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How to Answer Princeton's New Skill Question

A new skill you would like to learn in college, in 50 words.

50 wordsRequiredShort answer2026-27
Princeton University's wording, checked October 26, 2026
“What is a new skill you would like to learn in college?”

How to approach it

  1. 1Pick something specific and give the reason in one sentence.
  2. 2It does not have to be academic. Bread, sign language and bike repair all tell a reader something a transcript cannot.
  3. 3Fifty words is two or three sentences: draft at seventy and cut.

A structure that works

One way to shape this answer. It describes moves, not sentences: the words have to be yours.

  1. 1Name the skill in the first few words.
  2. 2Give the real reason: what you would do with it, or who it would connect you to.
  3. 3If words remain, add one detail that shows you have already circled it.

Mistakes to avoid

  • A skill chosen to impress.
  • A skill you already have, described as new.

The checklist our grader uses for this question

When you check your Princeton answers, this answer is read against these 4 areas. Each comes back Met, Partly or Missing with a quote from your draft as evidence, and together with the 50 words limit they set its readiness verdict.

AreaWhat a reader looks for
Answers the questionThe opening sentences answer what was asked, plainly, before background or a hook; every part of a multi-part question is answered.
SpecificIt uses a concrete name, detail or image instead of a general statement.
Something newIt shows a side of the applicant that the rest of the application probably does not.
Princeton's askNames one specific skill in 50 words or fewer and why it appeals.

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Questions

How long is Princeton's "A new skill to learn in college" essay?

Up to 50 words.

Is it required?

Required. Princeton's full set of questions is on the Princeton supplemental essays page.

Can I reuse an essay from another college for this prompt?

You can start from material you have, but rewrite it for Princeton's exact wording: answer every part of this question, and cut what it does not ask for.

Can Statementory write or improve my answer?

We never write or rewrite it: colleges ask you to affirm your essays are your own work. Our checker reviews it against the checklist on this page, quotes your own words, and asks the questions only you can answer.

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