Warm, down-to-earth, genuine students?

Colleges & Universities A-Z Princeton University
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<p>I've just been admitted to Princeton through the Questbridge College Match program. It's my first choice; I'm in love. But I would love to hear current students or alumni talk about friendships at Princeton. I'm pretty low-key when it comes to weekends, fashion, status, etc, and I suspect but want to be sure that I can find students with similar attitudes toward life at Princeton. I'm not looking for any particular political, philosophical, whatever view: just good friends.</p>

<p>I realize that there is no typical Princeton student, but I just wondered if anyone could comment.</p>

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<p>First of all, if Princeton is your top choice, your line of thinking is definitely praise-worthy. But I’m not biased at all. :P</p>

<p>To answer your question directly, yes. Yesyesyesyesyes. Absolutely yes. Not everyone is warm and down-to-earth, but given a sample size of 6,000 or so, expecting them to be is obviously not realistic. The point is that I have, out of the hundreds that I have met, really only had two that were not warm, down-to-earth, and genuine. I’d say that’s a pretty good ratio.</p>

<p>Also, you’d be surprised at how low-key most of the students are. Theme nights on the street are popular, so be prepared to don some costumes occasionally if you want to go out and party. If not, there are plenty of alternatives, all involving amazing people. You really have nothing to worry about.</p>

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<p>Thank you so much, Baelor! You have no idea how warm and fuzzy your post just made me. You see, I visited over the summer, had a wonderfully, hilariously goofy tour guide, read the entire undergrad announcement, and decided: all right, this is the place for me. And then I started getting nervous (silly, silly me) that all the students at Princeton would be extreme partiers with a knack for networking and a penchant for name-dropping (I really do feel silly now for buying into those stereotypes)… Thank you, thank you, thank you, Baelor, for setting me at ease! I hope I get to meet you next year! </p>

<p>Might I be able to pick your brain, a little, about life at Princeton? Right now I’m supposed to be doing a physics lab and a paper on Baudelaire, but later I’d love to ask you all about your experience at Princeton.</p>

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<p>Also a current Princeton student if you have any questions. </p>

<p>I think a lot of people think that Princeton students are all super-geniuses, snobby intellectuals, or people who are just in it for the networking. While there are those people, most of us are completely normal. We like watching movies, partying, and just enjoying life with our friends. We all work hard and are motivated in what we want to achieve, but the large majority of Princeton students are also very chill.</p>

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<h1>Might I be able to pick your brain, a little, about life at Princeton?</h1>

<p>Absolutely – just post here (I visit this forum a lot) or PM me. </p>

<p>And I echo sunshine’s statements. There is definitely an intellectual atmosphere, but it is a fun one. You would be surprised how relaxed and chill people are, even if the next day they’re organizing a conference, participating in Sustained Dialogue, or leading a religious ministry. Basically, the students are passionate and incredibly talented (ALL accepted students are, don’t worry), but very friendly and not overly competitive. This was the perfect combination for me.</p>

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<p>My son (2012) is a current student, and too busy to post here, but I can share what I have experienced from visiting him and meeting his friends at Princeton. We are from a modest background and he is extremely down-to earth. So are his friends. </p>

<p>They are also incredibly intelligent, creative, fun and enthusiastic. There are probably some snobs and fashion-conscious people at Princeton, but he has not mentioned any. If you cared about fashion, would you even go to Princeton? Maybe some of the current students can weigh in on that one. My son favors jeans and faded Tshirts.</p>

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<p>The people that I’ve met here have generally been easy to get along with and down-to-earth. I can think of one person off the top of my head who often manages to drop subtle hints about how rich he is, but other than him, no one has come to mind as being a jerk.
I don’t necessarily think fashion-consciousness is the same as snobbiness, but I would say that people here generally dress well. But as far as I know, no one will look down on you based on the clothing you wear.
You will meet very rich people. You’ll also meet middle-class and working-class people.</p>

<p>There is definitely an intellectual atmosphere everywhere, but I haven’t really found it to be a super-insane-genius atmosphere. Maybe I’m just not in the right places for that…
Even so, this is still college - lots of people party, but from what my high school friends tell me about their schools, the partying is definitely less intense here than it is at other colleges. You can really make whatever experience you want to have.</p>

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<p>Congratulations, Undine!</p>

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<p>It’s not so much that I want to party–actually it’s more that I’m not a party person. I like to watch movies and have dinner discussions–not necessarily about anything serious, just about life. I’m pretty introspective, but at the same time out-going–I just really like connecting with people, and the way I do that best is through conversation. </p>

<p>Also, about clothes–I don’t mind fashion at all, and I actually go to a top private school on scholarship, so I’m used to being around somewhat fashion conscious (by which I don’t mean snobby) kids. I actually really respect style–I just don’t spend much time on it myself.</p>

<p>Does that make any sense? And I want to be a college professor, so I’m really interested in the intellectual life–obviously I’ve read and reread Princeton’s course catalog and been absolutely dazzled–and I’ve been looking into Plaideia (I think that’s how it’s spelled) and other things like that… I love hearing people expound. And expounding myself, too, of course, but I try to step back as much as I step up ;)</p>

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<p>Oh, by the way, thanks, Ptongrad! It’s still sinking in. I’m in shock. But the excitement is setting in!</p>

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<p>I’m just going to bump this thread because I’d love as many opinions as I can wrangle;)</p>

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<p>This is my first posting on this site, because you are exactly the sort of person who should attend Princeton, and I want to encourage you to do so. I’m Class of 1978 (and as you can guess from the screen name, Penn Medicine Class of 1982), so my experiences are a bit out of date - but my outlook was similar to yours. I wanted an inspiring intellectual experience - and I had an unforgettable time. I was torn between pursuing a career as a research scientist and college professor or becoming a physician (I turned down a 5 year BS/MD program to go to Princeton, but ultimately decided I wanted to take care of sick people - however I have a medical school clinical faculty appointment, and I teach housestaff at the bedside).</p>

<p>Princeton is unique in that it combines the resources of a world-class university with the intimacy of a small liberal arts college - my joke is that for scientists and engineers, it is like MIT or Caltech, but with outstanding humanities classes. This means that you will have a close relationship with senior faculty, especially in your upperclass years, when you do your junior independent work and write your senior thesis. This is excellent preparation for graduate study - as you will have had an experience analogous to writing a Masters thesis while an undergraduate - so you will be well prepared for a doctoral program.</p>

<p>As regards social life, in my era people were both social and intellectual. I remember seeing a good number of films, having a large number of fascinating conversations, and making many lifelong friends from a wide variety of backgrounds. Now that I am in my fifties, when I return for class events or Reunions, I never cease to be awestruck at how many of my classmates are contributing to society at large - as educators, researchers, physicians, attorneys, clergy, government officials - and as community leaders and social activists. </p>

<p>As a Questbridge student, you have the opportunity to not only further your own career, but to be positive force for good. In medical school, a number of my classmates were people who attended leading private schools through the A Better Chance program, after which they went on to top colleges. Ironically, I was a doctor’s son who had attended a public high school. We were all friends, and we all felt we belonged together. The advantage of attending a place like Princeton is that you will have close relationships with your classmates and instructors. Despite coming from a low-income family, you have will have obtained an outstanding education by virtue of intelligence and hard work - so when you become a college professor, you will be an outstanding example to your students. This will encourage them to reach beyond the boundaries others try to set for them - much as the current President did.</p>

<p>In the end, you should go where you think you will be happiest - but if Princeton is your first choice, as it was mine - then go! We want students of ability and promise, who seek lives of intellectual fulfillment and service to others - and if my somewhat out-of-date experiences are any indication, you will be happy with your classmates, and will be well prepared for the future you choose. Congratulations, and good luck!</p>

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<p>Thank you so much, TigerQuaker! The funny thing is, the one school which really stands a chance against Princeton for me is Swarthmore–a Quaker school. I really am thoroughly torn. If I could sign up for the kind of four years you experienced, I would! The eating clubs just terrify me. A few people whom I really trust and admire have assured me that I can create a life for myself at Princeton outside of the eating clubs, but I suppose I question whether I really want to be in the minority… I just want to feel at home. I feel silly saying that, but it’s true.</p>

<p>Of course, my parents (while they assure me that I should apply to a few more colleges RD, and really explore all the options) want me to attend Princeton; it’s close, I just received a wonderful financial aid package, and the opportunities it offers are astounding. </p>

<p>Again, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your post, TigerQuaker! I can tell that you are a truy kind and venerable person.</p>

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<p>As a Jewish liberal from Philadelphia, I understand your concerns - I was also accepted to Haverford and Swarthmore, and many family and friends told me that I should attend one of those institutions rather than Princeton - because they would be safer for a member of a religious minority. I was also afraid of the eating clubs - but I ended up feeling quite welcome at Princeton. I did join a club - I joined Charter Club when it was still nominally selective, as I had a lot of friends there. I was a strong advocate of ending Bicker there - which we did one year after I joined. We were a very ethnically and socially diverse group, and I made many lifelong friends there. I’ve been told that Charter has a “diversity index” comparable to the University as a whole. I do remember once when we were walking in the front door, one of my best friends (an African-American from Memphis, TN) looked at me and asked, “what the hell are the two of us doing here?” The fact is this was both a statement about how far the University had come in shedding a racist past, and a joke - because we both felt we belonged. Many alumni note that one of the most touching events is watching the P-rade at Reunions. The first class to march is the 25th Reunion class, but then the alumni classes march in order, starting with the oldest alumni. When the first coeducational class marches by, they carry a sign reading “Coeducation begins.” My class (1978) was the first admitted with “sex-blind” admissions - previously there was a minimum number of males. The classes become not only coeducational but multi-ethnic and multi-racial, and it is a wonderful thing to see.</p>

<p>If you go to Princeton, and don’t want to join an eating club, there are now four-year residential colleges; so you will have a number of options. On the other hand you may find that joining an open (nonselective) club is a good option - no social discrimination, but lots of friends. As regards Swarthmore, you certainly wouldn’t make a mistake by going there (I used to joke that Swarthmore was probably the most selective college that accepted me, but I liked Princeton better). However, what attracted me to Princeton was the fact that it offered an intellectual atmosphere similar to Swarthmore’s, but with a somewhat more expansive campus life. Best of luck wherever you go!</p>

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<p>I think at any highly ranked institution you will find SOME people who are snobby or elitist or showy about their wealth just be. Luckily, at Princeton, they are a small minority. Most people are very inclusive and friendly. There’s a ton of ways to make good, low-key friends. Student organizations and groups are a great way to meet people. I met a lot of really fun, friendly, and grounded people when I worked in the dining hall.</p>

<p>As far as the eating clubs, don’t let them terrify you. The sign-in clubs are pretty much always open to all students for party nights, and once you meet other students passes are easier to come by for many of the clubs. Also, each club has its own personality and flavor. They are not all the same. Terrace, for example, is really low-key. They have a lot of bands play there and there’s tons of couches around to just sit and hang out. Many Terrace members are not your stereotypical Princeton students.</p>

<p>If you decide against joining one, there are a lot of options. You could remain in a four-year residential college, go independent and make your own meals with roommates (financial aid would give you a groceries stipend), or you could join a co-op and take turns making big meals.</p>

<p>While not joining an eating club may still be “unusual” it is not abnormal by any means and these people are still an integral part of campus life. There are many other ways to connect with students in classrooms, student organizations, work, etc</p>

<p>Dinner conversations can be as ridiculous, quirky, and heartfelt as you like. There are people on campus who can be your friends, you just have to meet them (and it probably won’t be that hard).</p>

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<p>Okay, those last two posts completely convinced me, TigerQuaker and princeton12. I go to a school so small (50 girls per grade) that it makes it hard to imagine having thousands of class mates. TigerQuaker, I agree that Princeton seems to have a bigger campus life, and it was my first choice in the first place because it combined the attentive professors (within reason, of course) and undergraduate focus of Swarthmore with an enormous breadth of professors and courses and programs and resources, etc. I guess the main purpose of this thread was to allay my fears about the eating clubs–and I’ve realized they’re not so dominating a part of campus life as I thought. I can’t wait to visit again!</p>