<p>I actually don't find Princeton to be so preppy, per se. Meaning, not so upper class, Connecticut-vintage, etc. But it is, hmmm, kind of wholesome. There's a lot of enthusiasm, and not a lot of world-weary. Kids are intelligent, some wildly intelligent, but kind of in an aw-shucks way.</p>
<p>I've said on the Princeton forum before and will say it here. The eating clubs attract people who enjoy the social fray. Not all preppies. Not all rich. But definitely enjoy the social fray. And the theater groups, the dance groups, the singing groups, well, they are groups. The athletes? Mostly on teams. See? Social. And then of course you have Reunions and alumni loyalty etc. Somehow, probably the geography at first and now an embedded part of the culture, to me it is this social thing that defines Princeton much more than the old stereotypes of preppies etc. And I don't mean partying either, just belonging and liking to interact, and for the most part not a lot of the ironic arms-crossed sort of intellectualism. Which I actually happen to like:), but it's not Princeton's mainstream theme.</p>
<p>IMHO.</p>