<p>I want to go to the preview, but I can't miss anymore days of school, unless I beg and beg my principal and office counselors. If I don't go to the preview will i be out-of-the-loop when orientation time comes around? Or will I be ok. I only live an hour and a half from Princeton so I can visit a lot to make sure I love it (I already do and I already accepted). What do you guys think?</p>
<p>If you’re set on coming here, it’s totally not a big deal - my first time on campus was when I came to move in for OA.</p>
<p>Anticipation - I was in a similar situation as you… I couldn’t preview Princeton because I had a track meet I could not miss both weekends. I also lived close by, so I just visited another weekend and walked around. It literally will not matter at all - everyone is equally lost and confused during orientation week.</p>
<p>Princeton preview is extremely important to go if you’re unsure of coming to Princeton or not. If you’re already sure, then it’s not that important… all you miss is the mushy events that try to amaze and get you to come to Princeton.</p>
<p>yeah i don’t think i’m going to the preview either. i am already set on princeton, and flights from CA can get expensive. while the weekend may be fun, it doesn’t sound vital if you have already decided to attend next year.</p>
<p>@stoplight</p>
<p>did you get any financial aid? If you got a good amount, they’ll usually be willing to give you a free trip to Princeton to come to the preview. They did that for me last year. You just call their financial aid office I believe.</p>
<p>no i’m not on aid … so i’m not sure that would work out. i just am not sure making the trip to preview is not worth the money/hassle. it basically takes a full day of travel time for me to get there so it is not an easy trip. of course i would love to spend time at princeton and meet future classmates, but it doesn’t sound like preview is essential.</p>
<p>i hope i’m making the right decision…</p>
<p>I plan on going to the Princeton Preview with my dad. He’s very uneasy about me going to Princeton (and he’s been really trying to push me toward my full ride at the Univ. of Arkansas; I haven’t budged, obviously since Princeton is an absolutely amazing school). Would you think that the Princeton Preview would definitely allow my dad to see why I want to go to Princeton? I certainly hope so.</p>
<p>Also, Princeton is giving me enough aid so that my dad would pay $15,000 a year, which isn’t much more than the private school I’ve been going to since I was 3 years old (yeah, a long time ago) which has cost about $10,000 to $11,000 per year.</p>
<p>@ opqpop – I got a lot of aid ($35,000), so would I be able to get a free trip for the Princeton Preview? If so, how would I go about doing that (I know you said call the financial aid office, but what exactly do I say)?</p>
<p>@stoplight</p>
<p>In that case, as long as you’re coming here, it’s perfectly fine to not come to the preview ;)</p>
<p>@Peytoncline</p>
<p>$35k is probably enough to get a free trip. Did you get your acceptance letter mailed to you yet, because they put in there a letter saying if you’re eligible for a free trip or not. It says something like “Our financial aid office has determined that your family would benefit from a fully subsidized trip to the preview program,” and then gives you information on what to do next. So I’d wait for that letter if you haven’t received it.</p>
<p>If you have received it and you weren’t eligible OR if you need to know now so you can buy your plane tickets earlier for whatever reason (cheaper prices, etc.), there are two options. The first is to email <a href=“mailto:faoffice@princeton.edu”>faoffice@princeton.edu</a> and say something like…“My dad really wants me to go to Univ. of Arkansas, but I want to come to the preview to try and convince him to let me attend Princeton. He doesn’t want me to go to the preview because he feels the money needed for the trip is not worth it. Is there any way I could get my trip subsidized?” Just try to show them you want to go, but can’t because of the money. It’s also nice if you give them the hint that not going to the preview will likely cause you to attend another university. The second option is to call the office and say pretty much the same thing. (609) 258-3330 I believe.</p>
<p>By the way, going to Univ. of Arkansas just because your dad wants you to do it sounds like a big mistake to me. You alone should be able to decide where you want to go, not your dad. Going to the preview will of course help your dad get a better opinion of Princeton, which I highly recommend. Personally, I just don’t think the level of prestige is comparable at all between Univ. of Arkansas & Princeton. To me, it would only seem reasonable for you to go to Univ. of Arkansas if and only if YOU really wanted to do so.</p>
<p>I got 40,000 but no free trip. :(</p>
<p>When is it? Thinking about taking a tour over spring break. Will there be many attending?</p>
<p>April 14-16 is the first preview session</p>
<p>April 23-25 is the second one</p>
<p>wait i think the first preview session is april 16-18, which is the one i’m going to</p>
<p>Yeah it’s 16-18.</p>
<p>^my bad – it’s the 16th through the 18th</p>
<p>i’m going to the 23rd through 25th one, so i just flubbed when the first one is going to be</p>
<p>Peytoncline~
Don’t worry…your dad will fall in love with Princeton at the preview! Encourage him to go to the parent sessions. They do a great job of “selling” Princeton to parents who are not quite sure about the whole thing.</p>
<p>socalimom - are there parent events throughout the preview days, or would you recommend just dropping off and picking up (since we’re within reasonable driving distance)? Any tips on things parents should be on the lookout for?</p>
<p>There were parent events throughout the preview days last year. I would go to as many as you can. There was a nice wine and cheese reception on the 1st night, and I also enjoyed the performing arts showcase. The next day, I went to a student panel discussion, a faculty panel discussion, and a study abroad session. All were very informative. We also enjoyed a bbq lunch, hosted by one of the clubs on campus. I visited the financial aid office and toured the campus. There was also a nice, continental breakfast served on the last day. I was on my own, most of the time, but I had great fun and met a lot of great people. I still can’t believe that my son goes to such a great university!</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply. It sounds like it’s worth sticking around for. Care to comment on how the first year has gone, expectations met, surprises, anything? How is the advising?</p>