<p>Hey all - here's the deal. I live in the town of Princeton. My house is about a 10 minute walk from the University. I've lived here mostly all my life--I have solid grades (low 4.0 range out of 4, weighted) and don't know test scores yet. I'll apply this fall as a '16, and am wondering if you think being a 'townie' would have a significant impact on my application?</p>
<p>not significant, maybe minor and that depends on how and in what context</p>
<p>They probably take lots of townies, mostly staff kids, so if you’re an “unhooked” townie you’re probably facing pretty rough odds.</p>
<p>Hooked - would that include a Princeton trustee writing a recommendation? I don’t mean to sound snooty or anything, but he’s a family friend (and my dad’s business partner). Otherwise, I guess I’m “unhooked.”</p>
<p>Anyway, thanks for the help. Was just curious.</p>
<p>I suspect they are quite generous to townies. I live in a town with an ivy league university, and many kids who go to public high school here apply. They get in at a rate of 50 percent–a much much higher acceptance rate than the school offers the rest of the world. And not just the ones whose families are connected with the university get in at that rate. I’ve heard that Princeton is generous to their community in the same way. I definitely think it will stand you in good stead.</p>
<p>^ Completely off base.</p>
<p>To answer OP’s question, I echo sherpa’s sentiment. I live in NJ (~30 min away from Pton) and know kids who attend Lawrenceville/schools near Princeton. The high acceptances are mostly due to being children of staff and other related hooks, not because the school shows any favor toward “townies”. The same can be observed with HS kids in New Haven, Providence, Cambridge, Hanover etc.</p>
<p>I would say that being a “townie” (I am too) is an advantage, but not an unconditional one. Princeton has a higher acceptance rate from my high school than other HYPSM schools , but everyone I know who has gotten in (apart from legacy, children of staff, etc.) was also accepted to at least one other HYPSM. So I think the advantage of living in the neighboring community to Princeton is that it eliminates or at least reduces the “luck” factor - if you are qualified, you will most likely get into Princeton, whereas with most elite schools being qualified doesn’t necessarily correlate to acceptance since there’s so much luck involved. But if you aren’t qualified, it’s unlikely to be an advantage.</p>