p
rinceton 2011–12
In Brief
c
ontents
Academic Program
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Community of Learning
12
Admission and Financial Aid
16
Visiting Princeton
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Princeton is
serious, but it
is not somber; it is a place that values
the beauty
and freshness and light and renewal that
comes from
times of
reflection and
times of joy.
President Shirley M. Tilghman
4
5,149 Entering freshman class: 1,300 Student-to-faculty ratio: 6:1 Percent of Class of 2015 receiving financial aid: 60 Percent of undergraduates living on campus: 98 Number of varsity sports teams: 38 Number of student organizations: 300 Undergraduate students:
c
hartered in 1746, Princeton University is the fourth-oldest college in the United States. Princeton is an independent, coeducational, nondenominational institution that provides undergraduate and graduate instruction in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering. The core campus of 500 acres is located in Princeton, New Jersey, a town of approximately 30,000 residents situated about an hour’s train ride south of New York City and an hour’s train ride north of Philadelphia. As a research university, Princeton seeks to achieve the highest levels of distinction in the discovery and transmission of knowledge and understanding. At the same time, Princeton is distinctive among research universities in its commitment to undergraduate teaching. The University’s generous financial aid program ensures that students from all economic backgrounds can afford a Princeton education.
Life as a Princeton student includes generous amounts of time for social interaction on a campus that is easily walkable and is known for its distinctive architectural styles.
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a
cademic
Academic Options Princeton offers two undergraduate degrees: the bachelor of arts (A.B.) and the bachelor of science in engineering (B.S.E.). Within these degree programs, students can choose from among 34 departments (computer science offers both A.B. and B.S.E degrees). There are also 46 special interdisciplinary or interdepartmental programs that offer students wide-ranging opportunities to extend their academic interests. These programs offer certificates; at Princeton, students do not “double major.� For instance, a history major may also earn a certificate in environmental studies, or a computer science major may also earn a certificate in theater. Students may also apply for an independent concentration outside existing programs. Undergraduates are admitted to the University and not to a particular department or interdepartmental program.
Princeton undergraduates have direct access to world-renowned thinkers,  such as Professor Cornel West, who is famous for his dynamic teaching style.
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p
rogram
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Completing the A.B. Degree Freshmen and sophomores in the A.B. program explore areas of academic interest while fulfilling some of their general education requirements, which include one or two semester-long courses in each of seven general areas: (1) epistemology and cognition (one course), (2) ethical thought and moral values (one course), (3) historical analysis (one course), (4) literature and the arts (two courses), (5) quantitative reasoning (one course), (6) science and technology (two courses, at least one with laboratory), and (7) social analysis (two courses). In addition, all A.B. students must satisfy the writing requirement by taking a one-semester writing seminar in the freshman year. All A.B. students must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language. Students normally select a major in the spring of sophomore year. In the final two years, students continue to pursue coursework and also engage seriously in independent study in their field of concentration.
A.B. Departments
Anthropology Architecture Art and Archaeology Astrophysical Sciences Chemistry Classics Comparative Literature Computer Science East Asian Studies Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Economics English French and Italian Geosciences German History
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B.S.E. Departments Mathematics Molecular Biology Music Near Eastern Studies Philosophy Physics Politics Psychology Religion Slavic Languages and Literatures Sociology Spanish and Portuguese Languages and Cultures Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
Chemical and Biological Engineering Civil and Environmental Engineering Computer Science Electrical Engineering Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Operations Research and Financial Engineering
Completing the B.S.E. Degree For the B.S.E. program, the course of study encompasses a broad sweep of engineering science and includes a number of courses in the social sciences and the humanities. In the spring of freshman year, students choose a major. By the end of the second year, engineering students complete the equivalent of four semesters of mathematics, two semesters of physics, one semester of chemistry, and one semester of computing. B.S.E. students also must complete a minimum of seven courses in the humanities and social sciences, including one course from four of the following six areas: (1) epistemology and cognition, (2) ethical thought and moral values, (3) foreign language, (4) historical analysis, (5) literature and the arts, and (6) social analysis. Engineering students also take a one-semester writing seminar during the freshman year.
Certificate Programs
African American Studies African Studies American Studies Applications of Computing Applied and Computational Mathematics Architecture and Engineering Biophysics Contemporary European Politics and Society Creative Writing Dance East Asian Studies Engineering and Management Systems Engineering Biology Engineering Physics Environmental Studies
European Cultural Studies Finance Geological Engineering Gender and Sexuality Studies Global Health and Health Policy Hellenic Studies Information Technology and Society Jazz Studies Judaic Studies Language and Culture Latin American Studies Latino Studies Linguistics Materials Science and Engineering Medieval Studies Musical Performance
Near Eastern Studies Neuroscience Planets and Life Quantitative and Computational Biology Robotics and Intelligent Systems Russian and Eurasian Studies South Asian Studies Sustainable Energy Teacher Preparation Theater Translation and Intercultural Communication Urban Studies Values and Public Life Visual Arts Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
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Academic Year An academic year runs from September to late May/early June and consists of two terms (fall and spring), with exam periods in January and May. A normal course load is four or five courses per semester, although many students take additional courses. Princeton does not offer summer sessions.
What they say is really true: The attention that you get from the
professors at
Princeton and the focus on
undergraduates is incredible. Katrina Hacker ’13
10
Freshman Seminars Freshman seminars offer first-year students an opportunity to work with a professor and a small number of classmates in a seminar on a topic of special interest. The seminars—about 75 are offered annually—are hosted by the residential colleges.
Preceptorials Most humanities and social science courses at Princeton include lectures and precepts. The “precept” is a small group in which the instructor promotes student discussion of lectures and readings.
Independent Work Independent work for undergraduates is a hallmark of a Princeton education. All A.B. candidates must complete junior papers or projects and a senior thesis. Almost every B.S.E. student completes a senior thesis or a substantial independent research project. Independent work is conducted under the mentorship of a faculty member.
Global Learning Undergraduates have numerous opportunities to incorporate international experiences and perspectives into their Princeton careers. They may study or conduct research abroad during the academic year, breaks, or in the summer; participate in international internships and service projects; study more than 20 modern languages; take courses on international and regional topics; and participate in on-campus intercultural programs. Upon graduation, students have the option of participating in Princeton-affiliated international service internships and fellowships.
The Honor System The honor system has existed at Princeton since 1893. Students take all written examinations without a faculty proctor. They assume full responsibility for honesty and conclude each examination with a written pledge that they have abided by the honor code. The honor system is administered by a committee of 12 undergraduates.
Princeton
has given me a feeling that
I can do a lot in the world.
Jeremy Furchtgott ’12
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c
ommunityof
12
earning Housing and Dining Princeton is a residential university and provides housing for all undergraduate students. Freshmen and sophomores are required to live on campus in one of six residential colleges, which offer a variety of academic, social, and cultural programs. Juniors and seniors who wish to continue living in a residential college may do so, or they may live in upperclass dormitories. Each college includes a cluster of dormitories, a dining hall, lounges, computer facilities, a library, game and television rooms, and, in some cases, theaters and other spaces for the arts. The student community in each college is supported by academic advisers, college administrators, and undergraduate residential college advisers. Students have a wide range of dining options. Freshmen and sophomores typically take meals in dining halls in the residential colleges. Juniors and seniors who live in residential colleges may take all of their meals there or may divide their meals between a college and an eating club. Additionally, all juniors and seniors are allotted two meals a week in the residential colleges, whether or not they reside in a residential college. Many juniors and seniors dine in one of the 10 historic eating clubs, which also offer social, athletic, educational, and community service programs. Other options for juniors and seniors include numerous dining facilities across the campus as well as opportunities for preparing meals in their campus apartments or co-ops.  Princeton’s residential campus ensures that students develop a sense of home within a tightly knit community. Each residential college includes dormitories and facilities for dining, educational, cultural, and social activities.
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Key Campus Resources The Princeton University Library, one of the world’s most renowned research libraries, includes more than 13 million holdings in 11 buildings across campus. The main library is Firestone Library, a distinguished resource for the humanities and social sciences. Lewis Library collects science holdings in an inviting space at the heart of campus. The Princeton University Art Museum is a teaching museum for the Department of Art and Archaeology as well as a cultural resource for the entire University and surrounding community. The Office of Information Technology (OIT) supports students with a powerful computing environment. A high-speed data connection and wireless service are available in every undergraduate dormitory room. OIT’s New Media Center provides access to and instruction in cutting-edge technology. Frist Campus Center, which is open seven days a week, is a lively gathering place for the entire campus community and offers various dining options and places to relax, study, and talk. Other key campus centers include Campus Club; the Center for Jewish Life; the Davis International Center; the Fields Center for Equality and Cultural Understanding; the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Center; and the Women’s Center.
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Student Activities The Princeton undergraduate student body is highly engaged. Students may choose from more than 300 student organizations, including cultural, performing, multicultural, political, professional, religious, science, and social action organizations, plus a variety of media groups. Students are encouraged to start their own organizations to pursue specific interests. The campus includes six theaters of various sizes and a host of theater groups; music opportunities include the Princeton University Orchestra, the Princeton University Concert Choir (Glee Club), the Princeton University Jazz Ensemble, and the University Band. Cultural and ethnic groups include the Asian American Students Association, Black Student Union, Chicano Caucus, and Native Americans at Princeton. The Daily Princetonian is the independent student newspaper and WPRB is the student radio station. Students have ample opportunity to pursue civic engagement projects through the Pace Center for Civic Engagement, the Student Volunteers Council, Community House, and the Fields Center, among others.
Student Government The Undergraduate Student Government (USG) plays a substantial role within the University community. Members of the USG, or students appointed by the USG, serve on virtually all important University-wide committees.
Athletics Princeton is an NCAA Division I school. The University offers 38 varsity teams with nearly 1,000 athletes. Princeton also has 300 intramural teams and recreational facilities for pickup games and personal fitness.
The intimate
atmosphere at
Princeton makes it
easy to socialize and
explore all sorts of
extracurricular activities.
Carlo Frem ’12 1515
Sherrerd Hall, which houses research and teaching in engineering and the social sciences, includes many open spaces to foster interdisciplinary collaboration.
a
dmission and
Admission
We want to reach out
to students from every
background. What we
value are
their personal qualities,
achievements,
and intellectual successes. Janet Lavin Rapelye dean of admission
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Admission to Princeton is quite competitive. In recent years, the University has offered admission to less than 9 percent of those who apply. Successful applicants must demonstrate exceptionally high academic ability and performance. Personal strengths and nonacademic talents and commitment are also highly valued. Application materials for admission and financial aid are updated annually and are available in the summer before a student’s senior year in high school. Visit the Admission Office website (www.princeton.edu/admission) for more information about Princeton’s admission process.
Application Procedures Princeton offers two admission programs: Single-Choice Early Action and Regular Decision. Under Single-Choice Early Action, students who have decided that Princeton is their first choice should submit their materials by November 1, including the Princeton Financial Aid Application if they are applying for financial aid. The program is nonbinding, but applicants may not apply early to any other institution. Those who are admitted under Single-Choice Early Action have until May 1 to reply with their decision. As in Regular Decision, students must submit the Common Application and Princeton's Supplement to the Common Application. For Regular Decision, the final postmark or electronic submission application deadline is January 1. Applicants are encouraged to submit their portion of the application by December 15, if possible. Application decisions will be mailed and made available online at the end of March or early April.
inancial
a
id
17
All admitted students who have applied for financial aid will receive notification with the decision letter of all aid for which they are eligible.
Entrance Examinations Applicants for undergraduate admission normally are expected to take the College Board SAT Test or the ACT (with Writing, where offered) and must submit the results of two different SAT Subject Tests. Applicants who intend to pursue a B.S.E. should take one SAT Subject Test in either physics or chemistry and one SAT Subject Test in mathematics (Level 1 or 2). To ensure that the results of these tests reach the Admission Office in time, applicants for Single-Choice Early Action are encouraged to take them by November 1, 2011, and for Regular Decision by January, 2012. Students taking standardized tests in November should have their scores sent directly to Princeton. Students must make their own arrangements to take the tests, registering at least eight weeks before the test date and instructing the testing agency to send the results directly to Princeton University. For further information about the testing agencies, visit www.collegeboard.com and www.actstudent.org. Princeton’s College Board number is 2672. Princeton’s code for the ACT is 2588.
Further Admission Information Students who are approaching the end of their junior year or the beginning of their senior year in high school are invited to request application materials from the Admission Office. Students may apply to Princeton by submitting the Common Application with the Princeton Supplement (at www.commonapp.org). www.princeton.edu/admission Tel 609-258-3060; Fax 609-258-6743 Admission Office, Princeton University Box 430 Princeton, NJ 08542-0430 18
Undergraduate Enrollment, 2010 –11 Total
5,149
Men
2,618 51%
Women
2,531 49%
American minorities
African American 388 7.5% American Indian 14 0.3% Asian American 869 17% Hispanic/Latino 461 9%
Multiracial (non-Hispanic) Pacific Islander International students
186 6 548
4% 0.1% 11%
Admission calendar Online application available:
August 1, 2011
Deadline for Single-Choice Early Action application:
November 1, 2011
Recommended reporting deadline for Early Action standardized tests:
November 1, 2011
Early Action admission decisions mailed and made available online: Deadline for Regular Admission application: Recommended deadline for SAT and ACT tests: Deadline for financial aid application: Admission and financial aid decisions mailed and made available online:
Mid-December 2011 January 1, 2012 January 2012 February 1, 2012 End of March/early April, 2012
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Financial Aid Princeton’s no-loan financial aid program assists all qualified applicants with generous need-based grants, making the University affordable to low- and middle-income families. Committed to ensuring economic diversity within the student body, Princeton provides grants—which are like scholarships and do not have to be repaid—and campus jobs to meet the full demonstrated need for all students offered admission. These policies apply to both domestic and international applicants. Under Princeton’s admission policy, need for financial aid is not a disadvantage. Princeton welcomes applications from talented students of diverse economic backgrounds. Princeton’s financial aid application is free and available online. Admitted students who have applied for aid receive award notices at the same time as admission decisions. About 60 percent of Princeton’s Class of 2015 is receiving a need-based grant directly from the University.
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Financial Aid Estimator
Financial aid for STUDENTS ADMITTED TO the Class of 2015 What It Covers Family Income
Average Grant*
tuition=$37,000 room + board=$12,069
$0–60,000
$49,500
Full tuition, room + board
$60,000–80,000
$45,850
Full tuition, 73% of room + board
$80,000–100,000
$42,800
Full tuition, 48% of room + board
$100,000–120,000
$38,500
Full tuition, 12% of room + board
$120,000–140,000
$35,300
95% of tuition
$140,000–160,000
$29,500
80% of tuition
$160,000–180,000
$26,950
73% of tuition
$180,000–200,000
$23,750
64% of tuition
$200,000 and above
$16,500
44% of tuition
Students can estimate their eligibility for a specific amount of financial aid by using the confidential financial aid estimator at www.princeton.edu/aid.
most who qualify have 2 children in college Of those who applied for aid:
100% qualify
85% qualify
46% qualify
Princeton may adjust your grant if your assets (other than the family home and retirement) are greater than $100,000. *A grant does not have to be repaid. Grants are also referred to as “scholarships” or “gift aid.”
Fees and Expenses for 2011–12
Financial Aid Awarded for 2011–12
Tuition $37,000
Grant dollars for all undergraduates $110 million
Room and board
$12,069
Grant dollars for the Class of 2015
$3,601
Average grant for the Class of 2015
Estimated miscellaneous expenses
(books, supplies, laundry, telephone, recreation, etc.)
Estimated total
(estimated)
$28 million $36,100
$52,670
Note: Because the cost of goods and services continues to rise, charges for 2012–13 are expected to increase modestly.
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Princeton’s
financial aid program is one of the
best in the
country for low- and
middle-income
families. Since 2001, it has
been possible
for Princeton students
to graduate debt-free. Robin Moscato director of undergraduate financial aid
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How the Aid Program Works Students submit their family’s information on the Princeton Financial Aid Application. Every application is reviewed individually, and many factors other than income are considered. The chart on the previous page shows the average grant awarded by income categories. However, families within each income bracket qualify for a range of grant amounts. Grants vary according to specific circumstances such as how many children are in college, savings and assets other than the family home and retirement funds, or compelling special expenses that may include medical, educational, elder care, and other similar concerns.
The 10 eating clubs offer a home away from home for more than two-thirds of upperclass students and provide a center of social life for non-members as well.
Further Financial Aid Information Students interested in learning more about Princeton’s financial aid program may contact the Undergraduate Financial Aid Office. www.princeton.edu/aid faoffice@princeton.edu Tel 609-258-3330 Undergraduate Financial Aid Office Princeton University Box 591 Princeton, NJ 08542-0591
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v
isiting
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p
rinceton
Campus Tours A campus visit can offer an informative and enjoyable introduction to everyday life at Princeton. Among the places of special interest on campus are Nassau Hall, the University’s oldest building and one-time seat of the Continental Congress; Firestone Library; Lewis Library; the University Chapel; Prospect Gardens; the Frist Campus Center; and the Princeton University Art Museum. One-hour tours of campus are conducted by student guides (the Orange Key Guide Service) throughout the year. Please visit the Admission Office in Clio Hall to get more information. The School of Engineering and Applied Science welcomes visits from students interested in engineering. Tours are offered weekdays when classes are in session and during the summer between early July and late August. For more information, call 609-258-4554. Students also are encouraged to visit Princeton via the Web: www.princeton.edu.  Frist Campus Center is a lively gathering place for the entire campus community and is home to many student-run activities.
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Boston Providence New Haven
New York
Admission Information Sessions General information sessions, conducted by an admission officer, are about one hour in length and are available on weekdays and a limited number of Saturdays during the fall. Parents and students are welcome, and no reservations are necessary.
Princeton Philadelphia Baltimore
100 miles
Washington, D.C.
200 miles Richmond
Raleigh
Please call the Admission Office at 609-258-3060 or check the website at www.princeton. edu/admission for information on tours, information session schedules, and maps.
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Traveling to Princeton Princeton is accessible by many means of transportation. For plane travel, flying into Newark Liberty International Airport is most convenient. For driving and rail service instructions visit www.princeton.edu/main/visiting, under “Getting to Campus.� For recorded directions, call 609-258-2222 using a touch-tone phone. Campus parking information is available at www.princeton.edu/ main/visiting/aroundcampus/parking. For parking information in town, visit www.princetonparking.org.
Nondiscrimination Statement In compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other federal, state, and local laws, Princeton University does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, or veteran status in any phase of its employment process, in any phase of its admission or financial aid programs, or other aspects of its educational programs or activities. The vice provost for institutional equity and diversity is the individual designated by the University to coordinate its efforts to comply with Title IX, Section 504 and other equal opportunity and affirmative action regulations and laws. Questions or concerns regarding Title IX, Section 504 or other aspects of Princeton’s equal opportunity or affirmative action programs should be directed to the Office of the Vice Provost for Institutional Equity and Diversity, Princeton University, 205 Nassau Hall, Princeton, NJ 08544 or (609) 258-6110.
Credits Publication coordinated by the Office of Communications, 22 Chambers Street, Suite 201, Princeton, NJ 08542; edited by Karin Dienst and Gerry Cohen; designed by Matilda Luk and Maggie Westergaard; photographs by Denise Applewhite, John Jameson, and Brian Wilson Additional photographs by Gabriel Cooney, Bentley Drezner, and Frank Wojciechowski Printed by Toppan America, Somerset, NJ Copyright © 2011 by The Trustees of Princeton University In the Nation’s Service and in the Service of All Nations
printed on recycled paper 18458-11
Admission Office Box 430 Princeton, NJ 08542-0430 www.princeton.edu