Advice for Princeton writing sample?

Hi all! I need to submit a writing sample as part of my Princeton application. Do you have any tips or suggestions on how to choose which piece of writing to submit and how to make it stand out? Much appreciated!

Hello! It's exciting that you're planning to submit a writing sample for your Princeton application. To select the right piece and make it stand out, consider the following tips:

1. Showcase your unique perspective: Choose a piece of writing with a distinct style that demonstrates your thought processes and intellectual curiosity, as that will help the admissions officers better understand you as an applicant.

2. Emphasize critical thinking: Select a writing sample that demonstrates your ability to analyze complex ideas, draw meaningful connections, and think creatively. The point of this paper is to highlight your intellectual skills, which are obviously valued by top-tier colleges like Princeton.

3. Align with your intended field of study: If possible, submit a piece of writing that connects to your intended major or field of study, especially if it showcases deep knowledge or interest in the subject. By doing so, you'll have the added bonus of demonstrating your commitment and aptitude for the field, in addition to your overall intellectual abilities.

4. Balance with your application: If your application already highlights particular strengths or interests, consider choosing a writing sample that showcases a different aspect of your personality or intellectual pursuits. College applications are already limiting in what they allow you to share about yourself, so take advantage of this opportunity to add a new dimension to admissions officers' understanding of you, rather than being redundant.

5. Ensure clarity and polish: Make sure the writing sample is well-structured, error-free, and easy to understand. Remember, you'll need to submit the paper with your teacher's comments - because you won't be able to tweak any mistakes that you may have made the first time around, you'll want to choose something that was polished upon initial submission.

6. Think about length and format: Read the submission guidelines carefully and adhere to the recommended length and formatting requirements. Make sure your writing sample is concise, engaging, and accessible for the reviewers - you don't want to submit a novel, as admissions officers only have so much time to spend on your application.

7. Avoid controversial content: While it's important to showcase your individuality, avoid content that could be considered overly provocative or even offensive. Remember, your goal is to engage and impress the admissions officers, not alienate them.

In summary, select a writing sample that highlights your unique voice, critical thinking, and ideally alignment with your intended field, while also focusing on balance within your application, clarity, and adherence to guidelines. If you'd like more detailed guidance on how to approach this somewhat unusual requirement, check out CollegeVine's blog post on the Princeton writing sample: https://blog.collegevine.com/princeton-graded-paper.

Good luck with your Princeton application!