What They Won’t Tell You About Princeton University - The Good and the Bad

Written by Sienna, Princeton University

This past year, 39,644 students applied to Princeton University for undergraduate studies, and only 1,782 of those students were admitted to Princeton’s Class of 2027—making this school one of the most selective Ivy League colleges in the world. With these admission statistics, a very limited number of people know what being a Princeton student is really like. From the best of times to the unexpected challenges, this blog holds nothing back. Keep reading to find out everything you MUST know before you even think about applying to Princeton!

Your Major Matters Less than You Think 

I have a vivid memory of sitting in my college counselor's office during my freshman year at Princeton, discussing with him the anxiety and stress I felt about choosing my major. Growing up, I had always thought that you had to choose a college major like engineering or pre-med to be successful, so I thought that if I didn't choose engineering or a similar field, I would have trouble finding a job after college and might diminish my earning potential. At this point in the conversation, he decided to pull up some of the school’s statistics on alumni and post-Princeton earnings. To my surprise, choice of major seemed to have very little correlation to earnings later in life or even to field of work. The statistics showed psychology majors out-earning engineers and art history majors running investment firms.

Now that I am an alumni myself, I can confirm that this remains entirely true. However, this certainly isn’t the case at many other universities, which is something that makes Princeton unique—regardless of college major, there is never a shortage of opportunities for Princeton graduates.

The Financial Side of Things 

Princeton University is very unique not only in their extreme generosity with financial aid but also in their transparency around exactly how much financial aid a student can expect to receive even BEFORE applying. Families with incomes of $100,000 receive 100% financial aid, which you can learn more here: Princeton financial aid website. 

However, another thing to note when considering finances for some, is that Princeton, as an Ivy League school, does not offer athletic scholarships. For some, this can be a serious consideration when other prestigious schools like Stanford and Duke offer students the opportunity to turn their athletic prowess into actual college money. However, things have radically changed across the board in recent years (including at Princeton) with the new regulations on Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals for NCAA student-athletes allowing them to profit off of their hard-earned reputation. 

The Daily Perks & Student Appreciation Efforts 

Attending Princeton there are BIG perks, like getting to meet world-famous leaders or getting to travel to international destinations over spring break for free as part of a seminar class, among other things. 

However, something that continues to surprise me about Princeton is just how many little perks are provided for students on a daily basis, whether that's free ice cream at a popular spot close to campus or free tickets to see top Broadway shows like Hamilton. While the list goes on and on, some of the most notable include a completely free set up of coffee, bagels, and pastries available for students in the center of campus during the beginning of finals week (I have never heard about such treatment in any of the other Ivy League schools!)

Similarly, when I was working on my senior thesis, a required component of the Princeton undergraduate education, my academic department provided me and all of the other seniors in my major with $10 gift cards to a local coffee shop every week - a treat to think about when applying to college and identifying your dream school!

People Are More Collaborative Than You Would Expect 

Whenever I was struggling in a class or didn’t understand an assignment, there was always a fellow student willing to help explain things or provide helpful resources. For one recent example, I was presenting my thesis research at an Eastern European Studies conference about a month ago and another Princeton student at the conference, who had written her thesis on a similar topic to mine, came up to me and invited me to attend a research event occurring in Connecticut the following week - proceeding to reach out directly to the event organizers on my behalf to secure me a spot as well as transportation.  

In my experience, this level of kindness and collaboration is incredibly common among Princeton students—a stark contrast to some stories from peers at other Ivy League universities who have described other circumstances. For example, some of my friends at other Ivy Leagues have told me the “horror stories' ' of some students at their universities going out of their way to gatekeeper information or sabotage other students by hiding library books etc. Thankfully, you can rest easy at Princeton knowing your peers truly have your back. 

There Is an Expectation Around Internships 

Princeton University is full of incredibly smart, talented, and driven people, which means that people at Princeton take their internships very seriously. I was completely taken by surprise my freshman year to find that some people were applying to internships for the following summer in September and October! Coming from a small, rural town the idea that someone would apply for a summer internship over 6 months ahead of time was incredibly foreign. 

I quickly learned that most Princeton students do not spend their summers working at the local cafe or babysitting, instead most students are chomping at the bit to secure an internship at a place like Goldman Sachs, Mckinsey, or some other industry powerhouse. This means there's an undeniable expectation and pressure surrounding securing prestigious summer internships. This can be both a good thing and a bad thing depending on how you look at it. 

Coming from a background where I wouldn’t have otherwise even known about these types of opportunities, I found this environment to be a catalyst for personal and professional growth. It inspired me to refine my resume, interview skills, and work ethic, which has served me well in the competitive job market after graduation. 

While some students may feel pressure as a result of the culture on campus surrounding internships, I think that it ultimately empowers students to reach their fullest career potential. I will also add that I don’t think the culture surrounding internships is anywhere near unhealthy as it may be at some other prestigious universities. 

People Are Far More Impressive Than They Usually Let On

Something I love about Princeton University is how multifaceted each and every student is, and most students are incredibly humble in light of who they are and what they have accomplished. My favorite example of this was when one of my good friends asked me to proof-read a cover letter for her and I found out that she had been writing for and published in large news publications both in Israel and London before ever even entering college! 

Other students I have met have founded  and sold their own successful companies at an impressively young age, have written published books,  or have competed at the highest level of sport (including the olympics). This makes Princeton  an incredibly rich environment for discussion and learning among peers. I still believe that I learned as much from my classmates as I did from my actual classes - maybe even more. 

Eating Clubs - A Source of Drama and Deep Friendships 

For one week every spring, you can feel the excitement and nerves in the air as hundreds of Princeton sophomores take part in the eating club bicker process. What is eating club bicker? Bicker has been compared to the “rush” process at sororities and fraternities, though it is much more lowkey in my experience. Students spend a couple of days talking with current members and engaging in activities at the eating clubs they choose to bicker at, while current eating club members provide feedback to the rest of the club on their conversations with these prospective members. 

Students can only choose 2 eating clubs to bicker, out of the 6 eating clubs that engage in the bicker process for new membership. The process for bicker decisions varies at each eating club - at Ivy Club there is a committee of selected members who decide who to accept as new members, meanwhile at Tiger Inn all current members engage in a voting process for each candidate. 

The bicker process, and eating clubs themselves, have faced backlash and criticism at various times over the last hundred years because not everyone who decides to participate in bicker will be offered membership at an eating club. However, there are certainly options if you find yourself “hosed” (the term for not being offered membership to an eating club during the bicker process). There are …. Eating cubs that are “sign-in” and offer anyone who wants to join a space of community. 

All things considered, the Eating Clubs serve as the center of social life for upperclassmen at Princeton and provide a source of regular interaction with a smaller community of students that creates life-long friendships. 

Subtleties in Campus Culture & Social Cliques 

I will start by saying that contrary to popular belief, Princeton is actually an unusually welcoming place! Unlike the mental images of elitist students that the name “Princeton university” may have conjured up in the past, the modern Princeton is a very warm, and inclusive place. In fact, when my friends from other schools visited me, they all remarked on how other Princeton students were quick to provide directions or try to include them in group conversations during their visits. Nonetheless, as with anywhere, there are certain subtleties in culture and social norms that are specific to Princeotn and that you will catch on to over time. 

For example, there tends to be a particular stereotype surrounding the students from New York City - many of these students attended the most prestigious prep schools and are already well-acquainted with one another and the traditions of Princeton (either from family members who are alumni or their general social circles) before even arriving for the first day of freshman year. I will say that while this stereotype does not encompass all NYC students, it certainly holds true for a good number of them. 

There are also stereotypes about being a member at certain Eating Clubs, some of which hold true, some of which are more fiction than fact. For example, there tends to be certain mythos surrounding Ivy Club, Prnceotn’s oldest eating club. Many students perceive this eating club as the most prestigious and take the view that all students in this eating club come from “old money” or Princeotn legacy status. While the eating club is definitely selective, they actually accept a variety of people from all backgrounds, though, yes, there are a decent number of students who fit the typical Ivy Club stereotype. 

Similarly, the stereotype for Tiger Inn (known as “TI”) members is that they like to party hard and let loose more than members of other eating clubs. Due to this stereotype, Tiger Inn does in fact tend to attract people who love to party and have a good time, but there are also a decent number of Tiger Inn members who spend their saturday nights reading a good book or working on a research project instead.

High Ideological Diversity 

Princeton students hail from all over the world and bring with them a variety of cultures, beliefs, and skill sets. This is a large factor in what makes Princeton such an interesting place to study and live - you are constantly surrounded by people with completely different backgrounds from yourself.

When it comes to politics, unlike many other Ivy League schools, which tend to lean far left politically, Princeton has earned itself a reputation as a more balanced place of discussion with a large portion of students with both conservative and liberal political ideologies. I found that this diversity of opinions lead to a thoughtful campus culture overall and a deeper level of discussion on all political topics. 

The people I met at Princeton also expanded my worldview in other ways - bringing my attention to world issues I might not have previously thought much about, sharing with me little anecdotes of the places they grew up, and sharing with me career opportunities I did not previously know about. 

As you prepare your college application—whether through CommonApp or another platform—consider what makes each Ivy League university unique. Whether you're looking into Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Dartmouth, Cornell or any of the other Ivy League schools, remember that each institution offers distinct experiences and opportunities. Engaging with a college advisor can help you navigate these choices effectively. Ultimately, whether you’re applying early action or considering restrictive early action options at Ivy League schools like UPenn or Columbia, understanding these nuances can help you make informed decisions about your future education path.

Discover the difference of The Ivy Institute—where if you can dream it, we can build it! At The Ivy Institute, we don’t just help students get accepted — we have the resources to develop students into the candidates top colleges seek. Join us for a 30-minute information session with an Ivy League expert and see how we can make your college dreams a reality. Schedule your consultation today!