<p>I've heard that Princeton has recently moved to a 4-year residential college model. Can someone explain in detail what this system entails to me, please? What are its advantages and disadvantages? Does it seem to be working well or poorly? I heard that one of the goals of such models is to build college community and increase inter-class interaction. Has the res-college model done this?</p>
<p>I would, of course, be more curious to hear what current students have to say, but I'd appreciate any feedback on this aspect of Princeton life from anyone who has knowledge about the school. </p>
<p>Actually, Princeton is still currently on the 2-year residential college model. </p>
<p>What Princeton is doing is building the new residential college dormitories (Whitman College). This will be the first 4-year residential college at Princeton. I dont believe the 5 original colelges are moving towards a 4-year plan any time soon; however, things are not changing that much. Even though all students will be affiliated with their residential colleges their junior and seniors years, they do not have to remain LIVING at the residential college. Most junior and seniors choose to move to the senior dorms, where though they are technically "affiliated" with the college, they really arent living there anymore nor eating there anymore - they have this option. What the 4-year residential college system will allow is more connection and create stronger bonds between Princeton undergraduates. </p>
<p>this really just opens up a new option for upper classmen, whether they would like to be in an eating club, the home-cooking services, or the residential college</p>
<p>the 4-year system will not even be implemented until the completion of Whitman College which is "predicted" at 2008</p>
<p>this is what i have been told by friends/family members currently at princeton. =D hope this helps.</p>
<p>Whitman College is the new 4-year college. It will be completed for fall 2007. It's gothic style, if that's what you like.</p>
<p>As a junior and senior, it IS possible to stay in the residential colleges, but you cannot join an eating club if you choose that option. The only way to do both is to become an RCA (Residential community advisor).</p>
<p>RCAs are on partial eating club plans if they so choose. They are required to eat 10 meals a week in the residential college dining hall. </p>
<p>When the new system is implemented, students will have a choice of living in a four-year college or a two-year one. The two- and four-year colleges will be affiliated. So at Princeton students will have a choice of living in a system like Yale's or of just being in the residential college for two years. Surprisingly, many students who are initially attracted to the residential college system and do enjoy all of its programming (discount Broadway show tickets, talks by famous people, parties and study breaks) discover that they are eager to be able to live with friends from other colleges in the last two years. The system has its pros and cons, which makes its flexibility at Princeton a real plus.</p>
<p>You are in a residential college for two years. It gives you a combination of the big school and small school experiences. You live in one of its dorms, you eat in its dining hall, you have access to support staff (academic deans, etc.), you have study breaks (snacks) during exams, you can sign up for trips (Broadway shows, etc.), you can go to its speaker series (some pretty impressive people come), you can go to its dances and parties, you can use its facilities (small library, dance studio or theater, etc). You are free to eat in any dining hall you choose, or to eat at Frist (the student center) on a given day, but you have one of your own where you tend to get to know most of the people. After two years, you can live in an upperclass dorm with friends from the same or other residential colleges. At that time, most students join an eating club that becomes their smaller social center for the last two years. Once there are four-year residential colleges, you will have the choice of staying with this arrangement or being in the residential college for four years.</p>
<p>Right now, two of the five existing rescols are expected to move to four-year, in addition to Whitman (which is expected to be ready for use in fall 2007). So we'll end up with three and three, which will be kinda nice. I dunno why, but it's nice to have symmetry :)</p>