Princeton University

Responses from the Student Interview

From a student  who identifies as Major: Woodrow Wilson School of Public & International Affairs – Certificates in African American Studies and Finance
Minor: None
Student Self Identifies as: Biracial: Black & White Heterosexual Male

Summary

I’m on the Club Hockey team.

Background

Gender Identity: Male
Race/Ethnicity: Biracial: Black & White
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual

High School Experience: Private boarding school outside of Pittsburgh, PA with a graduating class of about 50 students. There was a culture of going to college.
First-Generation College Student: Yes
Major: Woodrow Wilson School of Public & International Affairs – Certificates in African American Studies and Finance
Minor: None

Extracurricular Activities: I’m on the Club Hockey team.
What impact has playing on the Club Hockey team had on your experience?
So far, it’s made a positive impact. I’m able to meet a good number of new friends.

Academic Experience

Can you describe your weekly coursework for your major?
So far, I have three essays for the semester per class. The reading workload for this semester is about three hours per day during the week.
Is there anything you feel Princeton has done especially well or poorly academically?
Positively, they offer their undergraduates a lot of resources for advising. You’re assigned a peer academic advisor who’s a student and you’re assigned a faculty advisor who helps you choose classes. There are multiple tutoring centers available to the students. The professors and preceptors are very approachable and easy to talk to. Every time I’ve asked a question through email, they always respond quickly. Talking to your professors and asking questions is very encouraged. It’s very welcoming. [A preceptor is a graduate student studying a certain field.]
How would you describe the learning environment? Do you think it’s particularly competitive or collaborative?
I don’t think it’s very competitive. It’s more collaborative and you want your friends to do well.
How accessible are your professors?
So far, they’ve been really accessible. I haven’t felt the need to contact my professors too much. The way Princeton works is we have two lectures a week, and once a week you meet in smaller groups called precepts, which are at most 12-15 people. Those preceptors are graduate students in that field. That’s your first line if you have questions. They’ve always been super accessible and able to help. The professors also have office hours.
Do you feel that people are open to multiple schools of thought in the classroom?
Students are definitely not closed-minded with opposing sides. You are encouraged to share your personal beliefs.
Why did you choose your major? Are you happy with your choice?
The biggest thing that drew me to the Woodrow Wilson School is that it’s multidisciplinary. I will take classes in economics, politics, sociology, and history. It interested me because I’m still not sure what I want to do. Even if I decided not to major in it, the prerequisites allow me to explore different fields. Exploring themes and courses outside your intended major is highly encouraged. Our advisors and professors want us to take at least one class each semester outside our intended majors.
How was transitioning academically as a first-generation college student? Are there systems in place that help you transition?
There are multiple resources available for first-generation students. For me, I didn’t feel like I needed them because I had come from a college preparatory boarding school. I felt like I was prepared for the type of environment Princeton offered. With that being said, it was a challenge transitioning to college. Dealing with the reading-intensive courses is a difficult transition, but that has to do with the academic rigor of Princeton itself.

Reasons to Attend

1) If you’re looking for an academically rigorous environment. You won’t have any courses that you can breeze through with an easy A.
2) If you’re looking to explore different disciplines. You’re highly encouraged to explore classes outside your major.
3) If you’re looking for very engaging professors

Reasons Not to Attend

1) If you’re looking to party and not work hard. It’s a work hard play hard environment.
2) If you’re looking for a lot that goes on as far as restaurants and bars. There’s not a bar scene at all.
3) If you’re looking for a warm weather school.

Around Campus

Where have you lived on and around campus?
Freshman: Little Hall in Mathey College with one roommate
How was transitioning from your Pittsburgh to Princeton, NJ in terms of location?
In terms of location, it wasn’t a big change for me. My boarding school was in a very small town less than 1,000 people. Princeton is also a small town but they have a lot more going on than the town my boarding school was in.
Can you describe the level of safety you’ve experienced on and around campus?
The safety has been very top-notch. Princeton’s public safety is incredible. The only time I’ve talked to them has been if they come to shut down a party I’m at. When that happens, they aren’t looking to get students in trouble, they’re very focused on our safety. We have the blue light system all around campus so if you feel unsafe they’re all around.

Social Opportunities

What kind of weekend activities or nightlife do you like to participate in?
The main thing for pretty much all students is going to the eating clubs which are all on the same street. That’s where the parties happen. A con about the eating clubs is that to get into almost all of them you need to be on the list for that evening. To get on that list you need to get a member of the club to get you on the list. You need the connections with upperclassmen. The fact that I am on Club Hockey and have friends with older siblings who are in eating clubs helps me get on the lists.
What’s an alternative to going to a party that you like for a weekend activity?
For activities, I’ve been to New York once, but for the most part, what I’ll do is go to restaurants on Nassau Street.
What nights of the week do you regularly do things?
Just Fridays and Saturdays. I’ve gone out on a couple of weekdays, but that’s only if eating clubs are having a special night. Most of the upperclassmen go out on Thursdays.
How happy are you with the weekend options at Princeton? Is there anything you would change about them if you could?
I’m pretty satisfied with the weekend options. I’m somebody who enjoys going out with friends and having a good time. If you want to go the route of partying more, that’s available to you through the eating clubs and partying with friends.

Campus Culture

How did you meet your closest friends?
Some of my closest friends are on the Club Hockey team with me. Most of my best friends have lived in my building on my hall. The other friends who don’t live in my hall went to high school with people that live in my building.
How would you describe the overall social scene at Princeton?
It was a bit of an adjustment. So many students already know each other, especially from the New York area. The New York City private school students have a lot of social capital. They are the ones who’re able to always get into the eating clubs whenever they want. Initially, navigating that socially was a bit difficult for me. Overall there isn’t a lot of pressure to be somebody that you aren’t. There isn’t a lot of pressure to impress people. [For the Class of 2023, about 11% of students come from the state of New York.]
To what extent do people of different races and sexual orientations mix socially?
As far as sexual orientation, they mix to a pretty big extent. Racially, I’d say that mostly African-Americans tend to stick together. They tend to have their own parties and I don’t see them at the eating clubs much. As far as generally, it’s pretty mixed and there’s very little discrimination. So far, I haven’t been very active in the African-American community. I have friends of all races and feel like I’m a member of the African-American community, but as far as the community at Princeton I’m not a very active member. [The undergraduate population is 44% White, 12% Hispanic, 9% Black, 25% Asian, and 5% multiracial.]
How do you like the size of Princeton in terms of undergraduate enrollment? How has it impacted your experience? [There are about 5,300 students at Princeton.]
I think it’s a very good size. A small school wouldn’t be very appealing to me because I came from such a small school. I feel like I’d get lost in the crowd at a larger school and that I wouldn’t matter as much academically to my teachers.

Careers

Financial Aid

Have you used financial aid? If so, how accommodating was the office to your needs?
I’ve used financial aid once. The office is very accessible and easy to talk to.