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US holisticUnited States · Bachelor’sResearched 0d ago

Economics

Princeton University
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Overview
Princeton Economics is an undergraduate concentration, but admission is to Princeton University through a holistic review; the department’s economics major is chosen later, not admitted separately. Princeton says no single factor has a fixed weight, so the emphasis below is an evidence-based estimate from official admissions pages.

Admission criteria

PortfolioLow

Not used for Economics admission. Princeton’s arts supplement is optional and only for applicants in arts fields, not for economics.

Bar to clear: Not used by this program

Statement of PurposeMedium

Princeton requires essays and short answers to understand the applicant’s voice, story, and fit; it also asks for a graded written paper to assess academic writing.

Bar to clear: Original, thoughtful essays plus a strong graded written paper

Academics & GPAHigh

This is a major factor: Princeton reviews transcripts, coursework rigor, and grades in context, and says its strongest candidates usually have high grades.

Bar to clear: Strong grades in the most rigorous coursework available; no fixed GPA cutoff

Test scoresLow

SAT/ACT are test-optional for the current cycle, so they are not decisive; for some international applicants, English-proficiency tests are required.

Bar to clear: SAT/ACT optional; TOEFL/IELTS/DET/PTE only if required for English proficiency

Application components

Application essays and short answersGraded written paperOfficial transcript / gradesSAT/ACT scores if submittedTOEFL / IELTS / DET / PTE Academic if applicable
How to stand out
→Show sustained academic strength in the hardest math and social-science courses available.
→Write essays that are specific, original, and clearly in your own voice.
→Submit a graded written paper that shows analytical, thesis-driven writing.
→If you submit test scores, aim for a clearly strong SAT/ACT result; if English-proficiency testing applies, exceed the minimum comfortably.
Source confidence
96%Well sourced
Sources
Princeton Admission - Application Checklist
admission.princeton.edu/apply/application-checklist
Official checklist; lists transcript, essays, graded written paper, optional arts supplement, and holistic review statement.
Princeton Admission - Helpful Tips
admission.princeton.edu/apply/before-you-apply/helpful-tips
Explains that essays and short answers are used to see the applicant’s voice and context.
Princeton Admission - Graded Written Paper
admission.princeton.edu/apply/graded-written-paper
Official guidance on the graded written paper and what writing style Princeton prefers.
Princeton Admission - Standardized Testing
admission.princeton.edu/apply/standardized-testing
Current test-optional policy for fall 2027 and English-proficiency test rules for applicable international applicants.
Princeton Admission - International Students
admission.princeton.edu/apply/international-students
Confirms equal review across countries and English-proficiency requirements when English is not the language of instruction.
Princeton Economics - Undergraduate Announcement
ua.princeton.edu/fields-study/departmental-majors-degree-bachelor-arts/economics
Shows economics major requirements and that entry to the program occurs later, at the beginning of junior year.
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