Princeton University Top Questions

The stereotype may be a good reflection of a certain population of students, but for the most part, there is a wider variety of types of people from different backgrounds with different interests than you might expect. "Typical students" can range from international students to serious college athletes to incredibly accomplished musicians to brilliant scholars (and many of these images overlap because students are so gifted that they can balance multiple extracurriculars and academic endeavors).

by all means, no. I've made friends with so many awesome people while here.

No. Sure there are a few more guys in polo shirts than the average college campus, but the shirt doesn't make the person. Because the student body comes from all over the country, there is by no means a majority of uppity prep-school kids. Most kids here are friendly, curious, and, most importantly, kind.

People do dress preppily, but I think that this is probably just because it is easier to throw on a polo and jeans rather than designing an outfit. And I do think Princeton is relatively elitist. The easting clubs lead to a more elitist system. But while it is elitist in some ways, in many others it is not. A majority of students are humble and feel relatively normal. And while eating clubs may lead to elitism it also provides an amount of communal living and partying.

For a certain percentage of the student body, they are very accurate

If you come during houseparties or lawnparties, well then yes. But i think Princeton is diverse in depth and breadth - we have many types of people, and many people in many different categories. Though, i would say we are a majority white campus and fashion concious campus, whatever your fashion is. No goths or way-out there people that i knwo of, though terrace can sometimes show us the darker side.

Yes.

For some people--absolutely. For the other 95{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}of Princeton, definitely not. I was shocked at how diverse this place really is. We're from every part of the country, every part of the world. Princeton loves to collect people and having kids from, literally,every kind of background is huge right now in academia. If you come here, I think you'll be very, very surprised at how different every student really is.

These stereotypes are absolutely not accurate. I was so nervous about those things when I got here, thinking it wouldn't be the place for me at all, when Princeton is really an incredibly diverse and accepting environment. There are selective groups on campus, but that is in no way unique to Princeton. And since Princeton has such a great financial aid program, you get students from all socioeconomic classes as well.

These stereotypes are clearly not true for most of the school, however they each have a kernel of truth. Princeton students are very involved in academics, and place a lot of pressure on themselves and others to succeed in academics. However, many Princeton students also like to party and have a good time. So the academics do not necessarily come at the expense of the social aspect. There are many very rich and preppy people here, and that can be a little bit much at times. However, most of the kids here do not fit the stereotypes, and it is pretty easy to find people who are nothing like the stereotypical Princeton student.