How to get into Princeton University from India
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How to get into Princeton University from India

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Aishwarya
Aishwarya Bhatnagar
Study Abroad Expert
Updated on Nov 11, 2025 11:48 IST
Unlock the doors on how to get into Princeton University from India with expert guidance. Discover essential strategies, tips, and challenges faced by Indian applicants. Learn about Princeton’s application requirements, deadlines, and selection criteria to increase your chances of admission through this article.

Let us know how to get into Princeton University from India with expert guidance. Discover tips, and challenges faced by Indian applicants. Learn about application requirements, deadlines, and selection criteria of Princeton to increase chances of admission through this article.

How to get into Princeton University from India

Princeton University is one of famous Ivy League institutions in USA. It attracts students worldwide. For Indian students, navigating Princeton admissions process can be daunting. This comprehensive guide provides valuable insights about admission here. This article will help you to know strategies to enhance your application. Princeton is one of hardest universities to get into USA. Check out article and understand in detail how to get into Princeton University.

Table of contents
  • Documents Required to Get into Princeton University
  • Admission Deadlines at Princeton University
  • How to get into Princeton University?: Selection Criteria
  • How to Get into Princeton University?: Challenges for Indians

Documents Required to Get into Princeton University

The following documents are required as part of the admission application to get into Princeton University:

For Student Types List of Documents
For UG Applicants
  • Common or Coalition Application
  • SAT or ACT scores (optional)
  • Official transcripts or academic results
  • School Report to be completed by school counsellor or principal
  • LORs from two teachers
  • Graded Written Paper: 
  • On any of the academic courses of English, social studies or history 
  • Should be attempted in the last three years of high school
  • Not more than 1-2 pages in length
  • Preferably with the instructor’s grades if possible 
  • IELTS/TOEFL or PTE test scoresApplication and a fee of USD 70
For PG Applicants

Admission Deadlines at Princeton University

Princeton University has two admission deadlines for international applicants - Single-Choice Early Action and Regular Decision. The deadlines at Princeton are as follows:

Application Related Details

Single-Choice Early Action

Regular Decision

Applications Open

Mid-August

Mid-August

Application Deadline

November 1

January 1

Decision Notification

Mid-December

Late March

Candidate's Reply Date

May 1

May 1

Which Princeton Deadline is Better for Indian Applicants?

Single-Choice Early Action might be a better option for Indian applicants for the following reasons at Princeton:

  • Receiving a decision in mid-December can provide peace of mind and allow applicants to focus on other college applications or preparations.
  • There may be a higher chance of getting a scholarship at Princeton University during this application cycle.
  • Early applications are often academically stronger and have a higher percentage of extracurricular involvement. 

Applicants cannot apply to any other US college if applying in this admission cycle. All these factors above can make competition additionally more intense.

  • Applicants require more time to prepare their applications.
  • They want to apply to other universities and compare offers from multiple universities.
  • Also, Regular Decisions can be considered at Princeton if applicants defer their applications from Single Choice Early Action.

Best choice depends on individual preferences on how to get into Princeton.

How to get into Princeton University?: Selection Criteria

Selection criteria of Princeton are based on different factors. There is not one concrete answer. Check out point wise eligibility:

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  • A consistent and strong academic record is expected with the highest possible grades in school.
  • The minimum cumulative GPA score required to get into Princeton is 3.95 on a scale of 4.0 points scale.
  • Applicants should take rigorous courses in high school, including honours, Advanced Placement (AP), and dual enrollment courses. Applicants should have four years of English and one foreign language of study before applying to Princeton University courses.
  • Applicants should actively participate in extracurricular activities and mention them in their Princeton application.
  • Essays are the key to understanding an applicant. Thus, applicants should submit essays with honest details.
  • Applicants holding relevant experiences in their chosen fields of study stand a better chance of selection.

Thus, an applicant will be assessed based on these parameters when trying to get admission to Princeton. There may be other parameters for assessments and can vary based on the courses applicants apply for admission to Princeton.

How to Get into Princeton University?: Challenges for Indians

As an Indian applicant, gaining admission to Princeton University presents several challenges. From low acceptance rates to high tuition costs, there are various hurdles to overcome to get admission to Princeton University. Here are some of the key challenges:







  • Princeton University's acceptance rate was 4.6% for the recent admissions. So, this is biggest challenge.
  • Cost of attendance at Princeton is USD 86,700 to INR 73 Lakhs an annum. This is a costly affair and average financial aid offered is USD 62,844 - INR 53 Lakhs approximately.
  • Next is dilemma of submitting score of SAT or ACT despite Princeton being optional.

Getting admitted in Princeton University is based on below factors. It includes academic excellence and intellectual curiosity. Strong academic performance of any applicant is helpful. Active participation in extracurriculars, leadership roles, and community service is important factor. This is your guide on how to get into Princeton University. For queries, write to us in the comments below.

Q:   What is the decent score required on the ACT test to get a good university in the USA?
A:

A score of 26 is a great start. Most good universities in United States generally look for student scores between 28 and 30. While the very best schools often expect a 33 or even higher. Always prepare well for it.

Q:   How is applying to California Polytechnic State University different from applying to other Universities in USA?
A:

There are various ways in which applying to California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) is different from applying to other US universities. These are the main variations, according to the data at hand:

  • First is the Application Procedure. Cal Poly uses Cal State to process online applications. Applying is open to both first-year and transfer students from October 1, 2026 through November 30, 2026. To increase their chances of being selected, students must select a major and review the selection criteria when submitting their applications.
  • Second are the application requirements. Typically, the application calls for a transcript from high school, a college prep course load, and a high school GPA. It is not necessary nor advised to have SAT or ACT results.
  • Unless the applicant is exempt from paying an application cost, there is a $70 application fee per campus. Email is the main method of communication used during the admissions process.
Q:   What GPA do you need to get into SDSMT or South Dakota School of Mines & Technology?
A:

Applicant who wish to study at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology must meet the GPA requirements. We have mentioned the South Dakota School of Mines GPA requirements for international students as per the program:

·      For UG admission, GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale required for South Dakota Mines admission

·      For PG admission, GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale required for South Dakota Mines

Also read What is Grade Point Average (GPA) and how it affects your admissions to the US Universities?

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Written by
Aishwarya Bhatnagar
Study Abroad Expert
Aishwarya is a professional Writer currently working as a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. She has over 5 years of experience and is skilled at creating Online Content with leveraged knowledge i Read Full Bio
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