<p>At this time of year many of you are choosing schools. I am a Princeton alum, and have a daughter who is class of 2009. She is majoring in Psych, with a neuroscience certificate, and her research is done in the Computational Neuroscience lab on memory. She has also taken, and loved, classes on Spanish films, going on 2 years of Mandarin (she can now converse with cab drivers), Religion, History, and Math. She dances with one of the groups, writes/edits for the Daily Princetonian, and is a member of a selective eating club. I was in Comp Lit, and dropped out of my selective eating club after one year to become an Independent, i.e. cook for myself with a group:). I give you this information so you can understand any of my biases.</p>
<p>I just wanted to put forth what I think of as perhaps the unvoiced reasons to go to Princeton.</p>
<li><p>You are a little bit overwhelmed by cities but don’t want to be unable to ever visit New York. You like lawns. You like a serene environment. But you get a little stir crazy in the country and really want to be able to see (put cultural event here) if you want to.</p></li>
<li><p>You either really like social networking and belonging to groups, or you don’t care if you do or don’t because frankly your head is so focused on your academics that the activities really don’t even attract the attention of you or your friends. But the existence of a visible social organization like the eating clubs doesn’t make you feel left out or inadequate. </p></li>
<li><p>You love to dive down deep into your work. Princeton’s culture is defined just as strongly by the required independent work as by the eating clubs. Juniors write two long papers working with an advisor, seniors write a thesis also working with an advisor. Advisors are professors. Your senior thesis will stay with you always. And the experience of locking yourself into a little box in the library and seeing just exactly what your brain can come up with will too. It can be research, a play, or one page of a math theorem. I knew a guy in 1977 who wrote his on the Punk Rock Movement in London. He is some kind of big media guy now.</p></li>
<li><p>You are not snobby. You are friendly. And, you are not intellectually or socially pretentious, i.e. you don’t try to be any more sophisticated than you are. You are earnest.</p></li>
<li><p>You are capable of fondness. We Princetonians, ex-hippies like me or future world beaters like Meg Whitman, we love the place. We go back for Reunions and dress in dreadful costumes. On purpose. We donate. HUGE sums of money that the undergraduates get to use via what is now the largest endowment per student among the top universities. We help eachother out after we graduate. We send our kids there.</p></li>
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<p>There’s lots of other stuff that matters of course. Maybe the department you want to join isn’t as strong as the comparable department is at Stanford, Harvard, Yale. Maybe that’s why you will decide. But if you are deciding on cultural factors, well, maybe this is useful.</p>
<p>Edit: One more thought. If you like to get your arms around an institution, Princeton is still small enough that an undergraduate can have an impact.</p>
<p>Alumother, it's great to know how involved alumni are with Princeton. I hope we, as current Princetonians, and the Princetonians to come, will only add to this great community and history.</p>
<p>Alummother # 4 says it.My d says it is the friendliness of students that really grabbed her.Friends she's made first year next year will live upstairs from her, all in singles (this year all but d lived in a suite).D had a single but was accepted fully into their circle and they referred to her as their roommate.Such incredible supportiveness towards each other. D said they'll be friends for a lifetime. As a parent very far away that has been great to see how happy my d is.D doesn't get involved much with the eating clubs but with performing in a french troupe and singing it's all good ,as she says.</p>
<p>I am glad your D has had the same experience as mine.</p>
<p>There are always so many question about are people snobby at Princeton. If they could really see what goes on in eating clubs....Not that I'm a huge fan of that kind of stuff of course but it sure isn't snobby. And the suburban environment does make everyone slow down just a little bit and say hello to eachother as they walk through the courtyards.</p>
<p>As an alumna and parent of daughter just accepted to the class of 2012, I concur with alumother's comments. I too was a comp lit major (class of '77) but never joined an eating club. I was on serious financial aid and at the time eating club fees were not covered by aid. </p>
<p>I would add that diversity is a major attraction at Princeton- one will get to know people from all countries, races, religious backgrounds and interests. I feel that Princeton achieves this diversity much better than most schools. There will be rich and poor and all levels in between. There will be some snobs- but there will be snobs at all schools. They do not reign at princeton and they are soon humbled. </p>
<p>Best wishes to all and I can't wait for the "going back" in the fall when I help my daughter move in. I am proud of and grateful to Princeton for what it gave me and for what it now offers my daughter.</p>
<p>I concur about the diversity. My d has friends from all over the world. They're from South Africa,Bulgaria, China, Eygpt,France,GB,and so many other countries .You can act in french ,participate in model UN translating other languages for students all over the world. My d has done both things and she's a freshman.</p>
<p>As for snobs ,my d has found that some students are "pleased" with themselves and befriend those of like mind. However there is a place for all kinds of personalities there. </p>
<p>One point about the school's suburban location. I agree with alummother that it is a positive.The ability to hop on the dinky to head into NY in 45 minutes gives students the best of both worlds. The question is how to manage one's time to fit it in with all there is going on right on campus.</p>
<p>Great thread Alumother! My son is a freshman, who intends on majoring in History. What makes him the most excited about Princeton are the professors. He has told me over and over again..."This professor is amazing." I never heard this from him in high school. Also, he has noted and I have also experienced how polite and helpful the university employees are. Some other colleges have employees with attitudes. The financial aid office is very understanding and willing to reconsider awards upon request. Lastly, the train is very accessible and safe.</p>
<p>Agreed on all counts, Alumother. My daughter has also done very well getting academic grant money for all sorts of pursuits. She has had amazing, sustained one-on-one contact with various very distinguished professors. The faculty and administration are very devoted to students who are eager to pursue their interests. She has made wonderful friends, and the students are incredibly supportive of one another. I can't say enough good things.</p>