<p>My daughter is seriously considering attending Princeton as a humanities graduate student. She loves her program, but has major concerns about living in Princeton in the graduate dorms, which most first year students seem to do. She is 23 and not wanting to go back to dorm food and dorm life. She is also worried about the social life of grad students. Anybody have any views on graduate student life at Princeton?</p>
<p>Most first-year grad students live in the GC and almost everyone enjoys it. There are (in my opinion) three potential drawbacks: it’s a dorm, the GC is about a 10 minute walk from the main campus, and a meal plan is required (though if you don’t want to worry about meals, this would be less of a drawback). On the plus side, you’re living with a bunch of other first-years in every department so you become friendly with people outside your department (which in the case of humanities, might be a very small group). The GC and the graduate school as a whole organize a lot of activities; for example, this weekend there is a formal. While it is true that undergrads are the “focus”, everything open to undergrads are open to grad students (except maybe joining an eating club) and it seems like the university is making more of an effort to integrate grad students. As a grad student, I have never felt like any less of a Princeton student or neglected. I would definitely recommend your daughter apply (and come if admitted).</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply YanksDolphin. She is admitted and needs to make her decision by April 15th. Her choice has come down to Princeton and another school. The living environment is her main concern. Will you live off campus next year? Any advice on room draw?</p>
<p>For the room draw, if she selects the GC as her first choice, she is guaranteed housing there. Apartments are nearly impossible to get in the draw as a first-year so just stick with GC. She can also try for an Annex. I have a friend who managed to get one.</p>