<p>I'm just a typical conservative Republican from the south, and I'm hoping to get admitted into Princeton next year. I'm vice president of the Young Republicans club at our school, and my family also always votes Republicans in elections. I understand that most prestigious universities typically lean to the left, but how liberal exactly is Princeton? Does Obama, for instance, come fairly often for speeches? Do other liberal democrat politicians come frequently?</p>
<p>There were a couple of college guidebooks (I can’t remember which ones…I’ll try to) that labeled Princeton as leaning slightly more right than left. That doesn’t mean there aren’t liberals there.</p>
<p>One of my D’s good friends was recently admitted and he was a member (maybe Prez) of the Young Republicans at her high school with a conservative family like yours as well.</p>
<p>Based on my experience, I would say The general student body is extremely socially liberal but moderately fiscally conservative. With the faculty, it’s varied.</p>
<p>I would also say that admissions counselors at pton are independent since they openly practice diversity initiatives and socio-economic AA policies, while also admitting republicans like yourself.</p>
<p>Princeton is pretty liberal when it comes to social issues. To be honest, I really haven’t paid much attention to people’s fiscal viewpoints, but I think I’ll second justadream92’s post and say that fiscally, Princeton tends to be moderate-leaning-right.</p>
<p>Yes, liberal Democratic politicians frequently come to Princeton. As do conservative Republican politicians. Recent speakers include RNC Chairman Michael Steele, former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former U.S. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, U.S. Secretary of State and Secretary of the Treasury James Baker’52, former presidential advisor Karl Rove, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, former secretary-general of the United Nations Kofi Annan, the prime minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. '79 former Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, and Pulitzer Prize-winning conservative columnist George Will *68. </p>
<p>Alumni include Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito '72, the current Director of the FBI, Robert S. Mueller, III '66, General David Petraeus *87, former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist '74, Secretary of Treasury and Secretary of State James Baker '52, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld '54, Senators John Danforth '58 and Kit Bond '60, Governor Mitch Daniel previously he was director of G.W. Bush’s OMB], Governor Robert Ehrlich '79 Rep Leonard Lance *82, Rep. Jim Leach '64 [served in Congress for 30 years serving as chairman of the House Banking Committee]. And many famous Democratic politicians.</p>
<p>Joshua Bolten, G. W. Bush’s Chief of Staff is currently on the faculty of the Woodrow Wilson School. </p>
<p>Obama has not made a speech at Princeton even though the university and undergraduates would like to hear him or any current president. </p>
<p>If you look at polling data most college graduates are Democratic and a higher portion of voters with advanced degrees are Democratic voters. Many Princeton students are liberal on social issues but conservatives are live and well at Princeton. </p>
<p>If you are admitted you can join the Princeton College Republicans club. [Princeton</a> University College Republicans](<a href=“http://www.princeton.edu/~pucolrep/]Princeton”>Princeton University College Republicans) Or, you may be exposed to new ideas and develop a political philosophy different from your parents.</p>
<p>Princeton’s very socially liberal, just like any other college.</p>
<p>Princeton’s fiscally liberal too, just less so than other colleges.</p>
<p>If you’re conservative, you’ll probably enjoy frequenting Cottage, and to a lesser extent, Tiger Inn, Cap & Gown, and Cloister. Cottage is athletes+southern flavor, whereas the other three are mostly just athletes. Charter and Quad have significant conservative Christian contingents. Ivy, Tower, and Terrace are where you’ll find the hardcore liberals.</p>
<p>Rushing a frat (particularly KA) may also help you feel right at home.</p>
<p>I’d agree with the posters above in saying that Princetonians are socially liberal and fiscally moderate. Btw, protests are not very fashionable at Princeton. The last liberal politician I saw at Princeton was Tom Daschle in May.</p>
<p>How about Colonial?</p>
<p>Princeton is socially liberal and moderate economically, probably leaning slightly to the left. There are conservatives to be found on campus, but the vast majority of students are quite liberal. Ray121988 is right - there are certain social groups that are definitely more conservative than others. Faculty is overwhelmingly liberal as you can see in this ‘Prince’ article which says that 97% of university faculty donated to Democratic candidates during the 2008 election:
[Faculty</a> gives largely to Obama - The Daily Princetonian](<a href=“http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2008/11/04/21968/]Faculty”>http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2008/11/04/21968/)</p>
<p>And this one which says that almost 80% of students voted for Obama:
[Majority</a> of University community states support for Obama, according to poll - The Daily Princetonian](<a href=“http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2008/11/04/21969/]Majority”>http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2008/11/04/21969/)</p>
<p>People in Colonial seem to be too preoccupied with their own studies to bother much with politics. That being said, it probably leans left. There also used to be a group of Christians in it from Manna, but I heard that a significant proportion of them decided to go independent.</p>
<p>Although I mentioned that Charter and Quad have Christian contingents, I should add that Charter is also home to the University Band (very liberal), while Quad is the preferred sign-in club of the black student population (ditto).</p>
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<p>That’s an understatement!</p>
<p>I am extremely conservative and have no problem. There is a very active and friendly conservative scene which is based around religion, for the most part (social conservatism) and religious groups. There is also an incredibly welcoming Republican scene that is very active in the form of the College Republicans.</p>
<p>So where would a Jewish conservative coming to Princeton feel most at home?</p>
<p>A Jewish conservative, or a Conservative Jew? The latter would probably be happy with Koach, the Conservative Jewish minyan.</p>
<p>Hahahaha, I’m just kidding. Maybe you want to rush AEPi? Generally, individual AEPi brothers aren’t exactly politically conservative, but their frattiness tacitly makes AEPi more conservative than the average Jew-y organization on campus. Tigers for Israel might also be interesting. </p>
<p>And hey, it’s not like the College Republicans are going to turn you away for being Jewish.</p>
<p>I know this is still a long way away, but is there an eating club that fits the bill as well?</p>
<p>Charter has quite a few conservatives.</p>