How to Get into Princeton

Out of a record number of 4,908 applications, Princeton University last week accepted only 1,165. Among the outstanding students who got in was Joseph David Oznot, son of a wealthy private detective from East Lansing, Mich. Oznot had been first in his class, a concert pianist, on the varsity lacrosse team. Even though he worked summers as a clerk, he found time to study calculus and Virgil. Director of Admissions E. Alden Dunham was looking forward to meeting the unusually gifted student, but last week he got word that he couldn't. Reason: Oznot (rhymes with was not) is not.

Oznot was invented last October by four Princeton sophomores just for fun. They got a Princeton application form, sent it to a confederate at Michigan State University who forwarded a bogus transcript of Oznot's high school record, along with glowing recommendations from teachers. When it came time to take the college entrance boards, two members of the Princeton quartet signed in as Oznot, scored in the high 700s (top: 800). When Oznot had to appear for a personal interview, the Princetonians induced a friend from Columbia University to pose. He showed up with a copy of Virgil under one arm, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED under the other, and made a great impression.

"From then on," said one of the conspirators, "we were pretty sure we had it made." "A magnificent hoax," laughed Admissions Director Dunham. Flushed with success, the four are looking forward to next year. "We'd like to get Joe's girl friend into Vassar," a spokesman said.

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