Hey everyone, I am a senior and potentially thinking of applying to Princeton SCEA? I really want to know about the eating clubs at Princeton and how crazy they are? I particularly do not want to have to be obligated to join any scene that is very party crazed and drinking and fraternity like. Can anyone who has had experience please give me some inside tips on Princeton’s social scene? I am deciding between Princeton and Columbia so if anyone has any advice on that please tell me! :))Thanks
My son is a rising senior at Princeton. From what I understand, the atmosphere varies from club to club. For example, some are “bicker” clubs and others are sign in. There is opportunity to visit in the spring of sophomore year so you get an idea what they are like. From what I understand, yes some are more similar to “Greek life” atmosphere, and others considerably less so.
While my son (who is not at all into the party scene) decided not to join any club (and still has a thriving social life), lots of his friends who are not partiers either did decide to join - and like it.
There are also a very large number of other clubs and interest groups on campus. Here is a link to the student organizations directory:
http://www.princeton.edu/odus/activities/organizations/directory/
Once or twice a year a student activities fair is held in Dillon gym to showcase what the clubs have to offer.
http://www.princeton.edu/odus/activities/initiatives/student_activities_fair/
My son, who graduated two years ago, isn’t much of a partner either. He ended up joining an eating club and was glad he did. His GF was in a different club and it worked out well for both of them.
I totally agree with what’s said above. I’m a sophomore right now at Princeton and deciding about eating clubs. There is a wide variety of social scenes at the different clubs as well as how involved students are in the party life. Though just because you don’t party doesn’t mean you don’t have a social life. I know everyone says is but there really is a variety and you can find people who do out/stay in as much as you.
In general, the “bicker” clubs tend to be the more fratty and party focused clubs while sign in clubs are more chill. That being said you when you go out on the weekend you can go to any number of the clubs, so even if you join a sign-in club you can still go out and party if you want to. The reverse is true also, just because you join a party-type club, doesn’t mean you have to be going out all the time. It really is up to you.
@sherpa did he join a sign in club or a bicker club?
^ Sign in.
You might be interested in this group: http://thealternative.princeton.edu/
They promote a different kind of social experience on campus. Events are still held at the eating clubs from what I understand.
@Cantiger , is this group found at other colleges as well (or something similar)? I really like the concept.
@giraffe42 I don’t know about other colleges unfortunately. Here’s another link - it looks like a different website but the same idea. http://www.bealternative.org/ If you message them through Facebook (assuming you have an account) they may know of other campuses that are running similar groups.
@Cantiger Thank you!