good luck to all the SCEA applicants!
Submitted my app today. Anyone know how long it takes until they email me with instructions about checking status on their portal?
@student709 It usually takes about 48 hours. In case you don’t get an email, send an email to the Undergrad Admissions office (uaoffice@princeton.edu) telling them that you haven’t received an email with the portal intructions. This happened with me, they’re quick to respond!
@icarus29 thank you!!!
Guys, has anyone here been contacted for an alumni interview yet? I sent my app a week back, and i sttill haven’t been contacted, so I was kind of wondering…
I wouldn’t worry about the interview too much. My daughter is in the class of 2020 (SCEA) and she wasn’t contacted for an interview until the week before decisions came out and had a Skype interview the Sunday before (Interview on the 13th and decisions were released on the 16th) I’m pretty sure the decision was made before then.
Does anyone know anything about the admissions rates for those who attended Princeton’s Creatives Arts & Humanities symposium? I’ve heard it’s around 50% but that number seems widely unsubstantiated. White upper-middle class male with 2290 SAT, 780/750/730 SAT IIs, 4.3 out of 4.6 GPA, lots of theatre/singing awards & clubs, etc. etc…
If they don’t like my arts supplement, will the boost from attending the symposium be negated? D:
Anyone else scrambling last minute to complete PFAA?