<p>Hey Guys,</p>
<p>I'm currently a frosh at Princeton, just came across this site, and was willing to help out anyone who might have questions regarding Princeton that perhaps a student - especially one not so far removed from you - might want answered.</p>
<p>I realize that given the timing, admissions is probably foremost on your minds, but I'd appreciate it if you guys didn't go crazy on that...and DEFINITELY NO CHANCE QUESTIONS.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Hello,</p>
<p>Did you apply ED? If so, when did you receive your decision? And was the acceptance letter large or small?</p>
<p>^lmao omg bd89.......</p>
<p>Hey Fitz, thanks for doing this. We really appreciate it.</p>
<p>So what field(s)/interests are you interested in and how do you think they are at Princeton?</p>
<p>Hi! Thanks for taking the time to do this. First, do you think I can get in? (jk)</p>
<p>I was wondering what your take on grade deflation is. Do you feel that it makes for a competitive atmosphere? Or is it really not that big of a deal?</p>
<p>Also, are the support systems in place for freshmen effective (advising, RAs, etc.)?</p>
<p>Thanks again! :)</p>
<p>I applied RD, so got my decision sometime in April (don't quite remember the date...), and I got a large white envelope. Unfortunately, I understand that if you're rejected, you get a small envelope (both ED and RD).</p>
<p>Whoa! This many questions already!</p>
<p>Zanna, I've got a long way to go to narrow down what I'll be doing here. Currently considering:</p>
<p>Mathematics - I'd say amongst the best places in the universe to study the subject. I know of several Intl. Math Olympiad gold medallists here, and the professors are just top notch, both in their original contributions to the field and teaching ability (though I've heard other things for the less rigorous math classes...)</p>
<p>Physics - See above.</p>
<p>Computer Science - Princeton's a great place to study CS; it tends to be more theoretical than, say, MIT's program, which is something I took into consideration when deciding which to go to, but theoretical definitely has its advantages. But a lot's going on in the CS world at Princeton - most recently, a Princeton team hacked into the Diebold voting machines (even appeared on...Fox!), and at every CS lecture, you learn that some big thing in Computer Science that you're studying originated at this place. So for CS, I think if you're into theoretical, Princton's great.</p>
<p>Economics - Simply amazing. Professor was Senior Economic Adviser to President Bush, but - more importantly - is an amazing, amazing teacher that you can simply have a pleasant lunch with. Only complaint is that the class size is too big, but then, the class I'm taking right now is my largest at Princeton.</p>
<p>Woodrow Wilson School - Haven't taken any classes here yet; hopefully next year...so we'll see!</p>
<p>Btlesgirl, I'll get to your questions in my very next post (typing right after this one...)</p>
<p>is drugs and drinking a big problem on campus? Let's say you walk into history class monday morning...how many ppl were high/drunk last night?</p>
<p>what about the atmophere of the campus and students? i've never visited, but i heard from others that the kids seemed really rich and preppy, and there wasn't alot of diversity. also, how do you think it compares to harvard/yale/other ivies?</p>
<p>Do you know of any of your classmates that did NOT have stellar test scores, but maybe great ECs, recs, GPA? what is the lowest SAT/ACT that you are aware of having been accepted?</p>
<p>thanks!</p>
<p>What does a day consist of for you?</p>
<p>btles girl, I wrote you a HUGE post about advising for freshman, and then CC deleted it for me. So here's the sparknotes of that comments:</p>
<p>2 types of academic advisers:
1) From your residential college: All round amazing, these really know their stuff and go out of the way to help you out keeping your goals in context.</p>
<p>2) Professors who advise you: These are your "official" advisers", and there are three types. First, the type that are as amazing as your ResCol advisers. Second, those that are flexible to a fault ("Unless you're taking Grad School courses your Freshman year, I trust you with what you sign up for, even if it is 6 courses"). These are the most common. Finally, those that are something of the opposite, and care more about your distribution or degree requirements than anything else. But this shouldn't be a worry; there are plenty of people you can appeal on nearly anything.</p>
<p>Health professions advising:
Unsure since I'm not looking at Med school, but friends who are say they're pretty good. And hey, we have something like... three to four times the national acceptance rate at Harvard med school (top med school in the country)?</p>
<p>Law Advising:
Again, we have roughly three to four times the national acceptance rate at Yale law school (top law school in the country), and I think that Career Services knows what they're doing (they take care of pre-law advising). They've also worked with individuals for long enough and have so much data on them that they can give you some pretty solid advice.</p>
<p>
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is drugs and drinking a big problem on campus? Let's say you walk into history class monday morning...how many ppl were high/drunk last night?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Definitely don't have to get involved in that scene if you don't want to. I don't drink myself, though most of my friends are social drinkers, but don't take drugs. I'm involved in the Colloseum Club, which is a group that does all sorts of fun stuff on Saturday nights, and the Princeton Debate Panel competitions at different schools, so those tend to be what occupy a lot of my Saturdays, though just hanging out with buddies on the street can be fun as well.</p>
<p>QUOTE:
I was wondering what your take on grade deflation is. Do you feel that it makes for a competitive atmosphere? Or is it really not that big of a deal?</p>
<p>Any thoughts on Btlesgirl's question??</p>
<p>I'd rather an atmosphere where students are supportive of and help eachother!!!</p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>
[quote]
what about the atmophere of the campus and students? i've never visited, but i heard from others that the kids seemed really rich and preppy, and there wasn't alot of diversity. also, how do you think it compares to harvard/yale/other ivies?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I think this is by and far the most false sterotype about Princeton, almost to the point that it makes me mad to hear people say this. I myself am receiving nearly a full ride from Princeton, which is amazing, and I'd say that I know of plenty of people who're in very similar boats as I am. I definitely know more kids who were hardworking, bright people who came here with financial aid from Podunk High School than I do kids who went to Andover or Exeter. I think campus culture is so egalitarian that even if you were wealthy, you would never flaunt it.</p>
<p>If the kids seem preppy and rich, more than likely it's because people who come to see the school almost are expecting and looking for it. Never underestimate the power of social suggestion.</p>
<p>Comparing to Harvard and Yale, I'm infinitely more familiar with the former than the latter, and I'd have to say that there's really no difference (my Asian friend argues that you can "feel" the presence of more Asians on campus at Harvard, but I really don't see it). With regards to how the groups are socioeconomically, or even generally, I think if you put the files of each group in a bag, most couldn't tell which files belonged to which school.</p>
<p>Oh, sorry, totally missed the Q on grade deflation when I did my repost.</p>
<p>Matty, you won't be disappointed. Grade deflation seems, more than anything else, like something the campus can collectively whine and "fight the man" about. It's something of an afterthought, but most people here realize that the difference it makes is unlikely to affect them in any significant way anyway. Also, in two of my classes, the professors outright stated that they really didn't care how the dean wanted them to grade, and that what they deemed to be A-level work would remain A-level work.</p>
<p>EDIT:
With regards to students working together...there's a LOT of student collaboration. In most classes, people get together with some hot cocoa, crack their knuckles, and get going on their p-sets. I have to say that I've met some of my very best friends so far during a random study group.</p>
<p>exactly what i wanted to hear! lol
thanks a lot!</p>
<p>what about freinds with low sat scores? Are there any at Princeton?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Do you know of any of your classmates that did NOT have stellar test scores, but maybe great ECs, recs, GPA? what is the lowest SAT/ACT that you are aware of having been accepted?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>To be frank, it's really hard to say given that most people don't really talk about their achievements...freshmen go out of their way to be modest sometimes. I know of very few SAT scores (1500/2300+s, usually), and know practically nothing about recs or HS GPAs. We had a dinner with AdComs once, though, and they said that SAT scores are not scrutined nearly as much as some people may think, just giving them a baseline idea of where people stand. GPA's, essays, and recs tend to be far, far more key. They said that one of the reasons it seems that everyone you know who got into Princeton has such high scores is just because even when you're trying to pick high-achievers, even if you ignore what SAT score they got, they've usually got a pretty decent one anyway. So please don't worry; if you're within the general ballpark, the rest of your app should be more than enough.</p>
<p>That was really helpful. Thanks, Fitz.</p>
<p>
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What does a day consist of for you?
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</p>
<p>Depends on what day, haha. Most Mondays through Thursdays, I usually have 2ish classes, a precept, and some "work" at the library. I also work for the Prince, am involved with debate, a few other things that keep me busy, and have begun to exercise more regularly.</p>
<p>Fridays tend to be one class (hopefully none next year onwards), a precept, and the rest of the day is just time to get all that piling homework and reading done. On nights, we usually sit back, go to Cafe Viv, play the piano for a bit, some pool, watch a movie, etc...some low key relaxation. Saturdays, I can either be off at a debate competition, or if I'm here, I try to exercise my addictive hobby of photography (great place to do it...even if the night are coming far too early nowadays) and get some work done, so that I can head out to either the Street with my friends or the Collosseum Club for something or another.</p>
<p>Sundays...pretty low key...catch up on all that sleep, go to work for a bit, do that homework I really hate, and go to a religious thing.</p>