On Monday, the first members of the Class of 2029 were matched to Princeton through QuestBridge National College Match.
Neither the University nor QuestBridge has released data on the number of students who were matched with Princeton this year, although QuestBridge reported that there were 25,500 applicants and 7,288 finalists this year. This marks the largest pool of recipients to date, with 2,627 high school seniors being matched with 52 partner universities.
The University last released data on the exact number of students who were accepted through QuestBridge when over 100 members of the Class of 2026 matched with Princeton in 2021.
“We seek to match with as many talented students who we think will be a great fit for Princeton,” University spokesperson Jennifer Morrill wrote in a statement to The Daily Princetonian.
“With the expansion of the undergraduate population, we have been able to say ‘yes’ to more students across all admission cycles,” she added.
Princeton will release single-choice Early Action decisions in mid-December, with regular decision applications due Jan. 1.
Princeton has been a partner university of QuestBridge since 2006. The admissions website notes that, since then, “we have ‘matched’ with hundreds of scholars. While this number is not static and can change from year to year, Princeton goes on to accept a larger number of QuestBridge finalists through regular decision.”
The ‘Prince’ spoke with some of the QuestBridge matches for the Princeton Class of 2029 to hear their reactions and learn about the application process.
When Kristi Kohut ’29 from Norwalk, Conn., received her match, she had just sat down for her break at her job at Starbucks. She explained that “right as I sat down, the notification came in that results are in. I’m like, I can’t wait. I literally can’t wait. I saw congratulations — and my vision went blurry.”
For Kohut, the QuestBridge process was one of community and opportunity. “I’m just really grateful to be able to experience a place full of love, a place where I can really advance my studies … a place where I can be surrounded by people that are awesome, but also a place where I can really push myself to do harder, do better in my academics and excel,” she said.
Yahav Levy ’29 and Niv Levy ’29 are twin brothers from New York City who both matched with Princeton.
“I definitely was not expecting to get matched,” Yahav Levy told the ‘Prince.’ “I was just in shock, not only that I got in, but also that my brother and I were going to the same school, because it was also a big fear that one of us would get in and the other one wouldn’t.”
“Seeing confetti when viewing my National College Match decision was one thing, but realizing I had matched with Princeton made me jump with excitement,” Niv Levy wrote to the ‘Prince.’ “Although I loved Princeton, it seemed the least feasible option among the schools I ranked.”
Tyler Scarborough ’29, who is from Pine Hills, Fla., said he screamed when he was matched with Princeton and scared his mother.
“You could see the camera shake in the reaction video, but I was just elated,” Scarborough said. “No QuestBridge scholar — at least [those] that I know — expected to be matched.”
All the students cited the long application process that began after their junior year.
“I heard [my AP World History teacher] talking about the QuestBridge College Prep Scholars Program, and it just sounded too good to be true,” Scarborough said.
After hearing about it, Scarborough completed the College Prep Scholars program and received a full-ride scholarship to Carleton College for their summer program where he did art history research under a professor.
He then applied to the college match within the QuestBridge process. “It’s incredibly worth it to be able to tell your story and be seen within the context of where you grew up,” he said.
The Levy twins stressed the difficulty of the application process, noting that they spent the entire summer working through the rigorous applications.
“Not only did I have to write up numerous responses for QuestBridge’s application, but I also had to figure out what schools I wanted to be considered for binding admission — all while worrying about the multitude of supplements I had to write,” Niv Levy said.
The matched students emphasized their excitement for various academic and non-academic aspects of Princeton.
Niv Levy cited his excitement about exploring digital policy through Princeton’s Center for Technology Policy (CTIP). “CITP’s course, for instance, ‘Bridging the Digital Divide: Technology and Policy,’ aligns perfectly with my passion for bridging digital inequities,” he told the ‘Prince.’
Kaydence Chandler ’29, from Hartselle, Ala., is excited to experience the many aspects of the town of Princeton, especially Princeton’s famous coffee scene. “I’m a very, very avid coffee drinker. I’ve heard about this little coffee shop in Princeton, Small World … I’ve heard such good things about it, and I want to try it.”
Adrian Rangel ’29, from Athens, Ga., shared his desire to conduct research, join affinity groups, and participate in Princeton’s social scene, primarily at the eating clubs. “I heard about the eating clubs — that’s one of the things that is unique about Princeton that I’m really looking forward to … I heard they’re pretty cool.”
The opportunities that the University provides and the community it has are the strongest draws for many of the QuestBridge students. Paola Sanchez ’29 shared excitement for “all of the opportunities Princeton offers both academically and socially. I feel like there are so many great people at Princeton, both professors and students.”
Kohut noted that many Princeton students had already reached out to her and made her feel welcome through social media. “A bunch of people followed me, and I was just like, ‘I’m showered with love.’”
QuestBridge gives many students the opportunity to attend four-year universities without the worry of financial burden. Kohut shared that she had been in the situation “where [she’d] only be able to go to community college” before her match with Princeton.
“I’m just glad I’ll have the opportunity to take courses and prepare myself for a future in any career,” Sanchez explained. “I feel that, in general, having that opportunity is really huge to me.”
Janet Cuatlacuatl ’29 of New York City expressed that “this feeling of relief because [she] got an ending with the full ride scholarship” was liberating.
“You know, I really love Princeton,” Cuatlacuatl said.
Hayk Yengibaryan is an associate Sports editor and News contributor for the ‘Prince.’
Luke Grippo is a News contributor for the ‘Prince.’
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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