Graduate admissions in our department is highly competitive. The faculty consider many factors in selecting students. To maximize your chances, follow a few basic steps.

1. Get to know our research. You won't become an expert before you get here, but familiarizing yourself with our work better prepares you to make informed decisions. In your communications with us, demonstrating that you know who we are and what we do tells us you are serious. This will also help you answer the question on the application of which professors you want to work with.
2. Reach out. It's a good idea to contact the professors you've identified in step one. Be prepared to discuss your interests and inquire about current and future funded projects.
3. Write a compelling statement. Your Statement of Academic Purpose should clearly state what you hope to work on in our graduate program, and explain how your background prepares you.
4. Get strong letters of recommendation. What others say about you, especially those who know your work and can speak to your abilities, is essential to stand out in a highly competitive pool of applicants. Be selective in who you ask, making sure to include letter writers who are very familiar with your academic abilities.
5. Play to your strengths. The committee considers a range of credentials when reviewing an application. It is not uncommon for students who have a weakness in one area to make a strong case for themselves by demonstrating excellence in other areas or by justifying an unconventional path.

For more information on CEE/Princeton admissions and specific advice from select faculty members, please check out this link.

What we look for in applicants at CEE/Princeton

All applications are submitted electronically via the graduate school.

We have procedures for students to access fee waivers through the Graduate School. Applicants can apply for waivers by going to:    https://gradschool.princeton.edu/admission-onboarding/prepare/deadlines-and-fees  where you will see eligibility information and procedure for how to apply for fee waivers on the bottom of the page.   

Apply here.

The graduate school maintains a definitive list of application requirements and a description of the program in some detail. However, for convenience, below is a list of materials you will need to submit.

Application Requirements: 

• Statement of Academic Purpose
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Recommendation Letters
• Transcripts
• Fall Semester Grades
• Required Tests
• English Language Tests

GRE:  Applicants to CEE graduate programs are not required to submit GRE scores as part of the application process, but they may opt to do so.  If scores are submitted by an applicant, they will be reviewed as part of the admission review process.  Applicants who do not submit scores will not be put at a disadvantage.

English Language Proficiency:  Graduate students must demonstrate a level of oral proficiency in the English language sufficient to participate successfully in the various activities that comprise a graduate education, including classwork, research, research presentations, group meetings, project teamwork, and teaching undergraduates. The three internationally recognized tests of English language proficiency which we accept are the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), and Duolingo English Test (DET). For more details and questions about exceptions, visit the Graduate School's webpage.

Additional Departmental Requirements: 

Applicants are required to identify specific faculty with whom they would like to conduct research as their potential adviser(s) and also select their highest priority research areas of the Department (see Research tab above).