For the first time in a decade, a Caxy is headed to Princeton University.
Jahstone Martin ‘26 announced on April 19 through an Instagram post on the @lfa.seniors26 account that he had committed to Princeton for the Fall 2026 term with a major in electrical and computer engineering.
“The previous night, I was really stressed about not getting into a [top] college,” Martin said. “I happened to be in my cousin’s house in Vietnam; I saw an email inviting me to one of those Princeton Preview days — I thought it was just an advertisement from Princeton, but then I opened it, and it said ‘you’re accepted,’ and my hands shot up into the air, I screamed, I ran all around the house, I ran downstairs and told everybody. I was elated.”
Martin’s accomplishment is especially notable because of LFA’s admissions history with Princeton. Though LFA has consistently matriculated students to top universities over the past ten years, admissions to the New Jersey institution have been something of a unicorn, with the last commitment to the university coming in 2016.
“It’s a combination of not as much application volume [to Princeton], a commentary on how difficult it is to get an admission offer from these highly selective schools and [a lack of] institutional ties, whether that’s a recruited athlete or students with a connection to the school,” said Associate Dean of College Counseling Ben Wetherbee. “We probably see fewer students applying to Notre Dame, Georgetown — the schools that have restrictive early action rounds that don’t give as much of an admission advantage as early decision schools.”
Wetherbee, who served as Martin’s primary college counselor, shared his thoughts as to why Martin was able to break through. “When I think of Jahstone, I think of someone who brings levity to any room that he’s in… I think that he takes his work extremely seriously, and that any moments that I have seen him if there’s ever been an opportunity to shine the limelight on somebody else, he’s [done that].”
According to Wetherbee, it was Martin’s pursuit of his own interests that was key. “The things that he’s done, he’s done because they genuinely interest him. They were never done to appease a college admissions officer — he followed a path that was genuinely his own.”
Martin shared how he helped direct these interests, his time and his focus to completing his high school profile: “I always had a goal-oriented mindset where I knew that I was working towards my future and this high school experience was the key to being able to have a successful future. It kept me really focused on doubling down on my studies in order to have a gateway open in the future for success.”
When it comes to advice for students trying to follow in his footsteps, Martin added, “At least for the college process, do all your work early: write your personal statement early and especially do your activities list and accolades early.” He continued, “To get into any high-level institution, try to find something you love or some extracurriculars that you truly enjoy that aren’t just cut-and-paste that everybody does. Find something that truly brings joy to your spirit and devote yourself to that.”
