<p>How do the 2-year houses work? What do you do after your two years are up?</p>
<p>Also, what is the estimated break down of students in 4 yr houses v 2 yr houses. Any recommendation on which is better from current students would be appreciated.</p>
<p>Ok so the way the 2 year college system works is that each 2-year residential college is associated with its own 4 year college. As a freshman you can either be placed in a 2 or 4 year college. If you get placed in a 2 year college you stay there your first 2 years and then have the option to live in the 4 year res college associated with your previous 2 year college or go into upper class housing. If you are in a 4 year college I think you also have the option to go to upper class housing after your sophomore year. Im not sure what the breakdown of students in 4 year colleges to 2 year colleges is. I currently live in a 2-year college, Rocky, and I love it. I don't think that there is any difference between the 2-year and 4-year res colleges just because a lot of upper class students dont really choose to stay in their 4 year colleges. They either become RCAs or move into upper class housing. Either way, 2-year or 4-year res college...it really doesn't make a big differences honestly. If you want to end up staying in a residential college all 4 years you can do that by starting out at a 2-year or 4-year. So in the end, I wouldn't say that either one is better than the other, but thats just my opinion. Also, if you do end up coming to Princeton as a freshman, you don't really get to choose which one you get placed in anyway, I think? I can't really remember what the housing preference sheet looked like last year, but I dont specifically remember requesting 2 year college over 4-year. I hope this was somewhat helpful lol. Im sick and taking medicine which is making me drowsy so Im sorry if parts of this dont make any sense lol.</p>
<p>thank you very much. It was definitely helpful to hear from a current student. So how is upperclassmen housing different? </p>
<p>thanks again. Hope you feel better.</p>
<p>I don't really know because I haven't been in a lot of upperclassmen housing. However, I have been in the spellman apartments which are individual apartments which have a living room, kitchen, four nice sized singles and a private bathroom. Those apartments are extremely nice and I will probably end up living in one of those with 3 other friends for my junior and senior years. Overall, I think that the upperclassmen housing is just nicer and bigger.</p>
<p>thanks again. any other princeton students care to weigh in?</p>
<p>Housing actually varies widely, depending on, in your underclassmen years, what college you're in. If you're in a college with relatively nice housing, like Rockefeller or Whitman, you'll generally get a decent dorm. That being said, there definitely is some pretty poor housing in all of the residential colleges. After your two years at a res college are up, you have a few choices:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Join an eating club and go into the "junior slums". Upperclassman housing is scattered all over campus, and isn't subdivided into residential colleges like underclassman housing is. Despite the moniker, the dorms aren't really all that bad, it's just what's left of upperclassmen housing after seniors are finished taking rooms.</p></li>
<li><p>Join a four-year residential college/become an RCA. Upperclassmen in four-year residential colleges have, generally, very nice rooms, and eat in their chosen residential college. Only 3 out of the 6 residential colleges are four-years, though, and people in four-year res colleges don't eat in an eating club with this option unless they have a shared res. college/eating club meal plan, which are about as common as orange squirrels on campus. RCAs are like option #1, except you serve as a sort of "supervisor" to a group of underclassmen and live in a residential college dorm. </p></li>
<li><p>Go independent. Independents, although fending for themselves in terms of food, have amazing dorms in the form of Spellman, a dorm/apartment complex on-campus specifically for independents. The dorms are really nice, and have included kitchens/bathrooms. For the people who like the independent vibe, but don't want to be completely solo in terms of dining options, there are a number of co-ops where members communally buy and prepare food, eat, and clean up afterwards.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Most people join eating clubs, but a rapidly-rising number of sophomores are deciding to go into four-year residential colleges or the shared eating club/res. college program. All three choices have their own pros and cons in terms of housing, dining arrangements, cost, and social opportunities. There really is no "recommendation" on what path is the best; it's different for everyone. Generally, after being here a year and a half (which is when you choose your upperclassmen dining options), you'll get a vibe on where you're most comfortable. Hope this helps.</p>
<p>thanks Qwertulen. do you know the approximate break down of students who choose each option?</p>
<p>Around 75% join eating clubs. There are about 65 people in the two co-ops currently on campus (Brown and 2D, though another one is starting next year). </p>
<p>The number of independents is 10% I've heard, but don't quote me on that.</p>
<p>I heard it was more like 80% that joined clubs this year. And, there is also the option of becoming a club officer and living in the club your senior year.</p>