Apply for Princeton Summer Journalism Program (US)

The Princeton Summer Journalism Program (PSJP) is the only program of its kind offering a free, year-long college preparation and journalism program for high school juniors from limited-income backgrounds. Their mission is to diversify the fields that impact their democracy through the exploration of the important connection between journalism and critical social and political events. Participants complete a multi-week, hybrid summer intensive during the summer after their junior year and work one-on-one with a personal college counselor during their senior year.

Through PSJP, students gain new skills and open themselves up to different experiences by meeting creative young people from across the country and stepping out of their comfort zones. Students who love learning, enjoy writing, have a strong work ethic, and would appreciate discussing topics ranging from history, culture, social issues, politics, and current events with their peers and professionals tend to be most successful in this program. Prior experience as a journalist is appreciated, but not required. However, enthusiasm for exploring the field is a must.

Program Content

• Lectures and Workshops
  • Princeton professors and journalists serve as guest instructors, leading interactive sessions on specific themes or skills related to the field of journalism. Past sessions have included:
    • Reporting 101
    • Food Journalism
    • Feature Writing
    • Using Social Media to Inform Reporting
• Discussion Group
  • Students and counselors meet in small groups to discuss everything from program content and current events to life in college and applications. Students and their discussion group leaders form close bonds that last throughout the program and beyond.
• Reporting Assignments
  • PSJP journalists learn how to interview, write features and news pieces, and cover topics such as race, politics, social class, business and economics, the environment, and much more as they write their own articles. At the end of each summer, these stories are published in the annual Princeton Summer Journal.
• Mentorship and Feedback
  • PSJP counselors are program alumni and professional journalists who provide written and verbal feedback to students on their articles, edit the student newspaper, and share their wisdom about the field of journalism and the journey to it.
• Networking Opportunities
  • Participants meet more than 50 different professors and journalists during workshops, lectures, and trips to news outlets and also network with community members, local businesses, and other professionals for interviews as they report their stories.
• Community
  • The most enduring part of the PSJP journey is the community students build with their peers, program alumni, counselors, and professional journalists.

Costs Covered

• Students do not pay any fees to the program to participate in PSJP. The program will arrange and pay for housing, meals, and transportation required for the in-person portion of the program.
• All public transportation logistics, airfare, train fees, and shuttle costs are covered for the students by the program. Typically, students who live within driving distance of campus are dropped off by a family member, although they will send transportation to retrieve the student if that is not an option.

Eligibility Criteria

• Qualified applicants will:
  • Be a junior in high school at the time of application. No exceptions will be made for students graduating with other grades.
  • Live in the United States and intend to attend college here. Students living and attending school abroad, including U.S. citizens, will not be considered under any circumstances.
  • Have a minimum unweighted grade point average equivalent to a 3.5 out of 4.0.
  • Have an interest in journalism.
  • Meet at least one of the socioeconomic conditions below:
    • The combined income of your parent(s)/guardian(s) plus child support payments, if any, does not exceed $60,000.
    • Your family income or circumstances qualify you to receive free or reduced-price lunch in your high school.
    • Your family income or circumstances qualify you to receive an SAT or ACT fee waiver.
  • Students who will be first-generation college students are given priority consideration.
  • PSJP considers all applications on a case-by-case basis. They may take additional personal and academic factors into account when making final admission decisions. There is a space on the application for students whose experiences fall outside of their academic and financial requirements to explain any extenuating circumstances that warrant reconsideration.

For more information, visit Princeton University.