princeton chemistry phd acceptance rate

• Scholarship

Top Chemistry graduate schools

Looking for the top Chemistry graduate schools? We put together a comprehensive list of the best graduate programs for Chemistry, and put the results below. We include the acceptance rate, average GRE scores, and a brief description of each - all the information you need to kick start your research. Read on!

California Institute of Technology 's Chemistry acceptance rate is 10.00% .

The chemistry program at Caltech offers in-depth education in various areas of chemistry, including organic and inorganic chemistry, chemical physics, theoretical chemistry, and chemical biology. Research opportunities cover chemical synthesis, catalysis, reaction mechanisms, biochemistry, and materials chemistry. Normally, Caltech does not admit students for a Master of Science (M.S.) degree, but exceptions can be made with prior approval. The M.S. degree in Chemistry requires completion of graduate-level courses, participation in a research project supervised by a faculty member, and submission of a satisfactory Master's Thesis. The thesis must be supported by at least 45 units of chemical research and should meet formatting guidelines and approval requirements outlined by the Graduate Office.

Harvard University 's Chemistry acceptance rate is 24.00% .

The Chemistry and Chemical Biology program at Harvard University is part of the Harvard Integrated Life Sciences initiative, fostering collaboration and interdisciplinary research. Students gain expertise in chemical inquiry and molecular-level investigation. The program features a distinguished faculty, including Nobel Prize and Welch Award laureates. Students have access to cutting-edge instrumentation and collaborations with institutions like the Broad Institute and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Research projects range from gene editing to advanced imaging systems. Graduates secure faculty positions at prestigious institutions or pursue successful careers with pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline. The program provides a strong foundation for thriving in the chemical and life sciences.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology 's Chemistry acceptance rate is 18.00% .

The MIT Department of Chemistry graduate program is renowned for its excellence in education and research, fostering an inclusive and innovative community. With a rich history of pioneering advancements in chemical research, the department integrates these achievements into its educational mission. Chemistry serves as a foundational science, contributing to diverse areas such as sustainable energy, biomedical research, environmental improvement, and material development. Collaborations with interdisciplinary laboratories and programs offer students opportunities to engage in cross-disciplinary research. Moreover, the department prioritizes the well-being of its graduate students through activities promoting work-life balance, including intramural athletics, yoga classes, and social events.

Northwestern University 's Chemistry acceptance rate is 27.00% .

The Department of Chemistry prioritizes graduate education and research at the forefront of the field, equipping students for research positions in academia or industry. They offer advanced courses, seminars, and research opportunities covering various branches of chemistry, such as inorganic, organic, physical, and biological chemistry. The department actively promotes interdisciplinary research in materials chemistry, environmental chemistry, and the chemistry of life processes. Collaboration between students and faculty extends to several research centers on campus, including the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC), Center for Catalysis and Surface Science, International Institute for Nanotechnology (IIN), Argonne-Northwestern Solar Energy Research Center, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute (CLP), Center for Molecular Innovation and Drug Discovery (CMIDD), and the Center for Bio-Inspired Energy Science (CBES).

Princeton University 's Chemistry acceptance rate is 10.00% .

The Department of Chemistry at Princeton University provides a Ph.D. program with a diverse community of approximately 165 graduate students and 120 postdoctoral researchers, visiting faculty, and senior scholars. Research in various chemistry fields is pursued both within the department and in collaboration with other departments and programs on campus. The program offers interdisciplinary and collaborative research opportunities, with a focus on areas such as catalysis, organic synthesis, chemical biology, inorganic chemistry, physical experimental chemistry, theoretical and computational chemistry, and materials chemistry. Students benefit from faculty mentoring, access to resources, and the opportunity to pursue individualized programs. The program culminates in a thesis-based research project and a public oral examination for the Ph.D. degree. A Master of Science program is also available for select industry-sponsored candidates.

Scripps Research Institute 's Chemistry acceptance rate is 28% .

The Scripps Research Institute's Graduate Program offers an interdisciplinary "Doctoral Program in Chemical and Biological Sciences" at its campuses in La Jolla, California, and Jupiter, Florida. With over 300 students, the program emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to education and provides mentorship from more than 200 scientific faculty members, including Nobel Laureates. Accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission since 1993, the program offers research opportunities, seminars, and professional development workshops. Advanced broadcasting technologies ensure seamless connectivity and interaction between students and faculty across both campuses, fostering a vibrant research community.

Stanford University 's Chemistry acceptance rate is 3.95% .

The Master of Science program in Chemistry at Stanford University is only available to its current Ph.D. students and through a coterminal program. Applicants must complete a minimum of 45 graduate-level units and an M.S. thesis in addition to their bachelor's degree requirements. With a student-faculty ratio of 5:1 and 69.3% of classes having fewer than 20 students, Stanford offers an intimate learning environment. The university has 17 Nobel laureates and is ranked second globally by QS Global World Ranking. The Department of Chemistry provides diverse opportunities for graduate study, covering various subfields. Academic advising is crucial, with regular meetings, yearly development plans, and timely feedback between advisers and students.

University of California, Berkeley 's Chemistry acceptance rate is 9.30% .

The Chemistry PhD program prioritizes the development of creative scientific research skills in its students. The main focus of the curriculum is the individual research project, which allows students to engage in independent study. Course requirements are minimal and tailored by advisors to best prepare students for their chosen research field. The program offers concentrations in Physical Chemistry, Synthetic Chemistry, and Chemical Biology, each with specific degree requirements. Students select their research projects after consulting with faculty members and conducting literature reviews. The program includes independent study, seminars covering various topics, a qualifying exam, and teaching assistantships. Financial aid in the form of stipends, tuition waivers, and insurance coverage is provided to all admitted students.

University of Chicago 's Chemistry acceptance rate is 28.00% .

The Department of Chemistry at the University of Chicago offers a flexible and interdisciplinary graduate program. Students have the freedom to choose their research advisor early on and engage in research by spring. There are no cumulative or major examinations, and students can take courses in other departments, even earning a chemistry degree for research done under the supervision of faculty from other departments. In the first year, students must complete six graduate-level courses with a B average, undergo basic examinations, and participate in presentations and lab rotations. By the second year, students prepare for the Ph.D. candidacy examination, presenting a research prospectus for admission to candidacy.

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign 's Chemistry acceptance rate is 39.00% .

The Department of Chemistry offers a PhD program with requirements including coursework, research, teaching, and examinations. Students can choose their research advisor and begin their research in the first year. The department provides diverse research opportunities in Analytical, Chemical Biology, Inorganic, Materials, Organic, and Physical chemistry. The formal course requirement can be fulfilled in about two years, with flexibility in course selection. Students are expected to participate in departmental seminars and present a talk in their second year. The preliminary exam evaluates research progress, while the final exam involves an oral presentation of the thesis project. Teaching assistant duties are assigned based on student backgrounds and interests. The degree awarded upon completion is the Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry.

And there you have it - the top graduate schools for Chemistry . These are some of the best schools in the country for this field , and admission into any of them would be a great accomplishment that could set you up for a strong career.

Admission Statistics

Statistics for enrolled class of 2027.

(as of Aug. 21, 2023)

Class Overview

(first-time, first-year)

• Total enrolled: 1,366
• 51% of students in the class are female and 49% are male.
• 17% of students in the class are the first in their families to go to college.
• 66% of students in the class qualify for financial aid.
• 22% of students in the class are eligible for need-based Federal Pell Grants.

Middle 50% SAT Scores

• Math 780-800
• Evidenced-based Reading and Writing: 760-780

Middle 50% ACT Scores

• Composite score: 34-35

Secondary School Type

Enrollment by U.S. States & Territories

Citizenship

The Princeton Class of 2027 includes international students who are citizens of the following 64 countries:

You seem to be using an unsupported browser

To get the best user experience please use a supported browser. Here are a few we recommend:

• Department of Chemistry

Princeton, NJ

Department of Chemistry / Department of Chemistry is located in Princeton, NJ, in a suburban setting.

Degrees & Awards

Degrees offered.

Earning Your Degree

Degree Requirements

Application Deadlines

Entrance Requirements

Tuition & Fees

Financial support.

Student Body

Race/ethnicity.

Location & Contact

• Grad Schools
• Search Results
• Princeton University
• Graduate School

Graduate School

Chemical and Biological Engineering

General information, program offerings:, department for program:, affiliated departments:, director of graduate studies:, graduate program administrator:.

The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering’s mission is to educate the leaders in chemical and biological engineering by conducting research that defines the frontiers of knowledge in our field. We prepare chemical and biological engineers for careers in teaching, research and development, entrepreneurship, and management in academia, government, and industry. Building on world-class research and scholarship, Princeton’s Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering has particular strengths, including our small student-to-faculty ratio, ensuring true mentorship during graduate study; a diverse graduate student body producing outstanding scholarship; uniformly strong academic departments throughout Princeton University; a diversity of mutually beneficial research collaborations; and our location, amidst the greatest concentration of chemical and pharmaceutical industrial research laboratories in the United States.

The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering’s graduate programs are centered on the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree, and the majority of our students are doctoral candidates. Our department also offers two masters degree programs (Master of Science in Engineering, Master of Engineering) geared toward practicing engineers interested in expanding their knowledge, who generally come with financial support from their employers or an external fellowship. All three graduate programs are based on the principles of chemical engineering, chemistry, biochemistry, biology, mathematics, physics, and related science and engineering disciplines.

Additional departmental requirements

M.S.E. and M.Eng. applicants typically have support from their employers or from external fellowships.

Program Offerings

Program offering: ph.d., program description.

The Ph.D. program aims to prepare students for positions as independent researchers, whether in industry or academia. We believe that our program's close mentorship and strong emphasis on written and oral communication benefit students who follow such career paths. The central feature of the program is original research leading to the student’s Ph.D. dissertation. In addition, students must exhibit a firm and broad grasp of modern chemical engineering and allied fields through coursework, and demonstrate the ability to conceive and plan original research.  Every admitted Ph.D. student is given financial support in the form of a first-year fellowship. In addition, all admitted Ph.D. students are automatically considered for the prestigious Wu and Upton Fellowships.

Satisfactory completion of ten courses for the core course requirement is required for this degree, including five departmental core courses (CBE 503; CBE 504; CBE 507; MAE 501/CBE 509; CBE 510 or MAE 552/CBE 557) and a research ethics course (EGR 501). Among the remaining four courses, at least three must be technical courses at the graduate level (500-level) or senior level (400-level). Exemptions from certain core courses may be granted for students who have completed a similar course at another institution; exemptions should be sought in writing from the director of graduate studies.

General exam

The general examination has two components. The first component is mastery of graduate-level chemical engineering material, demonstrated by satisfactory grades in the departmental core courses. The second component is the first proposition, which is a written document defended orally.  The written document outlines plans for dissertation research, including progress already made. This document is submitted in the late fall of the second year of residence and is defended orally in January, before a committee of faculty members. Satisfactory completion of the core course requirements and the first proposition defense is required to achieve post-generals degree candidacy. Students must pass both components before May of the second year. Deficiencies noted at either the end of the first year of study or at the first proposition defense may result in a student being required to retake one of the core courses (not for credit), possibly after auditing a relevant undergraduate course.

Qualifying for the M.A.

The Master of Arts (M.A.) degree is normally an incidental degree on the way to Ph.D. candidacy and is earned after a student successfully passes the general examination.  It may also be awarded to students who, for various reasons, leave the Ph.D. program, provided that these requirements have been met.

Please note, students admitted to the Ph.D. program who do not wish to complete the program may be considered for an M.S.E. degree with approval from the department and the Graduate School.  Ph.D. students who have already been awarded the incidental M.A. are not eligible to earn an M.S.E.

All Ph.D. students must serve a minimum of one semester as an assistant in instruction (teaching assistant) to broaden their experience and expose them to the other side of the instructional process.  For students who secure certain competitive fellowships that do not allow teaching, this requirement can be lifted with approval from the DGS.  Students are expected to serve six AI (assistant in instruction) hours, which equates to approximately twenty hours/week for the semester.  Six AI hours is based on the number of contact hours each week with undergraduates.   Students generally serve as AIs in their second year of graduate study, never in their first. Some students may serve more than once if the student so desires; if AI service is needed to ensure a student’s continued financial support; or if the department cannot fill the AI position otherwise. In addition, some “half” (three-hour) AI positions may be available, which should require approximately 10 hours/week; these would normally be filled by students who have already completed their term of “full” AI service.

Dissertation and FPO

The doctoral dissertation must demonstrate the student’s independent research and mastery of the field and extend existing knowledge or present a significant new interpretation of known phenomena. The dissertation must be approved by the student’s research adviser and a knowledgeable second reader.

The final public oral examination culminates the student’s graduate studies. A faculty committee examines the student’s technical mastery of the material in the dissertation.

Program Offering: M.S.E.

The Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.) is a research-based master’s degree, culminating in an M.S.E. thesis describing the student’s original research. Each candidate’s experience is broadened through satisfactory completion of six graduate courses in chemical and biological engineering. The typical duration of M.S.E. study is 18 to 22 months (three to four academic terms with summer in between); students admitted in candidacy for the M.S.E. degree have support from their employers or external fellowships.

M.S.E. students must successfully complete a minimum of six graduate-level courses from either the chemical and biological engineering curriculum or approved technical electives.

The M.S.E. program has a strong research focus, reflected in a master’s thesis requirement, which the student’s research adviser must approve.

Program Offering: M.Eng.

The Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) is a coursework-based master’s degree offered to practicing engineers.  Candidates for the M.Eng. degree, if enrolled full time, will normally satisfy that requirement in one 10-month academic year.  Students admitted in candidacy for the M.Eng. degree will always have external support, typically from their employers or external fellowship; financial support is not offered. The M.Eng. degree may also be pursued part-time by staff from the many nearby industrial laboratories.  No research nor thesis is required.

Candidates for the M.Eng. degree must successfully complete at least eight courses, all taken for a letter grade. A minimum of six of these eight courses must be technical, having their primary listing in a department or a program within the natural sciences or engineering. A minimum of four of these courses must be chosen from graduate offerings (500-level) in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (primary or cross-listed); options include any of the four core courses for the Ph.D. degree (CBE 503; CBE 504; MAE 501/CBE 509; CBE 510), as well as graduate-level CBE electives (primary or cross-listed) chosen according to the student’s area of interest. Of the remaining four courses, a minimum of two must be at the graduate level (500-level). Up to two courses at the senior level (400-level) will be counted towards the degree requirement of eight total courses.  Students are encouraged, although not required, to focus their course choices to develop significant expertise in a particular area.  Students must have a “B” (3.00) average or better when they complete the program requirements to receive the degree.

Please note, CBE 507 cannot be counted towards the course requirement for M.Eng. candidates. It is designed for entering Ph.D. students and is graded P/D/F only.

• Christos Maravelias

Director of Graduate Studies

• Sujit S. Datta (fall)
• A. James Link (spring)

Director of Undergraduate Studies

• José L. Avalos
• Clifford P. Brangwynne
• Mark P. Brynildsen
• Pablo G. Debenedetti
• David B. Graves
• Bruce E. Koel
• A. James Link
• Celeste M. Nelson
• Athanassios Z. Panagiotopoulos
• Rodney D. Priestley
• Robert K. Prud'homme
• Richard A. Register
• Sankaran Sundaresan

Associate Professor

• Sujit S. Datta

Assistant Professor

• Pierre-Thomas Brun
• Jonathan M. Conway
• Emily C. Davidson
• Jerelle A. Joseph
• Marcella Lusardi
• Michele L. Sarazen
• Michael A. Webb

Associated Faculty

• Mohamed S. Abou Donia, Molecular Biology
• Ian C. Bourg, Civil and Environmental Eng
• Daniel J. Cohen, Mechanical & Aerospace Eng
• Adji Bousso Dieng, Computer Science
• Kelsey B. Hatzell, Mechanical & Aerospace Eng
• William M. Jacobs, Chemistry
• Cameron A. Myhrvold, Molecular Biology
• Glaucio H. Paulino, Civil and Environmental Eng
• Sabine Petry, Molecular Biology
• Z. Jason Ren, Civil and Environmental Eng
• Stanislav Y. Shvartsman, Molecular Biology
• Howard A. Stone, Mechanical & Aerospace Eng
• Jared E. Toettcher, Molecular Biology
• Claire E. White, Civil and Environmental Eng
• Martin Helmut Wühr, Molecular Biology
• Charles M. Smith
• Babak Vajdi Hokmabad

For a full list of faculty members and fellows please visit the department or program website.

Permanent Courses

Courses listed below are graduate-level courses that have been approved by the program’s faculty as well as the Curriculum Subcommittee of the Faculty Committee on the Graduate School as permanent course offerings. Permanent courses may be offered by the department or program on an ongoing basis, depending on curricular needs, scheduling requirements, and student interest. Not listed below are undergraduate courses and one-time-only graduate courses, which may be found for a specific term through the Registrar’s website. Also not listed are graduate-level independent reading and research courses, which may be approved by the Graduate School for individual students.

CBE 501 - Incompressible Fluid Mechanics

Cbe 502 - mathematical methods of engineering analysis ii (also apc 502), cbe 503 - advanced thermodynamics (also mse 521), cbe 504 - chemical reactor engineering, cbe 506 - application of statistical methods, cbe 507 - research topics in chemical & biological engineering, cbe 508 - numerical methods for engineers, cbe 510 - transport phenomena, cbe 512 - machine learning in chemical science and engineering, cbe 516 - fundamentals and applications of low temperature plasmas, cbe 517 - soft matter mechanics: fundamentals & applications (also mae 517), cbe 521 - advanced chemical reactor engineering, cbe 522 - colloidal dispersions i, cbe 523 - colloidal dispersions ii, cbe 526 - surface science: processes and probes (also chm 527/mse 526), cbe 528 - advanced process flowsheeting and process control, cbe 529 - hydrodynamic stability, cbe 530 - systems engineering, cbe 532 - interfacial science and engineering, cbe 535 - computational biology of cell signaling networks, cbe 536 - glasses and supercooled liquids, cbe 541 - polymer synthesis (also mse 534), cbe 543 - structure and properties of complex fluids, cbe 544 - solid-state properties of polymers (also mse 522), cbe 545 - science and technology of fibrous materials, cbe 546 - aerosol physics and chemistry, cbe 547 - mechanics of granular materials and gas-particle flows, cbe 548 - dynamics of films, jets and drops, cbe 550 - physics of polymeric glasses, cbe 552 - topics in chemical engineering, cbe 553 - topics in interfacial chemistry, cbe 554 - topics in computational nonlinear dynamics (also apc 544), cbe 555 - introduction to polymer materials, cbe 556 - topics in chemical engineering, cbe 556a - topics in chemical engineering, cbe 556c - special topics in chemical engineering, cee 535 - statistical mechanics ii: methods (also cbe 525), chm 503 - introduction to statistical mechanics (also cbe 524/mse 514), ene 506 - synchrotron and neutron techniques for energy materials (also cbe 566/cee 506/mae 536/mse 586), ene 570 - advanced optimization methods for energy systems engineering (also cbe 570/mae 570), mae 501 - mathematical methods of engineering analysis i (also apc 501/cbe 509), mae 539 - advanced topics in combustion i (also cbe 551), mae 552 - viscous flows and boundary layers (also cbe 557), mae 566 - biomechanics and biomaterials: from cells to organisms (also cbe 561), mae 567 - crowd control: understanding and manipulating collective behaviors and swarm dynamics (also cbe 568), mse 501 - introduction to materials (also cbe 514/cee 561/mae 561), mse 504 - monte carlo and molecular dynamics simulation in statistical physics & materials science (also cbe 520/chm 560/phy 512).

Highlighting Some of Our Most Frequently Asked Questions. . .

Hello, everyone! Now that the Princeton University Graduate Application Portal has gone live, our office has received a new round of questions about our application process. Many of these questions are often repeated by applicants who consider joining our community. Our team has compiled a list of these common questions to help you with the application process. Here are some of the most frequent:

Does SPIA require specific undergraduate coursework or have preferred undergraduate majors for applicants?

Our School does not have prescribed undergraduate majors or require specific academic coursework for admission into SPIA. We do look for some type of quantitative baseline, and many successful candidates come with exposure to or familiarity with economics, statistics, or college level math. As with policy development and analysis, quantitative coursework is featured throughout our core curriculum. Having quantitative coursework in your background will serve to further enhance your preparation for our policy degrees.

Will pursuing additional coursework help to supplement my application? If so, where should I take them?

If you feel there are gaps in your academic preparation, you can consider taking additional coursework. Some applicants will pursue coursework at a local community college or another accredited institution. Although not required, this additional academic preparation can help strengthen your application. If you plan to pursue additional coursework, check out the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs to find an accredited institution. Share any current or anticipated coursework when submitting your application.

Does SPIA still require the GRE, in spite of the challenges presented by COVID-19?

After careful consideration across our community, we made a few amendments to our GRE requirements for the 2020 application cycle. In brief:

• The GRE is required for MPA applicants, as the exam may provide evidence of quantitative ability that may not be evident in other aspects of an applicant’s file.
• GRE scores are optional for MPP applicants because there is no core curriculum. Our MPP admissions process emphasizes leadership, work experience, and professional trajectory.
• Applicants into our PhD program are not required to provide GRE scores. The PhD application review centers on academic coursework, scholarly research and professional work experience, as well as fit with our faculty’s research expertise.
• The GRE is but one aspect of a file. It is neither determinative in granting admission nor discounting in our process.

Considering the limited opportunities to schedule a GRE exam due to shuttered testing facilities, can I submit my application without GRE scores?

You can submit your application without GRE scores, but it will remain incomplete until all components are received. Our admissions committee will not review an application until all required components are received. If you have to submit your application without GRE scores, please include an explanation detailing the delay and your anticipated test date.

You can schedule to complete the GRE from your own home. The Educational Testing Service is offering the GRE General Test at Home every day through December 31, 2020.

Does SPIA require a minimum GPA for admission?

SPIA does not have a minimum GPA requirement for admission into our graduate programs. We have small class sizes, so admission is competitive. For an overview of the average academic profiles within our MPA, MPP, and PhD admits, please review our Graduate Admissions Viewbook .

What type of work experience does SPIA value for its MPA, MPP, and Ph.D. programs?

Our MPA and Ph.D. programs do not officially require work experience, but both programs highly value at least two years of full-time work experience, preferably within the public sector. We believe this work experience helps influence your worldview and policy interests. Some students do earn their admission with limited work experience, but most often these students are affiliated with a program that mandates enrollment in the year the award was given, like the Pickering or Rangel fellowships.

SPIA’s MPP program is designed for mid-career professionals who are rising leaders in domestic and international public policy. There is a strict requirement of at least seven years of full-time professional work experience, generally with upward progression, with evidence of commitment to public service and a clear leadership trajectory or a path to one.

For more information, we encourage you to review our Graduate Admissions Viewbook . There you will find that most admitted MPA and Ph.D. students have worked at least three years, while nearly half of MPPs have at least ten years of public sector, full-time work experience.

Does SPIA offer part-time or fully virtual graduate programs?

No. Each of our graduate programs is full-time and residential. However, in compliance with state health regulations during COVID-19 , Princeton University is offering a hybrid model of online and in-person courses.

Does SPIA offer Spring semester matriculation?

No. SPIA does not offer Spring matriculation. All SPIA graduate programs begin with a summer component that predates the fall semester.

Are international students required to assess English proficiency through the TOEFL or IELTS? If so, are there score minimums required for admission?

All applicants whose native language is not English are required to take either the TOEFL or IELTS. In accordance with the Graduate School at Princeton University , “The only exemption for this requirement is if the native language is not English, but the applicant has or will have studied for a minimum of three years towards a bachelor's degree or a Ph.D. in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or Anglophone Canada before enrollment.”

Receiving a bachelor’s degree in a country that lists English as an official language such as India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Nigeria, or Singapore does not exempt an applicant from the English language proficiency requirement. You can find more information about our requirements by visiting the Graduate School’s website.

Princeton requires a minimum score of 100 IBT for the TOEFL and 7.0 for the IELTS.

As a result of COVID-19, my undergraduate course grades have been converted to pass/fail. Will this have a negative impact on my application?

We completely understand the challenges this pandemic has placed upon academia and the grading system. At Princeton, some courses have also offered the pass/fail option. We will not penalize applicants for pass/fail grades earned during the pandemic . We will evaluate your entire transcript to gain a holistic understanding of your academic profile when reviewing your file for admission. Be mindful that your transcript is only one part of our holistic review of applicants. We also take into consideration your exhibited commitment to public service, work experience, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and leadership trajectory. A GPA is only one portion of your application.

We encourage you to continue reaching out with your questions. Whether through a phone call, email , or during our weekly virtual admissions presentations , please let us know if we can support you throughout the admissions process. From all of us here, thank you for your interest in our community. We wish you good health and peace!

• Majors & Careers
• Online Grad School
• Preparing For Grad School
• Student Life

A Complete Guide to Getting Into Princeton

If you have dreams of conquering the Ivy League, you can do no better than Princeton University.

League tables regularly name Princeton the No. 1 college in the U.S., and if you take a look at the school’s lengthy list of superstar alumni, it’s not hard to see why.

Presidents, first ladies, captains of industry, Hollywood actors, iconic inventors, literary giants, famous engineers, and genius scientists all studied and developed their skills at Princeton.

With a reputation like that, you can believe the university has the faculty, programs, and campus to match. But because it’s such an extraordinary Ivy League school, you’ll be unsurprised to find out that getting into Princeton can be incredibly challenging.

This guide explains everything you need to know about Princeton. Read on to learn about what GPA and standardized test scores you need to get into Princeton, the Princeton application process, Princeton’s acceptance rate, and more.

Table of Contents

About Princeton University

Before we break down how to get into Princeton, let’s talk more about the university’s history and offerings.

(Image Source)

Since its inception, the staff and academics at Princeton have accumulated 27 Nobel prizes.

But Princeton isn’t all about academics. The school has 37 varsity intercollegiate sports teams, which have produced 112 Olympians and 206 national championships.

In terms of available degrees, students are able to specialize in an incredibly wide range of subjects.

Princeton organizes all of its majors into four distinct areas: humanities, engineering, natural sciences, and social sciences.

At the undergraduate level, Princeton University offers two different types of bachelor’s degrees: a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE). There are 91 different departments and interdepartmental programs that offer these degrees.

At the graduate level, Princeton offers Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees across 42 concentrations.

The university also offers pre-professional degrees like a Master in Finance (MFin), a Master of Science in Engineering (MSE), and more.

Upon enrollment, all new students at Princeton are automatically assigned one of six residential colleges. Those colleges are Butler, First, Forbes, Mathey, Rockefeller, and Whitman.

Every freshman and sophomore has to live and dine in their assigned residential college.

At this point, you’ve probably gathered that Princeton is the ‘creme de la creme’ of the Ivy League . So, let’s explore Princeton’s application requirements.

Undergraduate application requirements

Princeton is one of the best schools in the world, so it’s hardly surprising that its admissions department is incredibly selective.

As a result, you’re going to have to fulfill a number of prerequisites and requirements if you’d like to be eligible to gain entry.

In terms of prerequisites for incoming high schoolers, Princeton’s admissions team does acknowledge that not every high school offers certain courses.

That being said, they generally expect applicants to have completed four years of English, four years of math, four years of a foreign language, at least two years of lab science, and at least two years of history.

( Image Source )

Most of the applicants who get accepted also have classes in visual or performing arts and Advanced Placement (AP) courses on their transcripts.

From there, the school will look at your GPA, standardized test scores, and extracurriculars before they decide on your application.

What is Princeton’s acceptance rate?

Universities like Princeton calculate their acceptance rates by dividing the number of accepted students that enrolled by the total number that applied.

Princeton’s 2020 admissions figures for the “Class of 2024” show that 32,835 students applied to Princeton in 2020.

Of that applicant pool, just 1,848 students were admitted — and only 1,155 of the accepted applicants ultimately enrolled. That equates to an admission rate of 5.6% for 2020.

It’s also worth delving into the figures a bit more to look at the types of students that ultimately got into Princeton.

Of all the students accepted in 2020, 11.3% were the children of Princeton alumni. 16% of those admitted into the class of 2024 were the first people in their families to attend college.

In terms of financial aid and background, it’s also important to note that 19.3% of those admitted in 2020 qualified for a Pell Grant.

Considering Princeton’s acceptance rate, it’s an incredibly competitive application process. That’s why you should do everything you can to ensure that your application shines.

What GPA do you need to get into Princeton?

Your grade point average (GPA) is a number that tells admissions officers how well you did in your previous schoolwork on average.

As far as the GPA requirement for admissions is concerned, Princeton is very competitive — but it’s important to note that there’s no formal GPA requirement.

The school expects students to have outstanding academic and GPA scores. The average high school GPA of the applicants who get into Princeton is 3.9.

Translation: while Princeton doesn’t have an official GPA requirement, it’s plain to see that the school is very competitive. As a result, it’s important that you try to earn the highest GPA you can.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t apply if you have a low GPA. But, you’ll definitely need to compensate for that low GPA in other areas (like standardized testing). So, let’s talk about test score requirements.

What SAT score is needed for Princeton?

If you want to get into Princeton as an undergraduate student, you’ll need to take at least one standardized test. The most commonly accepted options students choose from are the SAT or the ACT.

According to Princeton’s 2020 admissions data from the class of 2024, the average SAT scores were between 740–800 for math and between 710–800 for evidence-based reading and writing.

Princeton doesn’t require that you take SAT subject tests, but it’s highly recommended that you do.

Princeton hasn’t required students to submit SAT or ACT scores for the 2021–22 academic year because of the global COVID-19 pandemic. But after that, you’ll be required to submit proof of standardized testing just like you would in any other normal year.

What ACT score is needed for Princeton?

If you choose to take the ACT rather than the SAT (or opt for both), the same guidance applies in terms of your required score. Princeton doesn’t publish a cutoff score that you must achieve in order to have your application considered.

But according to Princeton’s 2020 admissions data, the average ACT composite score for Princeton’s most recently accepted cohort was between 32–36.

Again, Princeton chose not to require ACT scores for the 2021–22 academic year due to a lack of testing sites. But in future years, you should plan on submitting ACT or SAT scores.

How do you apply to Princeton’s undergraduate programs?

Once you’ve had a good look at Princeton’s offerings and put in the work to gain entry, it’s time to apply. It’s critical that you make sure you have a firm grasp of the application deadlines before you get started, as well as the process.

If you’re applying to Princeton as an undergraduate, the school accepts both the Coalition Application and the Common Application. Princeton treats both applications equally, so it doesn’t matter which application type you use.

You can submit either application online — but no matter which one you choose, you also need to include the “Princeton Supplement.” The Princeton Supplement is a set of questions and short essays unique to Princeton that you’ll need to answer.

Once you’ve completed everything in the application of your choice and the Princeton Supplement, you can submit your application.

You’ll need to include your completed application, the supplement, and a graded written paper. The paper you include can be literally any piece of non-creative writing you’ve done in the last three years of high school that’s been marked by a teacher.

As part of your application, you also need to submit your high school transcript, school report, one letter from a school counselor, and two written teacher recommendations.

In terms of reporting your composite scores for standardized tests, you’ll also have submission deadlines to consider.

Princeton advises that you take the SAT or ACT by its December date — and you can save time and have your scores sent directly to Princeton. When registering for the SAT, include code 2672. For the ACT, enter code 2588.

Again, Princeton doesn’t require SAT subject tests. But if you want to submit your scores anyway, it’s encouraged.

Is English not your first language? If this is the case, you’ll need to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System Academic (IELTS Academic), or the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic).

You don’t have to take any of these tests if English is your native tongue or if you’re spent three years at a secondary school where classes are taught in English. Just like the SAT and ACT, scores should be sent directly to Princeton by entering code 2672 upon registration.

When do you apply to Princeton?

If you’re applying as a “Single-Choice Early Action” student, you need to send in your application by November 1. If you go this route, your financial aid application will then be due on November 9.

If you’re applying as a regular decision applicant, you must apply by January 1. Financial aid applications are then due on February 1.

Graduate application requirements

We’ve covered how to get into Princeton as an aspiring undergraduate student. But if you want to join the Princeton University Graduate School as a master’s or Ph.D. student, there is an entirely different application process.

We’ll quickly break down the graduate application process, as well as the different schools within Princeton that students attend to gain their degrees.

How do you apply to Princeton’s graduate programs?

If you want to apply to Princeton as a graduate student, this can all be done online.

To apply, you’ll need to send in Princeton University’s online application form, a statement of academic purpose, your resume (or CV), and transcripts from all of the other colleges or universities you’ve attended.

In addition, you must submit three letters of recommendation, the fall semester grades at the university you went to most recently, and a statement of financial resources.

Some departments also require a writing sample, but this varies based on the program.

Finally, you need to submit your Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) test results .

GRE requirements vary by department. But if you’re applying to Princeton’s Department of Finance, you’ll be required to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).

If English is not your first language, you’ll need to submit either TOEFL or IELTS results as part of your application.

At Princeton, you can choose from 37 different concentrations across four areas: Humanities, Engineering, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences. Many of these courses are considered interdisciplinary or sit within certain departments.

That being said, there are three large schools within Princeton that attract a huge amount of students.

The School of Architecture

The Princeton School of Architecture (SoA) is the university’s center for architectural design, theory, and history . It offers a number of degrees at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels.

In terms of its graduate cohort, the School of Architecture enrolls around 80 graduate students every year. It admits about the same number of undergraduates.

Both graduate and undergraduate programs within the school share teachers, courses, and facilities.

In terms of applying, prospective Princeton students don’t apply to a particular school or department. They must directly apply to the grad school — but the SoA does have its own additional requirements applicants must fulfill. For example, MArch students must submit a portfolio alongside the application materials we’ve already covered.

You should make sure you contact Princeton to double-check the precise application requirements for the program you’re interested in before applying.

The School of Engineering and Applied Science

Princeton’s School of Engineering is an internationally recognized institution that is home to six departments and four research centers.

At the graduate level, the School of Engineering and Applied Science offers two different types of master’s programs. You can choose from a Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) or a Master of Engineering (MEng).

The MSE is available across all departments apart from electrical engineering. The MEng is available across all departments apart from computer science, operations research, and financial engineering.

Just like the SoA, all engineering applications need to be sent to the Princeton University Graduate School rather than the School of Engineering and Applied Science itself.

Princeton School of Public and International Affairs

Founded in 1930, the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs brings together a huge range of subjects. This includes everything from economics and politics to sociology, psychology, history, and more.

The school has a pretty impressive list of alumni, too. Graduates include a secretary of state, secretary of the treasury, senators, governors, a chair of the Federal Reserve Board, ambassadors, U.S. representatives, and loads of other policymakers and industry leaders.

The school was named the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs until 2020.

The school’s name changed because the Princeton University Board of Trustees ruled that Wilson’s “racist thinking and policies make him an inappropriate namesake for a school or college whose scholars, students, and alumni must stand firmly against racism in all its forms.”

Just like Princeton’s School of Architecture and the School of Engineering and Applied Science, graduate students don’t apply directly to the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. You apply directly to the Graduate School instead.

At the end of the day, we shouldn’t have to sell Princeton. The New Jersey-based university is one of the oldest schools in the U.S. and one of the best colleges in the Ivy League — not to mention the entire world.

But because it’s such an extraordinary Ivy League school, it goes without saying that getting into Princeton isn’t easy. You have to work incredibly hard to get into Princeton at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

That includes nailing your standardized tests, working hard to attain superior marks in high school or college, getting some gleaming recommendations, and more.

Just don’t let all of that put you off. If you put in the work, it is possible to get into Princeton — and a degree from Princeton University will open up a whole lot of doors.

Want to learn more about getting into Princeton? You’ve come to the right place.

Check out The GradCafe for real acceptance results from applications as well as Princeton application tips, tricks, and more.

The GradCafe Editor

• The GradCafe Editor https://blog.thegradcafe.com/author/admin/ Cracking the Code: Expert Digital Interviewing Tips
• The GradCafe Editor https://blog.thegradcafe.com/author/admin/ TheGradCafe and Jobbio join forces to connect top talent with great companies
• The GradCafe Editor https://blog.thegradcafe.com/author/admin/ How To Get Into Harvard Medical School
• The GradCafe Editor https://blog.thegradcafe.com/author/admin/ How To Get Into Yale: The Ultimate Guide

Does GPA Matter in Grad School?

How to get into columbia university [2024 guide], related posts.

• Computer Science Graduate Admission Trends: Annual Results

Breaking Records: Yale Sees Most Selective Grad Admissions Season Yet

Harvard GPA Requirements: What GPA Do You Need to Get In?

How To Apply to Grad School: Ultimate 2024 Guide

How to Write a Standout Letter Of Intent For Graduate School

Grad School Resume 2024: Tips, FAQs, and Templates

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Recent Posts

• How New Grads Research Companies to Find Jobs
• The Best Academic Planners for 2024/2025
• Experience Paradox: Entry-Level Jobs Demand Years in Field
• Grad Trends: Interest in Artificial Intelligence Surges

© 2024 TheGradCafe.com All rights reserved

• Partner With Us
• Results Search
• Submit Your Results
• Write For Us

• Advisers & Contacts
• Bachelor of Arts & Bachelor of Science in Engineering
• Prerequisites
• Declaring Computer Science for AB Students
• Declaring Computer Science for BSE Students
• Class of '25, '26 & '27 - Departmental Requirements
• Class of 2024 - Departmental Requirements
• COS126 Information
• Important Steps and Deadlines
• Independent Work Seminars
• Guidelines and Useful Information
• Undergraduate Research Topics
• AB Junior Research Workshops
• Undergraduate Program FAQ
• Minor Program
• Funding for Student Group Activities
• Mailing Lists and Policies
• Study Abroad
• Jobs & Careers
• Admissions Requirements
• Breadth Requirements
• Pre-FPO Checklist
• FPO Checklist
• M.S.E. Track
• M.Eng. Track
• Departmental Internship Policy (for Master's students)
• General Examination
• Fellowship Opportunities
• Travel Reimbursement Policy
• Communication Skills
• Course Schedule
• Course Catalog
• Research Areas
• Interdisciplinary Programs
• Technical Reports
• Computing Facilities
• Researchers
• Technical Staff
• Administrative Staff
• Graduate Students
• Undergraduate Students
• Graduate Alumni
• Climate and Inclusion Committee
• Resources for Undergraduate & Graduate Students
• Outreach Initiatives
• Resources for Faculty & Staff
• Spotlight Stories
• Job Openings
• Graduate Program

Frequently Asked Questions for Graduate Applicants

Do i need to submit a pre-application do you pre-screen applicants, can i start in the spring term, can i attend part-time, evenings, weekends, or summers, can i transfer credits from another school to princeton toward receipt of my ph.d., do i have to have a master's degree to apply to the ph.d. program, if i apply for the ph.d. program and am not accepted, will you still consider me for the master's program, does my undergraduate degree have to be in computer science, what materials are required with my application, i applied last year and was not accepted. i want to reapply. what do i need to do, where should my application materials be submitted, can the application fee be waived, will you still review my application if i do not pay the fee, i haven't finished my degree yet. what transcript should i submit what about gpa, what about midyear grades, what should be in the personal statement.

• Is the GRE general exam required?

What is the Institution Code for Princeton? Do I need to use a department code? What if I put a department code - will you still get my scores?

Must i submit toefl or ielts.

• What TOEFL should I take?
• I already took the CBT. Do I have to take the iBT too?

What is the minimum score for TOEFL? for IELTS?

Is there an english language requirement, what about financial aid, how will i know if all my application materials haven been received, when does application review begin, when will i know your decision, who can i contact if i have specific questions.

• Do you require official transcripts? 

No, you do not need to submit a pre-application. We do not pre-screen or pre-evaluate applicants.

No, admission to Princeton is for fall only. Application materials are available starting in September of each year for admission in fall of the next year.

The Ph.D. program is full-time only. Princeton does not offer evening, weekend, or summer courses.

No. All work for the Ph.D. must be done as a Princeton student. Work done previously at another institution may help you complete our program faster, but you will not be given credit for work done prior to your admission to Princeton.

No. Most of our applicants come directly from a bachelor's degree program.

No. We will only consider you for the degree track to which you have applied. Princeton allows applicants to apply to only one department and for only one degree at a time.

No. Normally, however, our applicants have a degree in computer science, engineering, science, or mathematics.

We require transcripts, TOEFL or IELTS (international students only), and three letters of recommendation.  In addition, each candidate is asked to write a personal statement of interest as part of the application packet. Please complete all sections of the application. The institution code for TOEFL is 2672. No department code is required. NOTE: It is important that all materials reach us by the application deadline in order for your application to receive full consideration. The only exception is computer-based test scores for tests taken in early December. Late or missing materials will seriously hurt your chance for admission. It is your responsibility to see that we receive all materials on time.

Applicants who applied the previous year may reapply the following year. However you must complete a new application. On the first page of the application you will be asked if you have applied before. In addition, you must submit transcripts of any academic work accomplished since the date of the last application, register three recommenders,  and a revised personal statement. All materials, including the application fee, are due by the application deadline. 

All materials should be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Please do not send anything directly to the department.

Fee waivers based on financial hardship are available for U.S. citizens or permanent residents or for anyone that has participated in one of the programs listed on this  website .

Applications cannot be submitted without payment.

Your current transcript should be submitted with your application. If you are admitted to Princeton, you will be required to submit a final transcript and proof of receipt of degree before you can register in the Fall. If your school calculates GPA on other than a 4.0 scale, include a statement of GPA with your application.

Students are able to upload their midyear grades to their applications at any time through their submitted application checklist. 

The statement should not exceed 1,000 words and should describe your academic and career plans as they relate to the department, and specifically to the area(s) of computer science you are interested in studying.

Is the GRE general exam required? 

We are no longer either requiring or accepting GRE general exam scores. 

The Institution Code is 2672. We do not require a department code. If you enter one we will still receive your scores.

The following applicants are not required to submit English language test scores: Applicants whose primary language is English. Primary language is defined as the language that someone communicates in most frequently and in most situations when speaking, reading, and writing. Applicants whose undergraduate instruction is entirely in English as certified by the institution and for whom the degree will be awarded prior to anticipated enrollment at Princeton. Applicants whose graduate study was on a full-time basis for at least one year where instruction is entirely in English as certified by the institution. All other applicants must submit valid TOEFL, IELTS or DET scores.   More information can be found here

Ph.D. applicants: The Graduate School has not set a recommended minimum score on the iBT. However, the following information may be useful. Over the last two admission seasons the average iBT TOEFL combined score for admitted students was 108, with the following average sub-scores: Listening 28, Reading 29, Speaking 24, and Writing 27. Furthermore, data from the University's English Language Program indicates that of newly enrolling internationals students, those who score below 20 on the Speaking subsection of iBT TOEFL are virtually certain to have to take an English language course during their first year of graduate study to bring their spoken proficiency up to a minimum standard.  Students choosing to submit IELTS must take the Academic Test version. 

Masters applicants: Masters applicants who are required to take the TOEFL must score a minimum of 28 on the spoken part of the TOEFL in order to be considered for the program.   The IELTS equivalent to the TOEFL is an 8 on the speaking sub-section. 

Yes. All non-native English speakers applying to the PhD program who score less than 27 on the Speaking Section of the TOEFL or 8 on the IELTS  must pass Princeton's Oral Proficiency Test (POPT). The SPEAK test is given at the beginning of the first year. Students who do not pass this must take additional English classes and retake the POPT. Students who do not pass the POPT by the end of year 1 will not be readmitted for a second year of graduate study.

Masters applicants: Masters applicants who are required to take the TOEFL must score a minimum of 28 on the spoken part of the TOEFL in order to be considered for the program.   The IELTS equivalent to the TOEFL is an 8 on the speaking sub-section.

All Ph.D. candidates are considered for university financial awards. These awards generally consist of tuition and health fee plus a monthly stipend for the 10 month academic year. We also encourage applicants to apply for any fellowships for which they are eligible, i.e., NSF, NDSEG, or comparable international fellowships. Summer support is determined separately. Financial support for students is reviewed each year. Master's candidates are normally offered financial aid via teaching assistantships (if available). Non-native English speakers must pass the University's English screening exam before they can be offered a teaching assistantship.

Applicants who use the online application will be able to use "track your status" to see what materials have been received. We are unable to track materials for applicants who print out the application and send it in.

All applications are first processed by the Office of Graduate Admissions. The department will receive all files together in mid-January.

We make our final decisions in mid-February. Admits will be notified by email from the department by the end of February. All other applicants will be notified by the Graduate School by mid-March.

First contact our graduate coordinator. She can be reached by email at: [email protected].

Do you require official transcripts?

At the time of application, transcripts do not need to be official. Only if you are offered admission and accept our offer will you be required to submit official final transcripts . For more information, please visit https://gradschool.princeton.edu/transcripts .

Get the Reddit app

This subreddit is for anyone who is going through the process of getting into graduate school, and for those who've been there and have advice to give.

Sharing my experience getting into a few top 10 and top 20 chemistry PhD programs

Hello! After having a relatively successful Chemistry PhD application cycle, I wanted to share some information for potential future applicants that could possibly be useful! A post like this would've helped me a lot so I'm hoping someone can get value from this! As someone who had 0 REUs, 0 pubs, and 0 awards, I want to reassure some of you out there that you can still get into top programs! Also feel free to ask me any questions and I'd be happy to answer!

Domestic Applicant, U.S. Citizen, Male, Not 1st gen., applied straight out of undergrad (during my last fall quarter).

GPA : 4.0, I went to UC Davis, B.S. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, graduated in 3 years and 1 quarter

GRE : 161V/164Q/5.5AW. I didn't take the chemistry subject GRE, and also didn't think it was necessary at all! A few schools said "highly recommended" and I still got accepted to them.

Research Awards/Fellowships: None!!!

Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REUs): None!!!

Publications: None!!! (Not even in preparation)

Research Experience: 2 years and 1 quarter by the time I submitted my application doing research in MS (analytical chem) applied to problems chemical biology. Was in one lab the whole time.

Posters: I had two posters , and presented at a total of 5 conferences. 3 were undergraduate conferences held by my school and 1 was UC Chemical Symposium and 1 was a graduate/undergraduate conference held by my school. (None were ACS)

Some other relevant classes/experiences: I took a total of 5 graduate classes in organic chemistry/chem bio. I also tutored chem/biochem/ochem at my school for 2 years and was the head tutor for ochem. Additionally I did ochem peer tutoring for the chem department for 2 quarters and had 1 quarter of chemistry peer mentoring experience and 1 quarter of serving on the chemistry undergraduate advisory council for the UCD chem department. I don't think these last 2 experiences had relevant impact and I only listed them on my CV.

Rec letters: 1 from from my PI who was quite well known. I believe his letter was fairly strong despite not interacting with me much due to how busy he was (but my grad student mentors would tell him a lot about me). I also had 1 from a prof who I took an upper div pchem and a grad class with. I then had 1 from a prof who I took 1 quarter of gen chem, 1 quarter of ochem, and 1 quarter of Bio-Organic lab with (I interacted with this prof the most).

Statement of Purpose/Personal statement : Super average, essentially just making sure I showed that I knew how to talk about my research for my SOP. For Personal statement, I described my tutoring experience with disadvantaged students and my goal to continue working with them in grad school.

WHERE I APPLIED AND RESULTS

All of these were chemistry PhD programs and I applied for either Chemical Biology or Organic Chemistry (I will specify next to the school).

Yale University- Accepted with fellowship (+4k/year) Chem Bio

University of Pennsylvania- Accepted Chem Bio

University of Chicago- Accepted with fellowship (+8k/year) Chem Bio

University of California San Francisco- Interview and then Accepted Chem Bio

University of California Los Angeles- Accepted with fellowship (+3k/year?) Organic Chem

University of California Irvine - Accepted Organic Chem

University of California Davis- Accepted with fellowship (+5k first year) Chem Bio

Columbia University- Waitlisted Organic Chem

University of California San Diego- Rejected Chem Bio

Harvard University- Rejected (1/27/2022) Chem Bio

Caltech- I nterview and then Rejected (1/11/2022) Chem Bio

Got off the waitlist for Columbia!

Decided to commit to Yale!

I was awarded the NSF GRFP!

CONTACTING PROFS BEFORE APPLICATIONS WERE DUE:

I actually think this is pretty important and can help a lot for getting accepted into the program, as it can help make your application known to prospective PIs. Profs I contacted before applying that replied with interest in working with me were at Yale, UCSF, UCI, and Columbia. I also contacted profs at UCLA, UChicago, and Caltech but got no response. Feel free to reach out if you want to know how I structured my emails to these profs!

MY SUBJECTIVE RANKING OF THE PRIORITY OF THE VARIOUS COMPONENTS OF THE PHD APPLICATION:

Research Experience

Contacting Profs ahead of time

Letters of Recommendation

Statement of Purpose

Personal Statement

This ended up being super long and thanks for reading through if you got this far. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask! Also I have not decided where to go yet ;-; it'll be a hard decision

TL;DR: 4.0 GPA, 161V/164Q/5.5AW, 7 acceptances, 1 waitlist, 3 rejections.

• Seminars & Events -
• Directions -
• IT Support -
• Search for:
• Catalysis / Synthesis
• Chemical Biology
• Inorganic Chemistry
• Spectroscopy / Physical Chemistry
• Theoretical Chemistry
• Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment
• Princeton Institute for Computational Science and Engineering
• Princeton Materials Institute
• Princeton Catalysis Initiative
• Research Facilities Overview
• Biophysics Core Facility
• Crystallography
• Merck Catalysis Center
• NMR Facility
• Mass Spectrometry
• Other Spectroscopy
• Small Molecule Screening Center
• Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopy
• Industrial Associates Program
• Libraries & Computing
• Frick Chemistry Laboratory
• Administration & Staff
• Business & Grants Office
• Frick Event Guidelines
• Faculty & Academic Jobs
• Seminars & Events
• Postdocs Overview
• New Postdocs
• Family-Friendly Initiatives
• Graduate Program Overview
• Academic Program
• Campus Life
• Living in Princeton
• Graduate News
• Undergraduate Overview
• Summer Undergrad Research Fellows in Chemistry
• Other Summer Research Opportunities
• Outside Course Approval
• PU Chemical Society
• Our Commitment
• Resources and Reporting
• Visiting Faculty Research Partnership
• Join the Department

Rabinowitz Discovers New Approach to Augment Leading Cancer Therapy

A revolutionary treatment called checkpoint blockade immunotherapy has proven both remarkable and bewildering in the fight against cancer: remarkable because some patients respond to it with great success, bewildering because others receive little benefit.

Part of the reason involves whether the patient’s cancer has enough mutations to activate the immune system. But many other patients fail to respond for unknown reasons.

Now, a team of researchers in the Rabinowitz Lab has put forward an explanation and a possible end-run around the factors that limit the treatment’s success through a process called metabolic supplementation.

They discovered that methanol—a substance that in large quantities can be toxic to human beings—shows great efficacy among mice in bolstering immunotherapy to treat and even cure certain cancers.

Methanol has only one carbon atom. In the body, it serves as a “one-carbon unit” donor that is metabolized into another one-carbon substance, the mammalian metabolite formic acid. Formic acid itself is a valuable building block for the body’s immune system. Strikingly, it’s often severely depleted in cancer patients.

While further research is needed to probe methanol’s potential and to find the “goldilocks” dosage that could buttress human health without causing harm, the science behind the lab work is compelling, said Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Ludwig Princeton Branch Joshua Rabinowitz .

“It’s a rare day when you find something in the lab that could possibly be directly translated to the clinic,” said Rabinowitz. “It’s also rare that you see something that doesn’t just slow cancer but actually, in mice, produces cures. And the cases where that has happened have often led to ultimate clinical success.

“A lot of caution is required here,” he added. “But I think it will be great to get an answer on whether this can help patients receiving checkpoint blockade, and whether it can take another big fraction of patients who would have succumbed to cancer and give them a path to a cure.”

Promising Results Published in Cell Chemical Biology

In their recent paper in the journal Cell Chemical Biology , researchers laid out how they supplemented mice diets with one-carbon units (1C units) in the form of methanol. They were able to administer a safe dosage because only a modest amount of methanol was needed to achieve the therapeutic benefit as mice metabolize methanol more effectively than humans. What they found was that treated mice undergoing checkpoint blockade therapy through their process were not only better, but that a “substantial number” were cured of their cancers outright.

How do researchers think this is working? T cells are part of the body’s disease-fighting squadron. They attack invaders in the form of viruses, bacteria, and our own self-made cancer cells. But in a cruel biological twist, cancer cells also have their own arsenal. They throw T cells off the trail with blocking signals. Checkpoint blockade uses drugs to block those signals—basically, blocking the blockers—which permits T cells to identify, track, and fight cancer cells.

Checkpoint blockade works especially well in cancers that express antigens, mutations that allow the T cells to easily “recognize” them. But even patients who carry what seems like an actionable number of tumor antigens can respond poorly to checkpoint blockade.

This has not been readily understood.

“We think that one of the reasons is metabolic barriers to T cell action, to immune cell action, and that’s the part we’re trying to tackle,” said Rabinowitz. “And we believe that we’ve discovered a way to overcome that barrier by supplementing with 1C units in the form of methanol.”

The possibilities behind methanol

Methanol is metabolized in the body into formic acid where it serves as an intermediate in the synthesis of nucleotides like ATP. The Rabinowitz Lab investigated methanol’s role in mice as a possible precursor to usable 1C units in hopes of discovering that it would augment immunotherapy. And in fact, it does.

In the Rabinowitz Lab at the Icahn Building.

The risk is in the dosage: too much methanol could lead to formate poisoning. Too little may not have the desired impact.

“The good news is that we have a pretty big goldilocks range between the amount of formate we think you need and the amount where it will be toxic,” said Rabinowitz. “What we found is that we could give methanol to mice in safe amounts, that it would be converted into formic acid, that the formic acid would be taken up by the immune cells and incorporated into their nucleotides and ultimately their RNA and DNA.

“By alleviating the insufficiency of these building blocks, it allowed the immune system to more effectively eliminate the tumor. This was definitely an exciting day in the lab … an exciting day with caution. We have to think very carefully about how to advance this safely into humans.”

Their paper reveals one possibility for reducing risk by changing the isotopic “flavor” of the hydrogens on the methanol, which controls the rate at which it produces formic acid.

Xincheng Xu , a graduate student with the lab, is lead author on the paper. Xu was largely responsible for developing the isotope-tracing techniques that allowed researchers to explore nucleotide metabolism in T cells in vivo . These techniques provided the rationale for metabolic supplementation.

Like Rabinowitz, Xu cautioned against heralding methanol as an answer quite yet.

“As a proof-of-concept in mice, which are far less prone to methanol/formate poisoning, methanol demonstrated efficacy as a formate prodrug,” said Xu. “It’s particularly exciting that metabolic supplementation holds promise for enhancing standard-of-care cancer therapy.

“I also look forward to more metabolic barriers to effective anti-cancer immune response being unveiled and overcome in the future.”

The paper, “One-carbon unit supplementation fuels purine synthesis in tumor-infiltrating T cells an augments checkpoint blockade,” was published in May 2024. The authors are: Xincheng Xu, Zihong Chen, Caroline Bartman, Xi Xing, Kellen Olszewski, and Joshua Rabinowitz . This research was supported by Ludwig Cancer Research, R01CA163591 from the National Cancer Institute, DP1DK113643 from the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestion and Kidney Disease, and SU2CAACR-DT-20-16 from Stand Up to Cancer.

UNC-Chapel Hill in top 5 of The Princeton Review’s best value colleges

Carolina is second among public universities for financial aid.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is ranked No. 4 in The Princeton Review’s annual list of best public universities for value.

The college admissions service company considered several factors in compiling its list of 209 best-value schools, including academics, costs, financial aid, debt, graduation rates and alumni career and salary data. Lists were divided by public and private institutions. Carolina moved up from No. 7 in last year’s list.

Carolina also ranked second on the list of public universities for financial aid and No. 9 for best schools for making an impact. The latter is based on student survey responses to questions about community service opportunities, student government, sustainability efforts and on-campus student engagement.

“We are extremely proud of our ability to provide a high-quality and nationally competitive education while remaining affordable and accessible,” said Interim Chancellor Lee H. Roberts. “Our goal is to ensure that each of our outstanding students can gain a college degree without the burden of college debt. This recognition by The Princeton Review is reflective of our hardworking and dedicated faculty and staff, our generous donors and the exceptional longstanding support of North Carolina’s taxpayers.”

Last fall, U.S. News & World Report ranked UNC-Chapel Hill as the No. 4 public university in the country and No. 22 overall.

Those with an active UNC-Chapel Hill email can get a free July GoPass for GoTriangle bus routes.

Researchers work to combat rise in syphilis cases

A team led by Dr. Arlene Seña is cataloging samples of syphilis patients to help fight the disease.

Carolina 7th in final Learfield Directors’ Cup standings

This is the Tar Heels' fifth-consecutive top-10 finish and their eighth top-10 effort in the past nine years.

Jessica Grant named interim director of Odum Institute

Grant will be the first woman to lead the institute in its 100-year history.

Eshelman ranked No. 1 in pharmacy research funding

The school earned the top spot from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy with more than $92 million in grants in FY23.

On-campus filming production will impact operations, traffic and parking July 5-12

Find information on road closures, parking changes and alterations to pedestrian routes.

Rhiannon Giddens connects history and music

The gifted musician reflects on her time as Carolina’s first Southern Futures Artist-in-Residence.

Pleiades are a flying disc dynasty

The Carolina women’s team won its fourth-straight national title in the sport also known as “ultimate Frisbee.”

Share on Mastodon