<p>I just toured Princeton yesterday and LOVED it, but the tour as well as the information session left me without a clear picture of what it's like to really be a Princeton student, beyond academics. Most of the schools I visited made it clear what the student life was like, but I came away from Princeton not having any clue. I want to love it, because it's so gorgeous and full of so many resources and opportunities, but I want more of a complete idea. </p>
<p>Any help?</p>
<p>Do you have any specific questions? </p>
<p>I would say that student life is pretty vibrant. There are lots of activities going on, from student group performances (arch sings, dance shows, plays) to speakers and study breaks. Much of the social life also revolves around the street, since Princeton is a small town with very few bars. Students of all class years go out to the eating clubs where it's generally dancing, drinking games, mingling, sometimes a band or a theme night. Students are pretty friendly, lots of people hang out in frist...residential colleges will organize activities... </p>
<p>Not sure if that's the kind of information you're looking for, but I'd be happy to answer any other questions you have.</p>
<p>That's definitely on the right track. A friend of mine won't stop talking about how pretentious she thought Princeton was, but it sounds like that's not the case, from your experience. I didn't get a pretentious vibe from the tour, but then again, I didn't get much of a vibe at all.</p>
<p>Is the academic atmosphere cutthroat?</p>
<p>It's competitive in the sense that we care about doing well. We know that because our classmates care just as much, we have to work hard to get A's. But I definitely wouldn't say that the atmosphere is cutthroat. It's very common for students to collaborate on problems sets or to study in groups for exams.</p>
<p>Princeton is not very pretentious. There's a small enclave of students whom other students at Princeton would consider uppity or elitist, but I'd think you'd find that at any university.</p>
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<p>I agree: there are pretentious students at Ivies, state universities, and community colleges. It's just the personalities of some people, and they exist anywhere in life, but I seriously do not think you should worry about being overrun by them at Princeton or anywhere else.</p>
<p>I agree - it is competitive in terms of students caring about doing well, and there's no shame in being a nerd (everyone is, to some degree) but people have all gotten a bad grade at some point and there's nothing like "no i won't share my notes with you because i need to do better" </p>
<p>Also, academically I don't think it's pretentious - people don't sit around talking about philosophical subjects for the sake of trying to sound smart. If we end up having a philosophical discussion I think it's pretty genuine. Likewise, we can talk about really stupid and silly things, and that's perfectly fine too.</p>