<p>There’s so much to say to counter the idea that Princeton doesn’t focus on undergrads, but I’ll limit myself to one story: professor of D’s freshman seminar had the whole class to dinner at his house to mark the end of the semester. He does this every year and then invites each seminar back before graduation for a “catch up” meal. This prof is long tenured, widely respected and I’ve read his op eds in the NY Times. My impression is he likes to teach - undergrads.</p>
<p>Find fault with northeast winters, P’s proximity to Route 1 or the lack of tattoo parlors in town, but to say that P doesn’t focus on the undergrad is misinformed. As you can see, people have different experiences/opinions. Ask kids on campus what they think.</p>
<p>Anyone else heading to the preview weekends later this month? We’ll be visiting at the end of the month. Any advice as to what we should be checking out while on campus? DS is planning to do engineering this fall.</p>
<p>Our D will be going to the second preview session and we will accompany her. We live just 45 minutes away so why not? She has already accepted Princeton but is looking forward to the event and meeting up with a number of friends she made at a summer program last summer who will also be attending Princeton.</p>
<p>If anyone needs a local parent’s advice for anything just let me know. We are very familiar with the Princeton area.</p>
<p>We’re so excited too. Our S will attending the first preview session and I’m thinking of coming too. What activities are available for the parents to participate in? Any other advice on what to do while there?</p>
<p>Is there a schedule of events for the preview days? My son hasn’t gotten an email from Princeton lately and I think they were supposed to have a schedule. He’ll be attending the first preview. Thanks!</p>
<p>When I attended preview a couple of years ago, I went on campus tours, sit in seminars/classes. went to parent receptions, etc. a lot of activities.
congrats sewhappy, slushy and sbjdorlo</p>
<p>Hi!! My son went for preview days and already decided for Pton. Now…does anyone knows what’s next? We are international so we need the I-20 in order to get the student visa…should we contact them or will they send someting to us ? Thanks</p>
<p>My D is trying to decide between Princeton and another great school with more money on the table (not an ivy). We have been offered some nice aid money by P and is trying to determine whether we can qualify for the parent loan program work so that she won’t have a lot to pay in the end. Have been having trouble with P’s system, but that’s not the biggest issue. </p>
<p>Question 1: Does anyone have any experience with the Parent loan program? Did you wait to get qualified after June 30 or were you pre-qualified before your child made his/her decision?</p>
<p>Do they make this claim because parents take out the loans, or because they assume the kids don’t take out loans, or everybody’s really rich or really poor, or they actually believe 100% of financial need is met? </p>
<p>We are prepared to pay for the bulk but some loans will have to be incurred by D.</p>
<p>(If I’m on the wrong forum, please direct me to the right place…Thanks.)</p>
<p>I can help with the parent loan program. It was easy to apply, approval was fast, and it’s worked great so far. We went with the variable rate, and it’s been floating around 1.5% on a 14 year amortization. Best loan terms I’ve ever seen on ANY loan anywhere.</p>
<p>We didn’t apply until his sophomore year, so I can’t help with that part of the timetable.</p>
<p>@Nenita - Your son will receive an e-mail from the Davis centre giving all the information for the student visa and I-20 application. My son received his a week or two ago. Beware that from now on all information will go directly to your son (not to you) so he needs to forward the information on to you. It may also have inadvertantly gone into his spam folder so maybe he should check there as well! So far for us, knowing that our son gets everything (and that it bypasses us) has been the scariest part of the process to date! LOL! Your son can request that they re-send the information but should probably do it soon since the return date for the first part of the application we received is May 18. If your son just recently sent in his acceptance of the admission offer you may have a little more time, however. Hope that is helpful!</p>
<p>Cantinger…thanks a lot…he has not recieved anything yet…maybe we should contact the Davis center tomorrow…I have already a son in College but I have forgotten all the process…Thanks again and see you on August in UIO!!</p>
<p>Re: students graduating with no loans - means that P does not use loans as part of the aid they award. There is still a family contribution and student earnings as part of the package (unless the student is on full aid) and either the family or student can choose to borrow for their contribution portion. So I’m sure P students graduate with debt, but it’s doesn’t approach the numbers you’d see in many private colleges.</p>
<p>Ok we’re nearing the end of the 1rst year. Tho difficult in the beginning, my d has adjusted well & happily. However, every time she tries to get together with her advisors to discuss classes, they haven’t posted their schedules or they’re out of town. It’s not impressive, it’s not what I expected from this school. She’s just had a very easy semester, using her electives, now is going to be strapped because now that she’s figured out what certificates she wants, she’s used her electives. I know she doesn’t want to complain to this advisor, & she likes him when (& if) she can get him, but she’s emailed him repeatedly & he hasn’t answered. She found out from another advisor he’s out of town - why would he be allowed to do that at this time of year? I’m not impressed, don’t want to interfere, but am very disappointed. Any similar experiences?</p>
<p>Finally, DD committed to Princeton. It was difficult to give up Stanford, but in the end the Princeton Parent Loan program tipped the scales. Really glad to be over and done with this selection process. DD is looking into the Bridge Year program.</p>
<p>She did ask the academic dorm advisor, he’s the one who ended up acting as her advisor. What ticks me off is how, at parents weekend, they BRAG about their great advising. So our kids spend all semester struggling against grade deflation & they might be struggling in less than optimal choices, making their future choices twice as hard. Where’s the accountability?
What was your solution?</p>
Your son can request that they re-send the information but should probably do it soon since the return date for the first part of the application we received is May 18. If your son just recently sent in his acceptance of the admission offer you may have a little more time, however. Hope that is helpful!</p>