<p>We couldn't make it. Looking forward to fall break....</p>
<p>In the Tilghman session as well as at the day before at a adjusting to life at Princeton session, there was quite a bit of feedback on binge drinking (a parent would ask a question which would elicit applause from the parent). The administration responses were not terribly new or informative. Yes, we are aware, yes, we are trying to change and it is a national problem receiving Board of Trustee attention. The medical director (on Friday) said admissions to McCosh are up this year but that is a good thing as kids are reporting kids in trouble (???). I would expect some policy changes as Tilghman said it is the one thing about being President that keeps her up at nights.</p>
<p>There also was a lot of grumbling about the students not sleeping and working too hard under pressure. The admin. didn't seem as sympathetic on this topic ("they have time to party...'). The problem seems localized in the science and engineering students.</p>
<p>Also, the grade inflation iniatiative was discussed and I think the administration did a good job on this topic.</p>
<p>To me the best part was the chance to meet kids my daughter talks about. There are a lot of wonderful people in the class of 2009.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info. I was there, but I ditched a lot of the formal things to spend time with my S. When we dropped him off at orientation there was a festive mood on campus as kids were coming and going to pre-orientation and orientation activities. Now kids seem to be buried under a lot of work. Those taking the writing seminar were busy finishing up their first big paper. </p>
<p>I did go to the panel discussion on liberal arts. The message was to encourage your child to pursue their passions and don't worry about it being "practical." A liberal arts education will prepare them to do whatever they choose afterwards. "This is not a trade school" one senior faculty member commented.</p>
<p>Another message was that the residential college staff keep a close eye on their students and are prepared to help them with whatever they need. They said it's common for students to look around at all the incredible students and feel that they must have been admitted by mistake. This combined with very demanding academics can lead to feelings of inadequacy.</p>
<p>I was impressed with how incredible the campus buildings are. They are old, but well kept up. We met in a gorgeous theatre that had been beautifully restored. I thought I should be paying $100. for a ticket.</p>
<p>Cookieson has had a few moments of feeling overwhelmed with his freshman writing assignment, but otherwise is managing his course load and participating in a varsity sport. He's taking advanced math and science courses, but he says it's expected that students discuss problems and consult with each other outside of class, which helps with the workload. One of his Romanian math classmates participates in the same sport, so they often discuss homework problems at practice. ( OK, so they do get a few looks from the other kids which S finds amusing.) There is a lot of help available, but I can imagine a lot of kids would be hesitant to ask or take advantage of what's available.</p>
<p>I would be interested in hearing about anything else I missed as well.</p>
<p>I thought that since my daughter had adjusted beautifully gathered this from speaking to her frequently that there was no need for my husband and I to go. Looks like we missed out on a lot. Thanks for the info.</p>
<p>My son is on a humanities track and he could use a bit more sleep himself. It seemed that half the freshmen had some kind of cough from being "under the weather".
Tilghman seemed to be sending mixed messages about four year residential colleges vs. two year. I don't think they have figured out what to do when Ebay college opens. They want to phase in four year colleges in other dorms but seem unsure on how to implement this. I agree that they did a good job with the alcohol questions and were sincerely concerned, even staying up nights worrying about our children. Personally I loved the exploring of Firestone with my wife and son. He was a better tour guide then the official tour guide.</p>
<p>I attended the Tilghman lecture, the humanities seminar, and the residential college panel. The administration is pushing the four year residential college initiative, which I support, and the effort to have students major in something other than the big five. One part of the four year residential initiative is that beginning with the 09 class, their college advisors will continue to be from their residential college the entire four years - even if the students choose not to live in a four-year residential college. Also, all students will continue to have some association with their college. A lot of parent concerns centered around alcohol abuse and the grade deflation policy. I think parents were mixed on whether the answers were entirely satisfactory. I was impressed with the level of support available in the residential college, and the fact that even if the students dont know it, the deans and others are watching closely for academic and social progress. It also sounds like Princeton will continue to seek out students with strong performing arts backgrounds as this was one of four areas Tilghman said were priorities, along with engineering, neuroscience, and greater internationalization of the college experience.
My D/S has the same bug that everyone is passing around. My child seems to like it and is in awe of some of the teachers and other students but is looking forward to the break. My D/S has really been focused on the academics and my childs EC, stayed sober the whole time and still the workload has been very heavy with lots of midnight labs and papers finished in the wee hours of the night.
First time I was on the campus after dark. It is quite beautiful with the way the buildings are lit. Also a couple of the eating clubs were having either a formal or semi-formal event. I was walking on Prospect Avenue towards the campus and the hoards of students coming in the other direction walking two or three abreast were not prepared to share the sidewalk with me. Rather disconcerting. Students may own The Street but they dont own the sidewalk and they should part to let an old man pass.</p>
<p>I did attended the Tilghman lecture. I took a tour of PPPL, but the best part of the day was piling all my DD roommates into the car, an going out to eat. We really got to know her new friends at Princeton.</p>