Princeton University Top Questions

To belabor a point well-written about in the Daily Princetonian, the alcohol and hookup scenes at Princeton are a major blow to real fun in the social life of most Princeton students. As recent McCosh stats have shown, STD rates are as high at Princeton as they are anywhere, and McCosh's medical facilities always reach their peak capacity on Thursday and Saturday nights, due almost exclusively to alcohol overuse and abuse. In sum, many of the intelligent people at Princeton tend to turn off their intelligence when they leave the lecture hall or library carrel. There's a big work-hard, play-hard crowd here. It's always puzzling to me that students I know with astronomical GPAs still find it in their conscience to black out drunk in an eating club. People get the impression from these students that alcohol abuse (once the hangover is over) is relatively consequence-free. This is obviously implausible, practically speaking, but it remains a prevalent misconception.

eating clubs, music groups some students leave doors open athletics are somewhat popular, not hugely 2 am: working, watching tv, or about to go to bed party once-twice a week frats/sororities are not very significant went out on saturday watch a movie, go to a performance

The eating clubs dominate the party scene. There are frats and sororities that dominate a small portion of the social life in the clubs, but if you avoid that (or it happens to be your cup of tea) then the eating clubs can be really great. There are 5 "bicker" clubs -- you have to go through a selection process to join -- and 5 "sign-in" clubs that accept everyone who signs up (unless they have too many people, then they use a lottery system.) The clubs are great because there is always (or at least any Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday night) a place to go with your friends to hang out, dance, listen to tunes, and drink free beer. Alcohol is a big deal in the clubs (at least at night) but depending on the club, it's more or less overwhelming.

I'm involved in the Princeton radio station, WPRB 103.3, and although most students have never heard of it, it's kind of a big deal: oldest fm college station in America! I'm really happy to have stumbled upon this organization, because aside from the awesomeness of djing my own radio show and dictating what music the audience listens to, WPRB offers a great social community of students who love music.

I was in 2 dance groups, and that took up a lot of my time. I thought dance was really big on campus, there were certain events that almost eveyrone would go to, and also a bunch of events that put different dance groups together (international festival, etc). Dance groups are also really nice at princeton because it gives you a chance to be a leader in something, while at the same time you don't have to be amazingly talented to be in a group. I think theater is the same way. I also did volunteering through the student volunteers council. I mostly did a different activity each semester. Trenton is right next door so there's lots of volunteering opportunity and on the whole i thought community service was a pretty big activity at princeton.

There are too many groups and organizations to pick out the most popular ones. I was involved with cheerleading, and it was a great way to meet a caring group of girls. I was also very involved with StressBusters peer health educators - a group dedicated to reducing stress and depression on campus. I left my door open in the dorm, but it's actually against fire code. I think if it wasn't, more people would do it especially once you know more people in your dorm. There are always guest speakers coming to Princeton to speak, comedians, bands, you name it. The dating scene is hard at Princeton. "Dates" aren't really common. I met my closest friends in my dorm and in my eating club. On a Tuesday at 2 am, I'm either studying, hanging out with friends, or hanging out at my eating club. The major tradition at Princeton would be reunions!!! Eating clubs seem to be more important than sororities or frats. On a Saturday night you can go to the UFO, attend a campus play or show, hang out with friends and have game night, or go to New York for the weekend. There's not too much to do off campus except nyc.

Princeton is well-known for its system of eating clubs. Freshman and sophomores eat in their residential colleges, but juniors and seniors may choose to take their meals in eating clubs, and many do. The eating clubs aren't just places to eat though; they're social organizations that sponsor lots of events for their members (and often for nonmembers as well). I was an eating club as a junior and senior and had a great experience, but I am supportive of Princeton's efforts to promote residential college life for juniors and seniors which by extension undermines the eating clubs. Although I liked being in my eating club, I think they are generally exclusive and divisive. Eating with members of another club requires a "meal exchange", which is an annoying formality that makes it that much harder to socialize with whom you want whenever you want. More importantly, eating clubs are expensive, sometimes prohibitively so, and although financial aid is now available, it just seems wrong to me that you should have to fork it over in order to have lunch with your buddies.

The eating clubs are fantastic. I know they are often seen as problematic but in reality they provide a great, safe social meeting place. Clubs are on tap any given day of the week. I met my closest friends through who lived near me and in my sorority. The eating clubs through lawnparties nad houseparties every fall and spring, respectively. lots of great opportunities to dress up for formal events. Off campus, I eat out with my boyfriend. I often go into the city for museums, classes, dates, or just to get off campus.

One unique aspect about Princeton students compared to our peer schools is that we seem to be, on the whole, much more social. Perhaps it is because of our eating clubs or our greater proportion of varsity athletes?

My closest friends came from my freshman year hallmates--we had a great RA who organized lots of fun study breaks that let us get to know each other really well. I am also close to the girls on my sports team, in my Christian group, and upperclass eating institution. Frats and sororities are only a big deal in some circles. I actually don't think it is at all necessary in order to be fully plugged in to social life here--it is mostly a way of getting into certain eating clubs. There is plenty to do if you don't drink (and I don't): there are ALWAYS more plays/atheletic events/study breaks/lectures/parties/movies to go to than could possibly fit in anyone's schedules. Plus there's always the option of hanging out somewhere like Murray Dodge Cafe, Wu Cafe, Frist, etc. It's often the spontaneous games of ping-pong or trips for ice cream that are the most fun and memorable in the long run.