Princeton University - Pictures

Princeton University - Basic Information

Princeton, NJ

Total undergrad enrollment: 5,113

Ranked #2 in 2011 edition of Best Colleges (US News)

51% male/49% female

Application deadline - Jan. 1

Application fee: $65

Acceptance rate: 10%

Range SAT Critical Reading: 690-790
Range SAT Math: 700-790
Range SAT Writing: 690-780
Range ACT Composite: 30-34

Required standardized tests: either SAT or ACT

Admissions interview: recommended

SAT subject tests: recommended (engineering - physics or chemistry and math I or II)

Common App

Tuition and fees: $36,640

Room and board: $11,940

No sororities/fraternities

Most popular majors: economics, history, political science and government, psychology, and public policy analysis

Average freshman retention rate: 98%

NCAA I

Princeton University - PROS

Academics

• Engineering school - strong
• Emphasis on undergrads
• Cool class choices
• Senior thesis - serves as a culmination of their work in their field of concentration, students develop personal relationships with thesis advisor
• One of the few top liberal arts universities with equally strong engineering programs, most notably chemical, mechanical, electrical, and aerospace engineering, and computer sciences
• Prestigious Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs - one of Princeton's best known programs, admits undergrads on a selective basis
• National center in the field of molecular biology
• Semester system - gives students a 2 week reading period before exams in which to catch up
• Honor code allows for unproctored exams
• 5 year program that includes intense language study in an Asian country
• 5 year program that leads to a BSE and ME in mechanical and aerospace engineering
• University Scholars program - provides maximum freedom in planning programs of study to fulfill individual needs and interests
• No law, med, or business schools here, only 2000 graduate students
• Ranked #2 best college library
• Student-faculty ratio - 6:1
• 70% of classes have fewer than 20 students

Student Life

• Eating clubs
• New York and Philadelphia are one hour away
• No boredom - overall social options are diverse
• Outdoor Action - a few days of wilderness activities immediately preceding orientation
• Residential colleges - each with its own dining hall, faculty residents, and an active social calendar
• Volunteer activity - very popular
• Well-attended intramural events
• Cane Spree - intramural Olympics
• Most students don't have class on Fridays
• Ranked #1 best classroom experience
• Ranked #2 - school runs like butter
• Ranked #3 - happiest students
• Ranked #1 - most beautiful campus
• Ranked #3 - best quality of life
• Lots of tradition

Princeton University - CONS

• Grade inflation - hard to make an A
• Eating clubs cater to upperclassmen and can be expensive/exclusive
• Relative isolation of town
• Rainy springs
• Expensive town