<p>Hi all,
I'm a little confused by the Princeton supplement. Just wanted to confirm this before I write the essay.</p>
<p>Using the statement below as a starting point, tell us about an event or experience that helped you define one of your values or changed how you approach the world.
"Princeton in the Nation's Service" was the title of a speech given by Woodrow Wilson on the 150th anniversary of the University. It became the unofficial Princeton motto and was expanded for the University's 250th anniversary to "Princeton in the nation's service and in the service of all nations."</p>
<p>Is the statement: "Princeton in the nation's service and in the service of all nations"? Or am I missing something?
Also, I wrote an essay about how literature has expanded my intellectual vitality and has been crucial to my academic development. I wanted to write about this but wasn't sure if that would fit with the statment.</p>
<p>If not, would it be better to make up a statement from a piece of literature and go in this direction for the other option?:
Option 4- Using a favorite quotation from an essay or book you have read in the last three years as a starting point, tell us about an event or experience that helped you define one of your values or changed how you approach the world. Please write the quotation, title, and author at the beginning of your essay.</p>
<p>thank you- sorry if this is a dumb question...</p>
<p>“If not, would it be better to make up a statement from a piece of literature and go in this direction for the other option?”</p>
<p>Just to clarify do you mean draw a quote from a piece of literature? Or do you really mean to make something up? If you mean “yes” to my first question, then the answer is absolutely if it can truly fit the answer that it “helped you define one of your values or changed how you approach the world”. In that case it will be the best question for you to work with. </p>
<p>(trusting there isn’t a need to answer my second question)</p>
<ol>
<li><p>To understand the meaning of “Princeton in the Nation’s Service,” it might help if you read the speech. I found it in .26 seconds on google: [Princeton</a> in the Nation’s Service](<a href=“http://www.princeton.edu/~mudd/exhibits/wilsonline/indn8nsvc.html]Princeton”>http://www.princeton.edu/~mudd/exhibits/wilsonline/indn8nsvc.html)</p></li>
<li><p>It’s okay to work backwards. If you’ve already written something that you love about literature expanding your intellectual vitality, then you are basically choosing “Option 4” and need to find an actual quote from a published piece of writing that you have read in the last three years to use as a jumping off point for your essay. If you choose an appropriate quote, the readers will not know you worked the prompt backwards.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Ok, so I just finished reading the speech. Is it recommended that I try to connect this with something that changed my values or how I approached the world? Does the speech itself need to be addressed at all. Thank you- sorry, I just want to confirm before putting effor into this.</p>
<p>Also, gibby, is there a recommended deadline for regular decision applicants? I read somewhere that Dec. 15th is recommended and that I should try to submit before then, or my application could be negatively impacted.</p>
<p>December 15th is a courtesy date – Admissions would like everyone to send-in their application before then, so they can begin to read files. Many students, however, are accepted who send in their applications after December 15th and before January 1st. Providing your application is sent-in by the deadline, it will not have a negative impact on your application.</p>
<p>No, the speech doesn’t need to be addressed in anyway, although your essay should touch upon something in the quote (or the speech) that makes you think about the values you hold, or the way they have changed.</p>