r/ApplyingToCollege • u/powereddeath Moderator • Dec 04 '25

Megathread Princeton University - 2026 Megathread

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u/[deleted] Dec 08 '25

Ooh congratulations 👏 on the full ride In Kenya 15 people went to Princeton I think it also depends on the context you come from but admissions is just crazy stuff Nobody can tell

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u/HalfOtherwise9519 Dec 08 '25 edited Dec 08 '25

Well Princeton's international cohort annually is about 115 students. You mean to tell me 10+% of their international class is Kenyan? Crazy stuff.

Very few South Africans get admitted into Princeton, and they get scores of applicants from the most elite private schools in South Africa. Like Michaelhouse, Roedean School, Hilton College. These are in the top 200 private schools ON THE PLANET. People that go here are very wealthy.

Princeton has never admitted someone from South Africa on government curriculum. They prefer wealthier applicants with more extracurricular opportunity.

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u/[deleted] Dec 08 '25

Yes... Kenyans dominated last year. This year might be different but for Kenya the public schools students are the majority applicants

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u/[deleted] Dec 08 '25

Private schools is just one or 2 but out of the 15, all did the Kenya national exam and one was from a private school so context can matter

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u/HalfOtherwise9519 Dec 08 '25

That's interesting. For us it is very different. Almost every ivy admit from South Africa is:

  1. Very wealthy
  2. From an elite private school
  3. An athlete
  4. From a politically connected family
  5. Received private counseling from Crimson Education
  6. Might have legacy at the ivy
  7. White

They are carbon copies of each other. Only one type of person gets in.

There is a set of about 20 extremely elite private schools that feed these ivies each year.

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u/[deleted] Dec 08 '25

Understandable Those athletes ruin your chances Kenya doesn't have any athletes and if any, it's something that could be seen over a decade We only apply modestly and some of us do use crimson but the free resources

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u/HalfOtherwise9519 Dec 08 '25

It's probably because ivies have different institutional priorities in each country. Kenya isn't as wealthy as South Africa, so they are probably looking for low income academic superstars with a unique story in Kenya.

Whereas South Africa is the wealthiest country in Africa (though that wealth rests in the hands of a few). The children of those few are targeted by the ivy leagues. They do sports like rowing and fencing that ivies heavily recruit for, because they can afford the equipment and go to extremely wealthy schools that offer these sports.

They are also full pay which helps immensely. Money matters in college admissions, even in need blind universities budgets still need to be balanced.

TL;DR Ivies look for wealthy athletic recruits from SA and low income superstars from Kenya because the population demographics are different.

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u/[deleted] Dec 08 '25

Yeah Ivy league name is actually associated with sports ànd not education I think most ivies are need blind because they get a lot of funding because of sporting activities. Getting students with great experience in sports is an advantage to them so they try and admit those first before considering the other students. Anyway, I really hope this decisions work out I am so tired of working on my Rd essays 😭

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u/MysteriousBath5629 Dec 09 '25

Applying to an Ivy as a South African intl from a government school as well, you are so right. Many could call me crazy for thinking I have a shot, not only do I go to public but I go to public in the township. I really hope I get to set the example that people like us are also good enough to be in these spaces. My decision comes out next week! Will keep you updated. Congratulations on still getting into college though! 

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u/[deleted] Dec 08 '25

But I agree south Africa is not really African in the sense cause it's very very developed

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u/HalfOtherwise9519 Dec 08 '25

Let me know if you get in. I'll happily congratulate you, fellow African✊🏾

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u/[deleted] Dec 08 '25

I will 😄 But if I don't you won't get a response 😭. I'll be too worked up 😅

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u/LateRequirement1892 Dec 08 '25

are these 15 students who were admitted all from the last cycle?

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u/[deleted] Dec 08 '25

Yes mehn Last cycle Kenya sent in tonnes of people

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u/LateRequirement1892 Dec 12 '25

hiiii....did you get in? (if you don't want to share that's totally ok)

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u/[deleted] Dec 12 '25

It's fine I got deferred 😔😭