<p>Why does Princeton not have any professional schools? (Law, Business, Medical)</p>
<p>Presumably because they consider them trade schools. :)</p>
<p>Princeton’s focus has always been more on undergraduate than on graduate education. It’s one of the appealing things about the university.</p>
<p>But it does have some graduate school programs–just not any professional schools.</p>
<p>I have always assumed they focus on graduate degrees more so, like PhD and Masters.</p>
<p>Princeton University’s focus has always been on undergraduate education in the liberal arts and sciences. In fact the University did not have a Graduate School until the early 1900’s.</p>
<p>But the point is that their graduate programs are all academic fields.</p>
<p>Exactly. None of those trade schools. ;)</p>
<p>And Princeton has some of the very best graduate programs, even where they are small. (and all the preceptors are graduate students).</p>
<p>^^^ with some of the highest stipends of any other graduate programs.</p>
<p>It’s not accurate to say that Princeton doesn’t offer “trade school” graduate degrees. It does. It offers terminal Masters degrees in public affairs, public policy, architecture, engineering, finance, and urban planning, all essentially professional (as opposed to purely academic) in orientation. But it doesn’t offer the “big three” graduate-level professional degrees in law, medicine, and business. Why not? Well, for one thing, there’s just not a pressing need for more law, medical, or business schools. Second, the competition would be tough going for a new start-up at this late date, even a start-up entering the game with Princeton’s resources and prestige. Princeton’s got a brand and a reputation to keep up. It would tarnish its own brand if it were to open with a mediocre law, medical, or business school, and yet it’s extremely difficult to open a fully built-out, top-of-the-line professional school starting from scratch. Third, even for a school like Princeton, it’s a resource issue. Medical schools run largely on NIH grants, operating revenues from top-end hospitals, and their own endowments. It takes a very heavy investment to get to the point where those pieces fall into place, and that means diverting a lot of resources from other parts of the university. Law schools are less expensive, but the best ones run largely on their own endowments and annual alumni giving—none of which is in place at the outset for a new start-up. Thus without a massive infusion of funds from other sources–i.e., a massive diversion of funds from other University priorities----a new start-up just isn’t going to be competitive. There are constant rumors that Princeton is considering a law school, however, and it’s taken some significant steps in that direction by hiring a prominent legal scholar to direct the Woodrow Wilson School of Public Affairs and launching a program to invite in a substantial contingent of visiting legal scholars for year-long stays.</p>
<p>Princeton also has a first-rate Finance program, granting up to PhD degree, nicely tucked inside its ORFE department.</p>
<p>There is a story circulated at Princeton that the late Mr. Carnegie offered to donate a medical (or law??) school to the college. Supposedly, Princeton instead asked for a lake for the crew team…thus Lake Carnegie!</p>
<p>Anyone know (PrincetonGrad2000?) if this is true?</p>
<p>I think they built Lake Carnegie because the crew team needed a place to row and old members of the team knew Carnegie.</p>
<p>Also LC is a favorite “parking” spot for local teens.</p>
<p>Fauve, I’ve heard that but reversed. Princeton went to Carnegie asking for a law school donation and Carnegie said that young men were wasting too much time with pursuits like football, and needed to try a more productive sport like rowing, so he gave money to build a lake. (I read that in the Red Rose Crew which is not with me, so it could be slightly off) Of course today, Princeton has fabulous crew teams and Lake Carnegie is one of the best venues in the world. The national team is training there right now.</p>
<p>Thanks Eireann for clarifying the story- that indeed sounds true. And, yes, Princeton would not be the same without all the great rowing resources. DD had a great experience with the women’s lightweight team. </p>
<p>The Princeton National Rowing Center is actually in West Windsor, NJ, on Lake Mercer, just a few miles from Lake Carnegie.</p>
<p>Here’s the actual story: [Exhibition</a> celebrates 100th anniversary of Lake Carnegie](<a href=“http://www.princeton.edu/pr/pwb/06/0403/7a.shtml]Exhibition”>Princeton - Weekly Bulletin 2006/04/03 - Exhibition celebrates 100th anniversary of Lake Carnegie)</p>
<p>Not in its mission statement, basically</p>
<p>Booklady- thanks for the article! The facts aren’t half as interesting as the lore though!</p>