<p>Hi Icargirl!!!!!</p>
<p>Yes, the strongly recommended courseload is four (in fact, you have to get special permission to do five in the fall semester), but the only required course is the writing seminar (the semester in which you will be a part of it is pre-assigned). Freshman seminars are completely optional and by application only (except in some cases where certain seminars don't fill up and you just talk to the professor). Because the optional freshman seminar has the workload of a regular course (some would argue that it's even less of one), it's perfectly acceptable to do both a FRS and a WRI at the same time. In fact, many people do it. This semester, I know several freshmen who are taking six courses and still surviving. I started out in six, then dropped one due to getting involved in more activities. My adviser didn't even want to sign off on five this spring semester, but one thing to keep in mind is that the guidelines in place are just that: guidelines. You have near-total freedom in the selection of your academic route--except in the first semester, when you have to get permission from the dean to enroll in five (depending on your academic adviser).</p>
<p>Hey Alyumother..if your D is intersted in cooking for herself why doesnt she join a a student coop? that way she can cook forherslef and friends and everyon coks for eachother so she has the opition of cooking for herself without worrrying if shes overloaded</p>
<p>She plans to do that junior year most likely.</p>
<p>Cookieson also loves Princeton and hasn't regretted his decision for a minute. I was a little concerned about how he would fit in socially as he had come from a large urban high school and is very down to earth. He seems to be getting along with all kinds of kids and he loves the eating club parties.</p>
<p>He's also on a sports team which has daily practices all year. He says that a number of his teammates have found doing a sport and keeping up with the course load grueling and have left the team. He's been able to manage his workload and still get about 9 hours of sleep a night.</p>
<p>As for professors, not only is his science professor a Nobel Laureate, but he shows up at the labs and walks around talking to students and examining their work. His math professor is a Fields Medalist, the equivalent of a Nobel for math. One day my S was late for his class because he had a Dr.'s appointment. When he walked in to class the professor, knowing he had been to see a Dr., stopped the class to ask him if he were OK.</p>
<p>Pchild has also been having a great experience at Princeton. The classes have been challenging and interesting and the professors very accessible, including those who have significant national reputations. Its exciting to go to a lecture one day and then read in the NY Times the next day that your professors latest book has won a prestigious award. One project in which my child was involved has been written up in a national magazine. My D/S is busy every minute, between classes, studying, a couple of significant extracurriculars, and a little bit of work. I think my D/S gets more like five or six hours sleep a day. Sleep becomes optional during mid-term week and final period and caffeine indispensable. Housing, food, etc. have all worked out well. All of my childs roommates plan to stay together next year. </p>
<p>One of the biggest challenges is just finding enough time to take advantage of all the opportunities. My child hasnt been able to fit into the schedule going to see any of the big names who have come to the campus this year. My D/S also really wanted to get off to a good start academically and does not drink anyway so has steered clear of The Street. But everyones different. Some kids are really focused academically; some kids do what they need to in class but devote most of their energy to their extracurriculars; some kids, even at Princeton, like to party and have a good time; and some kids manage to balance it all. </p>
<p>So far, no regrets. Things are working out better than we dared hope.</p>