During my first college counseling session, one of the things repeatedly hammered into my brain was, "Don't have a dream school." At the time, dreams were my thing — I had a dream job, a dream house, a dream life, and, of course, a dream school. I could envision my future perfectly — at 17 years old — go to Princeton, become a renowned writer, move to New York City, blah blah blah. I based entire life decisions on dreams I built as a child, so upon hearing that I had to throw away the whole concept of having a dream school, I was obviously a bit stubborn. But as chaos swirled around me my senior year, the dizziness of rejections, acceptances, and deferrals permeated my life, and I learned the bitter truth that having a "dream school" could indeed hurt my feelings. Hence, I worked to unlearn my dream. I repeated the mantra that "the school doesn't matter," "the education is the most important thing," and that "I'd be fine wherever I ended up." Despite these mantras being immensely true, there's pure beauty in having a dream that often can be lost to embracing practicality.

When someone asks why I chose Princeton as my dream school, I tell them one of three stories. 1) I watched Hillary Duff's A Cinderella Story as a child. In the story, the main character is obsessed with going to Princeton. As a child, her late father told her that was where the princesses went to meet their prince. Watching this as a child, I took it literally. Going to Princeton meant going to the "princess school." So, that's where I belonged. 2) Later in life, my dream became more practical; I discovered that I wanted to be a writer. Princeton was the home of renowned writers. Jhumpa Lahiri, Tracy K. Smith, A.M. Holmes, Yiyun Li, Patricia Smith, and more. It was the best place to learn to be a writer. So, that's where I belonged. 3) During stressful times in high school, I'd envision my future. I'd watch college dorm tours on YouTube. I'd read admission site blogs. I stumbled across Tiger Tales — Princeton's admissions blog — at 14 and immersed myself in the world of Princeton. Through the tales of Princeton's student bloggers, Princeton began to feel a home away from home. I could see myself walking in the footsteps of these bloggers: taking Princeton classes and living in the Princeton dorms. So, Princeton felt like it was where I belonged.

By December of my senior year, I had become almost completely indifferent to the college application process. I devoted all my energy to my classes and extracurriculars. I attempted to ignore any emails I received from the few colleges I had applied to at the time. I dismissed most of my teacher's and counselors' advice regarding my application materials. I took the advice of not having a dream school a bit too literally; I chased the entire concept of college out of my mind. But on the evening of December 14, a chill went down my spine. I received an email from the Princeton admissions office that early action decisions would come out the following day. And just like that, the dream I had steadfastly held onto for so many years began to re-glimmer in my mind. I went into the next day anxious and excited at the prospect of either losing or achieving my dream. My mind toggled between worst-case scenarios and visions of what my future as a Tiger could look like. When the decision came around at 7 pm, clicking that "View decision" button felt like a portal to the rest of my life, and I finally understood what my counselor had meant all those months ago about not having a dream school.

Dreams are good. It's good to be ambitious. It's good to strive towards something. But you should never feel like your dreams are bigger than you; that the elusion of a dream means the end of your life. The beauty of having a dream — a dream school, a dream job, a dream city — is that there is something in that thing or place that you feel connected to, that draws you in, that feels like it's yours. Embrace that. But remember that dreams can change and that there are dreams you could achieve someday that you never would've thought of today.

I love being a Tiger. I've met some of my very best friends. I've taken some of the most engaging classes. I've gotten to see parts of the world I'd never even thought about. My vision of what my life will look like has changed immensely. I still want to make it art. I still want to be my own version of successful. But the thing I love the most about being a Tiger is how much it encourages growth. I'm not the same person I was when I selected Princeton as my dream school. I learn a new thing about myself every day. And with each new day, I'm finding new dreams to pursue. 

During my time at Princeton, I’ve talked to a number of prospective students, and through those conversations, I’ve picked up on the biggest questions people have about Princeton, some based on misconceptions, some on rumors, and some… on truth?

I know April can feel overwhelming, high school seniors across the nation are deciding on the next four years of their lives and at Princeton, seniors are wrapping up their own four years with a looming thesis deadline. We’ve all got big things ahead. But I wished I had someone to demystify Princeton for me when I was a 17-year-old just trying to figure out – what even is a thesis?

Is it bad to say I didn’t know I had to write a thesis before coming to Princeton? Kind of ironic, considering it’s one of the things we’re known for – “Hi everyone, here’s my 100-page book!” If you already know about the thesis, you’re one step ahead of 17-year-old me. Aside from that very minor (okay, major) oversight, I was mostly just excited about staying in-state. Seventeen-year-old me loved the East Coast and couldn’t imagine ever leaving. Which brings us to…

FAQ #1: What’s the weather like in New Jersey?

As someone who has lived in NJ her whole life, I can confidently say – even I haven’t gotten used to NJ weather. It’s wildly unpredictable and could probably give you whiplash with how often it changes. But there’s a beauty in that. Some of my best memories have been late-night talks in the freezing cold on Poe Field or warm walks down Nassau Street in the spring. Our campus is beautiful in all seasons, just make sure to pack for all of them.

Now, you might be wondering—Wait, you had time for walks and late-night chats? I thought Princeton students didn’t have a social life! One of the biggest misconceptions about Princeton is that we’re all buried in books in the lower levels of Firestone Library. And yes, we do study. But that’s why balance is key.

FAQ #2: How do you balance academically rigorous work, a social life, and… everything else?

I love this question because my answer has changed throughout my time here.

As a first-year, I refused to give in to the Google Calendar obsession that seems to have every Princeton student in a chokehold. I thought I could handle everything without meticulously planning my week. That illusion lasted until sophomore year, when I realized I was losing track of assignments, work, and time with friends. I finally gave in to Google Calendar, and I’ve never looked back – GCal will be your best friend here.

But beyond scheduling, the real key is making time for what’s important to you. In what feels like a high-pressure environment, things like self-care can feel optional but they’re actually your foundation. As a senior, I can look back and see how much I’ve grown. Yes, I love organizing my week, but I also need those spontaneous moments of talking with friends late into the night or taking a random weekend trip to NYC. Balance looks different for everyone, but the most important thing is to hold onto the things that make you feel whole.

And now, the biggest question—the one that’s probably been on your mind ever since you saw the tiger pop up on your acceptance screen:

FAQ #3: Why Princeton?

Honestly? This question still stumps me. A million reasons come to mind, but none of them might resonate with you.

What I can say is that Princeton has given me everything I ever wanted from a college experience. These past four years have been the best of my life. I’ve studied abroad, worked with professionals in my field, designed and led independent research, and passed on what I’ve learned to the next class of students. I’ve made a core group of lifelong friends and met so many amazing people. I truly believe that knowledge is one of the best things we can share and getting to sit in a classroom, learning from people with completely different perspectives, has been one of the most eye-opening parts of my time here. My professors have been nothing but supportive—challenging me, uplifting me, and pushing me to grow.

I’m grateful that I’m not the same person I was when I first stepped onto this campus. But at my core, I’m still me – someone eager to learn, grow, and share knowledge with others.

At the end of the day, Princeton is what you make of it. The freedom to explore, to grow, to challenge yourself – that’s what makes this place special.

Princeton chose you. Now, it’s your turn to decide if you’ll choose Princeton, choose what excites you! 

When most people think of Princeton, they immediately think about academics and its Ivy League status. While this a common perception, a multitude of other characteristics should be synonymous with the University. I have outlined several of these in my other blogs, yet I have not talked about one of the most important topics - physical health. Between studying, focusing on professional goals, going to club meetings, and studying some more, many often overlook their physical health. While there is always work to be done at Princeton, it is important to make time for yourself. 

One of my favorite ways to remain active, which is the obvious go-to, is by going to the Class of 1986 Fitness and Wellness Center/Dillon Gym. This past fall, the newly-renovated and constructed facility was opened for students. While there is still work being done for the larger vision of the project (outdoor basketball court/ etc.), the gym itself is finished. And let me be the first to tell you - it is state of the art. Given the building constraints, available space, and student population, the University did an amazing job. I rarely have to wait long to use a machine, usually only if it's something there is only one of. I don’t use the treadmills, but some are almost always available. While my schedule fluctuates, I try to go at least three times a week to lift weights. 

Since I don’t like running on the treadmill, this semester I decided to explore some other options and got involved with club flag football (I wish I started going to this sooner!). On this topic, Princeton has a lot of opportunities to join club sports and remain active in a team environment. Some club teams are competitive to join, but others are just for fun - there really is something for everyone. One of the more popular ones is run club, where students just run and socialize. All of these are great ways to remain active and are great things to get involved with as soon as you arrive on campus. 

One of the other related activities are the Intramural League (IM) sport tournaments hosted by Campus Rec (they oversee everything fitness related - gym, club sports, IM, etc.). Basically, you and your friends can sign up to compete in a league for the sport of your choice, and at the end (usually over a few weeks) the winning group usually gets a champions shirt - mostly for bragging rights. My friends and I compete in the IM flag football league and have named ourselves the Milk Men. Lets just say a proper diet is just as important as the fitness aspect of health. 

Before I end this blog, I want to talk about some other cool things that are offered at either Dillon Gym through Campus Rec or the residential colleges. For one, Dillon Gym has a huge indoor pool and once a year Campus Rec hosts a cardboard canoe race. There is also a huge campus dodgeball tournament hosted in the spring. There are also a lot of fitness classes that are hosted by Campus Rec, including some meditation/yoga based ones. Several of my friends are also SPIN (stationary cycling) instructors, which is a really popular activity on campus. As far as things offered by the residential colleges, it really depends but I know some have kayaking/canoeing opportunities on Lake Carnegie. Overall, there are a lot of great ways to remain physically active on campus! 

“I just got into Princeton,” a sentence I repeatedly uttered aloud in pure astonishment and bewilderment the night decisions were released — and those feelings still have not worn off! Opening my Princeton-acceptance letter will always be one of my most cherished memories, but I cannot gloss over the many uncertainties and ambivalent emotions that led up to and followed that letter. 

All throughout the second half of my senior year — and even while I put together my application — I had kind of convinced myself that there was no way I would get into a school like Princeton, often thinking, “Tens of thousands of amazing people apply every year. The acceptance rates are very low. Once in a blue moon does anyone from my high school go to an Ivy League school.” In spite of my doubts, though, there was always a slimmer of hope. I prayed about my college decisions, and I knew that wherever I ended up would be where the Lord called me to be, ultimately resting assured that I had done my best and He would do the rest. I applied to a few top schools just to see what would happen, and I had confidence that everything was going to work out according to His perfect plan. 

Well, after decision day and internalizing the fact that this whole Princeton thing was actually happening, my family and I signed up to attend Princeton Preview, which is a full day dedicated to introducing admitted students and their families to the beauty of Princeton. I remember the first time I set foot on Princeton’s campus was the evening before Preview. As my family and I walked through FitzRandolph Gate — NOT through the one big gate in the dead center! — and took in ol’ Nassau Hall, I looked to my parents and aunt, who spontaneously tagged along with us because she was off from work for a few days, and said, “I cannot believe I got into this school….” 

Overall, Preview was fun and really helped me envision what my life at Princeton would look like, but there was still one important question that needed answering before I could seal the deal on Princeton: How much is this school going to cost? About a week after Preview, my family and I received my financial-aid package from Princeton. Well, let me just say that when we saw the amount, we were so grateful that we could have probably done backflips off of each other. Words cannot express how generous Princeton is — do not let finances keep you from applying! In the following days, I officially committed to Princeton. 

Amid all the excitement surrounding my acceptance and enrollment into Princeton, though, there was just as much fear and nervousness. I was fearful of the unknown and nervous about what was to come and how people might engage with me, especially as a small-town Southerner going to an Ivy League school more than 10 hours from home and all the worries that entails. During this time, my faith definitely played a crucial role in dealing with all the thoughts, emotions, and decisions with which I was wrestling. The Lord never leaves us and is always there for us throughout the good, the bad, and all that is in-between. As Carrie Underwood would say, I just had to let Jesus take the wheel, realizing that He has a plan and a purpose for me attending Princeton. Although I was undoubtedly scared and completely clueless of what to expect, I knew I could find security in His everlasting peace and presence.

This blog is kind of a general summary of my “Princeton process” —  I will probably go more in depth on individual parts in future blogs — but I tell it to you in hopes that you may be able to relate to some of my experiences and can find some clarity despite all the chaos you may currently be facing. I said this in a previous blog and will say it again because it is so important to remember: everything is going to be okay. Your college decisions may or may not have turned out as you liked, but I hope you can find some solace in the fact that God has a plan and a purpose for your life — you just have to choose to give Him control and to trust Him. I know it is not easy, and disappointment definitely stings. Nonetheless, never forget that you are loved and will be able to overcome any obstacle that comes your way.

You may not share the same beliefs as me, but I would like to leave you with a Bible verse that has always brought and continues to bring me comfort and reassurance:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

• Jeremiah 29:11

   

Wishing you nothing but the best with your college decisions!

One of my favorite pastimes is going for a walk around campus. Regardless of whatever is going on, I have found that a stroll through campus is always nice, never failing to present me with an opportunity to notice features I never had before and to take some time to reflect. 

As I go on each walk, I get to appreciate all of my surroundings. Outside Henry Hall, which sits along Blair Walk, there is a stone engraving of George Washington crossing the Delaware — it may seem kind of random but is very cool and intricate! I discovered this engraving pretty early on in the school year, so anytime I made my Blair Walk trek to my Writing Seminar in New South last semester, I tried to remember to give Washington a shout-out :). You may have also noticed there are two tigers forming the frame of Washington’s Crossing, so I cannot forget to mention all the engraved tigers across campus. Certain entrance doors to McCosh Hall and 1879 Hall have engravings of tigers that are engaging in a variety of activities, from roaring and prowling around to sleeping, and there are 100+-year-old tigers that welcome those who walk under the archway of Campbell Hall. However, tigers continue to dominate their architectural presence apart from engravings, as there is also a tiger weathervane at the top of each corner of Holder Tower. These are only a few of many small details I have observed from my walks, but I will leave it to you to find other little hidden gems! 

The buildings of Princeton have not just challenged my observational skills but also enabled me to appreciate the different seasons I have had here so far. When my family and I first set foot on campus — around the time of Preview — one of the first parts we saw was the area of New South, which neighbors Whitman College and is, as mentioned earlier, where my Writing Seminar was. If you have not been near New South before, there is a circle of animal-head sculptures right outside of the building. This art piece is really impressive and fascinating, but it definitely caught me off guard when I first saw it. I remember thinking to myself, “Where am I? Why are there just random statues of animal heads on a college campus?” So, when I walk by this art piece now, I cannot help but think back to this funny yet skeptical first impression of Princeton’s campus I had. Additionally, as I pass by the buildings I had my fall-semester classes in, I often reflect on the emotions I felt at the time and some of the lessons each class taught me: somewhat anxiously walking into New South for Writing-Seminar conferences, learning Spanish vocabulary in a classroom of McCosh Hall, getting to know other freshmen and more about literature in my freshman seminar in Blair Arch, to name a few. I laugh at how frequently I find myself falling into nostalgic episodes as I go on my walks — I am only a freshman, so there is really no tellin’ how much nostalgia I will be feelin’ when I am a senior!

With final college decisions being released, I am sure many of you are going to be walking around different college campuses, trying to see which one feels most like home. Whether you are here for Preview or not, I know that the campus of whatever school you go to is going to be even more beautiful because you are a part of it. The buildings and surroundings we walk by on a college campus may strike our attention and leave impressions on us, but what truly makes a campus great is its people. So, as you tour different schools, try to appreciate their architectural surroundings, but also remember that the people are what make the places special — and that you will end up where you are meant to be!

Princeton’s campus looks fundamentally different at Princeton Preview than when you return on the Dinky for sophomore year. Novel were the shapes of sidewalks, grandiosity of buildings, and historically rooted landmark names; the complex and at times confusing dining hall swipe rules, eating clubs, and workings of Frist’s mail system; the short semesters, intimate precepts, and independent nature of academic inquiry.

One year in, Princeton is still beautiful but it is also just home. I order coffee from the same shop each morning, grab the same sushi at Late Meal in the afternoon, and return to the same residential college at night. What do you mean, like Nick Carraway said in The Great Gatsby, we just beat on boats against the current? Perhaps it was unrealistic to expect a daily transcendental revelation. Perhaps it’s my fault for thinking all I needed was to be splattered with orange paint. But I like new, shiny, unfamiliar things. Where to look? One might call this the sophomore slump.

Sophomore slump (noun): A sophomore’s dwindling motivation as college loses its perceived grandiosity and palpable novelty.

The starry-eyed condition of my freshman year was an incongruent prediction for how my four years would feel. College burnout is real! My romanticized view of college as an endless cycle of new friends, new ideas, new heights of achievement proves to be an illusion as my first sophomore semester soars by. Intermittently, I think NOOOOO where did my weeks and months go!?!?! What did I even accomplish in September and October?!?! Am I failing to be a true Princetonian?!?! Sometimes I feel that I am a nondescript creature floating in the primordial ooze, accountable to no one and spiraling to academic paths eroding in employability by the second. Certainly taking a class to read War and Peace and keeping a journal pretending to be a character on the home front will fix this all.

What happened to the infinite four years I so desperately anticipated? You look around each campus destination and alright, this is what it is. All you’ve got. All you are. Like a limerence-fueled relationship losing its spark. Lamentably, you realize the problem might be you. Damn.

While I’ve painted a picture that is more blue than orange, despair not, some relationships just require a bit of soul-searching. Whether you switch majors after getting bored like me, reboot old artistic hobbies, or discover an unfamiliar direction to pursue, the sophomore slump is the universe’s (or this primordial ooze in which you float) invitation to breathe new life into your relationship with your beloved prince. Maybe your Big Bang is just ahead, don’t relent! The slump lets you rest until you uncover the effervescence of your youth anew.

My dorm is exactly 102 years old. First occupied in 1923, Henry Hall has been standing on campus since just after WWI. I can’t lie. I’ve always wanted to live in the old dorms. Contrary to popular opinion, I prefer the old rooms with wood floors, paned windows, no AC and the cast iron radiators that make noise at night. It’s quaint, but it’s filled with history. 

My dorm is nothing short of the quintessential old college dorm one would imagine. This image is Henry Hall from the 1920's. The outside of my dorm hasn't changed much. When you enter my dorm, it's small with a slanted ceiling, giving the space a cozy attic feel. The slanted roof opens up to three beautifully panned windows that face Henry courtyard. My favorite part of the day is in the early morning when the sun shines through these windows, leaving a beautiful pattern on my walls. I remember in the beginning of the year, I would often sit in bed while drinking my coffee - just looking through my windows as I slowly woke up. I’d look out to see the giant tree which fills Henry Courtyard. I’ve lived here long enough to notice a neighbor; a squirrel who always sits on a branch near my window, eating acorns.

In the evenings, my room is just as beautiful - glowing with warm light from various lamps. I’m usually sitting at my desk, nestled into the corner with the slanted roof, where I study. At night, the rooms across the courtyard light up, and if looking close enough, I can see movement in the rooms across from me. 

While I love my room because of its old charm, I also love it because of its history. It's safe to assume that around 100 Princeton students have lived in this exact room - which is pretty crazy to think about. There’s also a mysterious engraving on my window. Carved into the glass is the name “Mayersky”. Lots of Princeton’s older dorms have engraving in window sills or fireplaces, and so I was excited to find this hidden gem. After a quick search on Tigerbook and Tigernet (Princeton’s undergraduate and alumni directory), I found no matching results. . . leading me to believe a student from abroad or from one of Princeton’s summer camps made this engraving. I have no idea how old the carving is, but I will likely follow suit in some small way when I eventually leave this room. 

I absolutely adore my dorm. While it will be painful to move out, I’m grateful to still have my senior year to live in these beautifully-old dorms. And leaving Princeton, I know without a doubt these 100 year old rooms will be remembered for many more than over 100 years.

Last semester, in the depths of the grey and dark December nights, I was seasonally depressed. Even when I first returned to campus, the winds still had a frosty bite, the days were still short. Fortunately, the fates were on my side when I clicked the class registration button and I finally made it into the creative writing poetry class, and it has been my favorite class since.

Contrary to a lot of Princeton classes, the creative writing department has almost all pass/fail classes, taking the pressure off stressful performances or assignments. After my brief encounter during my freshman writing seminar, New South (home to the Creative Writing department) became a safe space to write straight from the heart, express all my emotions, and learn from my peers and professors’ suggestions through poetry readings and workshops each week.

For me, the highs are really high, and the lows are really low in the Orange Bubble. I used to feel trapped when I hit those plateaued days with no place to escape, but now I just pick up the pen and write. When I am stuck in office hours with an unsolvable bug in my computer science Java program, drenched in the freezing rain after a dreary midterm, covered in smoke after an unsuccessful pad thai cooking session, or just generally sad when the sun crept into the night before classes even ended, I just let the feelings wash over me and wield them into prose, bit by bit. Somehow, the freewriting, proofreading, changing out specific vocabulary only added to my catharsis each time I create a new poem.

I used to have a lot of trouble putting my thoughts onto the page, judging them to be never original or poetic enough. However, being assigned to write each week in a completely freestyle manner, guided only by a general prompt, has allowed me to trust and push myself into opening up. I've also healed my grievances as I see others in the class relating to them. After class, I stay perched in the sixth floor classroom, entranced with the peaceful quiet of the room as the sky gradually dims.

Now, I can’t believe I went through Princeton without ever writing poetry, which marrows all the angsts in my mind and evaporates them as soon as I let them out. Even now, when I am writing this blog, I hope this will be an inspiration for you to find your own outlet: going to the gym, listening to music, or writing a poem, like me. I would like to share one of my poems with you, which summarizes how I feel about my poetry class overall.

Never have I ever             

                           
“Never have I ever
Looked at art in the museum and
Understood what it truly meant.”

Never have I ever
Wished I could be 
Someone else’s             muse

Never have I ever
Gotten used to being perceived
Beyond the confines of my own frame

Never have I ever 
Been certain that I belonged
In a room crammed with gazes, voices

Never have I ever
Not wondered if they 
Meant to hold or hurt             or both

Never have I ever
Been able to tune out
The deep, dark nagging

Never have I ever
    Had the confidence to believe
        I was created for an original purpose

Never have I 
Ever been brave enough
To lay my vulnerabilities on canvas

One down.