I’m looking to do MechE at Princeton and I also want to get two certificates in something like bio and finance. How difficult would it be to get through all this and still maintain good academics and a social life? Do most engineering students do certificate programs?
Mechanical engineering at Princeton is a demanding field of study, however some have been known to do a certificate in addition to their regular course load. I am not sure doing two certificates is feasible but contacting Dean Boguki might give you a more specific answer. One of the issues (in addition to trying to get all the required courses) is the final thesis work, which could be daunting given the requirements of three different areas.
Unless you come into Princeton with a lot of AP courses under your belt, first year course selection is fairly restrictive for engineers. The decision to pursue certificate work would be more readily made in second year and beyond.
I think it’s worth saying that life at Princeton is vibrant and full of things to do that are very worthwhile and fall outside of the classroom. I’d advise leaving some space (especially first year) to explore and adjust to the demands of college life as well as the myriad opportunities available to you both on and off campus. Clubs, trips, events and social time are a really important part of your time at Princeton!!