Hey people i’m a recent high school grad attending Princeton next year. I will be entering as an engineering student, most likely mechanical and aerospace. I am very strong in all subjects and fairly well rounded, so deciding to be an engineer (more frankly apply to colleges with engineering as my major) was a difficult decision. My scores in math and science really are not ridiculous, and my AP exams are not so good: AP Exams… AB Calc - 3, Physics 1 - 3, Physics C - 1 mechanics, 2 e&m (horrible I know it was the end of the year and I’m ashamed of not trying harder). I took Calc 2 my senior year (found very easy), and I really love math and science, though I find english and writing much easier. I have a strong grasp of AB Calc since Calc 2 was basically AB again with some added stuff at the end. Despite my AP score, I am good at Mechanics in physics. I was also very good at Bio when i took it, but don’t want to be a doctor/bio-engineer. Basically, will Princeton engineering be too challenging? I know I will retake some not so difficult courses because I will not be exempt using any AP scores, but still… I was accepted to other engineering programs like Cornell, UC San Diego, etc. Thanks for the help. Any inside info from Princeton engineers would be great!
Grades:
GPA 4.0 all honors and AP courses
ACT 32: 35W, 32R, 28M, 34S
{note: I am not a Princeton engineer)
It seems reasonable to me for you to be asking the question, based on your post.
But that’s what you applied for for, and that’s what they accepted you for.
So it seems like you will be doing it, at least for a little while.
There’s the old canard “They wouldn’t have accepted you if they didn’t think you could do the work”.
But I knew plenty of people who were accepted, and attended, a college and then struggled mightily there. Even though they were admitted. So one can’t totally rely on that premise. Though one ought not to totally dismiss it either. Your admission was not a random event.
Realistically, at this point who knows?
You will get your question answered over the course of the next year, or two years.
You will see how you perform in the intro courses, how much you like them, and learn more about the various fields of study and enterprise available to you, both within and outside of engineering. Then you will know.
But no sense stressing about this now. Just resolve to have the right mindset upon arrival to campus, do your best and keep your eyes and ears open. Do not psyche yourself out before you even start, that will not be helpful.
Google “realtalk-Princeton” for a blog run by students - you will find great info and you can post your questions and have them answered by the students who are volunteer contributors.
Yes go to real talk Princeton and you can search and read old questions like yours and ask new ones if you don’t find the answers you seek.
My son and a number of his close friends were BSE students at Princeton. Engineering is HARD everywhere, and I would suggest especially at Princeton. Quite a number of students switch out of engineering at Princeton within the first year because of the time demands. Your scores don’t allow you to place out of the basic requirements so I am thinking it may be quite challenging to keep up with the pace of teaching unless you are committed to a lot of hours of study. However, if you are prepared to do the work, go to office hours etc regularly, it is certainly doable.
Congrats!
BSE is very hard at Princeton, and with your AP scores you will be in unfun, larger classes your first year. If you are not thinking med school / grad school don’t worry about the rigor, Princeton knows you are up for it, but your grades may take a hit the first year or so as you adjust. This is ok.
Also, starting with BSE and switching to AB sophomore year is much easier than the reverse.
What topics / concentrations interest you the most?
Btw - My son got in as ChemE but switched to ORFE after Princeton Preview. Many of his BSE friends dropped to AB, especially the COS kids.
Good luck!