The most accurate AI grader for Princeton essays.
Kolly was built and calibrated on hundreds of thousands of essays from students who actually got into Princeton University and the rest of the T20.
Princeton essay prompts for 2025-26
Copy the prompt you are answering into the prompt field above, then paste your draft, so the readers grade the answer against the question it has to answer.
These are the most recent Princeton prompts Kolly has verified, checked . Princeton may have updated them since, so check Princeton University admissions before you submit.
Difficult Conversation
At Princeton, we value diverse perspectives and the ability to have respectful dialogue about difficult issues. Share a time when you had a conversation with a person or a group of people about a difficult topic.
250 words max · Required
Academic Interests (A.B. / Undecided)
As a research institution that also prides itself on its liberal arts curriculum, Princeton allows students to explore areas across the humanities and the arts, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. What academic areas most pique your curiosity, and how do the programs offered at Princeton suit your particular interests?
250 words max · Required
Academic Interests (B.S.E.)
Please describe why you are interested in studying engineering at Princeton. Include any of your experiences in or exposure to engineering, and how you think the programs offered at the University suit your particular interests.
250 words max · Required
Community & Living Perspectives
Princeton values community and encourages students, faculty, staff and leadership to engage in respectful conversations that can expand their perspectives and challenge their ideas and beliefs. As a prospective member of this community, reflect on how your lived experiences will impact the conversations you will have in the classroom, the dining hall or other settings at Princeton.
Required
Service
Princeton has a longstanding commitment to service and civic engagement. Tell us how your story intersects (or will intersect) with these ideals.
250 words max · Required
Short Answer — New Skill
What is a new skill you would like to learn in college?
50 words max · Required
Under 100 words? Grade it in the supplemental essay reviewer, which reads from 50 words.
Short Answer — Song
What song represents the soundtrack of your life at this moment?
50 words max · Required
Under 100 words? Grade it in the supplemental essay reviewer, which reads from 50 words.
All Princeton supplemental essays, with word limits and the published source.
How Kolly grades a Princeton essay
The grade covers the same six dimensions as every Kolly read: hook, theme, detail, authenticity, reflection, and writing, each scored from 0 to 5. The big number is a percentile that shows where your draft lands among accepted essays of the same type from top US schools. Princeton readers, like their counterparts at peer schools, read fast and form an impression in the first paragraph. The verdict quotes the line that lands and names the weakest moment, so you know what to fix first.
Why Kolly instead of a ChatGPT read
ChatGPT and other general models grade against writing in general, which is not what Princeton readers do. Kolly grades against essays that got in, and four readers argue over the draft before they vote, so a polished answer that says nothing specific gets called out instead of praised. The quick read is free without an account. A free Kolly account adds the full review: a stronger scoring model, notes on each paragraph, and a fix-it plan.
Grading your personal statement?
Use the main college essay grader for a Common App essay that goes to every school on your list. For acceptance rates, test scores, and cost, see Princeton University admissions.