<p>That I'm up at 4:30 in the morning out of sheer excitement at leaving for Princeton in four hours is a testament to the rock-awesomeness of the school. Honestly, there is nothing that can be said to capture what it means to attend Princeton (or better yet, to be a Princetonian). So keep in mind that anything that I say can only scratch the surface of any kind of "Princeton experience," since it's hard to describe. Of course, part of it is the combination of all of the regular, frequently-touted features such as the undergrad focus, gorgeous campus (which has yet to be matched in all of my college visiting), numerous research opportunities, challenging work, and fun social scene. But more than that, it's the niche that you carve out for yourself at school. You can really tell that at a place like Princeton there's something for everyone, from the hundreds of extracurricular groups to the numerous concentrations and programs that offer you the opportunity to explore topics unheard of before stepping foot on campus.</p>
<p>One visiting playwright who was delivering a lecture in my English class last semester started the class by writing "PRINCETON F*****G UNIVERSITY" on the board, sat back, and said, "Do you guys ever think about the fact that you GO to this place?!" It was a defining moment because honestly, you rarely do when you're there. It's such an incredibly laid-back place that all of the hype that exists *outside of the university doesn't always make it through FitzRandolph when you first walk through the gate during Pre-Rade. Sure, it's hard: there's been many a time when I've complained about school after rehearsing until 1 a.m. with my dance company, staying up all-night during reading period writing a paper, having to walk uphill from my dorm to class after ridiculous snowstorms that leave the ground icy and gross, and the list goes on. But they're miniscule in comparison to the amazing times I think of when I think of freshman year.</p>
<p>You screw up a lot your first year, and honestly, I wouldn't have done it anywhere else where Princeton (administration and faculty alike) acknowledge that you don't know what the hell you're doing your first year (generally). You have so many people helping you, from your residential college advisors to your academic advisor, residential college staff, departmental staff, an alphabet soup of administrative deans busting Nassau Hall at the seams, psychological staff at McCosh Health Center, and more. Fortunately, neither Holder Tower nor Cleveland Tower have become popular free-dive spots on campus: we're taken care of. So I guess that's one of the most comforting things about being at school.</p>
<p>But really, it's the people you meet and the friends you make. Most college students cite the student body as the best thing about their school, and with good reason. I don't know how objectively different the Princeton student body is from any others of its peers, but when you combine the students with the rich history and the incredible sense of tradition that permeates all parts of the University, you have an experience that honestly can't be matched. I felt it for the first time when I attended my first P-Rade during Reunions this past year. When you're a part of that sea of orange and black shouting the locomotive for each class that parades by, you feel what it means to be a Princetonian. Classes, sure; the prestige, perhaps; the food...meh; but really, it's all about the warm-and-fuzzies you get when you feel a part of the Princeton family. And it is a family. Complete with a family reunion every year, the traditional foods (pizza from Frist and Small World coffee...yum...), spats, tears, and more.</p>
<p>I have no idea why I wrote this much. I guess I'm just ready to be back, haha. Good luck to all who apply this year! I can't believe it's already been two years since I applied...</p>