Toward the end of my first semester at Princeton, I came to the harrowing conclusion that I could no longer study (productively) in my dorm room. 

It was the beginning of the winter reading period — a week-long interval at the end of the semester devoted wholly to producing final essays and projects and, of course, studying. I had an eight-page Modern Fiction paper to crank out. But, sitting at my messy desk, with the temptation of my warm bed calling to me from two feet away, I found that I could not type a word of this essay. So, like a good student, I stashed away my study materials into my backpack, donned my massive winter coat, and prepared myself to brave the impossibly terrifying world outside of my dorm: campus during finals season.

Let me explain: campus is not actually impossibly terrifying during finals season. It’s actually very fun and welcoming. It’s just impossibly crowded. Every formerly tranquil space becomes the opposite — dotted with students who’ve emerged from their campus crevices, with their friendly study buddies and loud conversations. Because of this reality, during reading period, despite its name, I found it almost impossible to read, or focus, or write a paper in any public space on campus. But, as my dorm proved not to be any more of a productive setting, I was forced to go on a quest. A quest in search of a place of quiet — without distractions — and full of sunlight (because I cannot study without some encouraging light). My first stop was Chancellor Green. 

Image

In my opinion, Chancellor Green is one of the most gorgeous libraries on campus. It shares space with the building of East Pyne — home to many of Princeton’s language and humanities departments — and has more windows than I’ll ever have time to count. I love this library because of its light. Sunshine fills every corner of it. I also love it because of its private study cubicles. The Chancellor Green library has an upper level full of single study desks. After I failed to start my daunting essay in my dorm, I was sure that the omnipresent sunshine and solitude of Chancellor Green would be the perfect ingredients for my much-needed productivity. And I was right. Sitting by a large French window, surrounded by age-old books and alone, I cranked out 2/8 pages of my paper. But, as I tried to brave the third page, I was stuck. It seemed Chancellor Green’s well of reading period productivity had run dry for the day, so I, again, braved the outside world to seek out more.

Image

My journey and midday hunger brought me to Frist Campus Center — home to the Frist Food Gallery (a cafeteria-esque basement level filled with snacks, a grill, a taco bar, a pasta/salad bar, an Asian food bar, and more). After securing a cheeseburger and fries for encouragement, I settled into Frist’s third-floor McGraw Center library. There, fed and encouraged by some more sunlight, I knocked out two more pages of my paper. I was feeling great about my progress and my discovery of some campus tranquility. But then came the lunch rush. More hungry students, with friendly study buddies and loud conversations, filled my study spot. It was time to disembark, again.

Image

My next stop was New South — a building home to Princeton’s Creative Writing Department, Princeton’s Writing Center, and many empty classrooms, just waiting to be taken advantage of. Unfortunately, upon my arrival, I discovered that other desperate students had nabbed all these classrooms. But, on the Creative Writing floor, I found an empty table with some gorgeous and encouraging overhead light to knock out the next page of my paper. At this point, I was halfway through and still feeling the momentum. As a reward for finishing another page, another student abandoned their rare gem of an empty classroom, and I promptly seized it. Here, with the gift of a blank whiteboard and a room entirely to myself, I was able to brainstorm the final pages of my paper, pacing back and forth, throwing out ideas aloud, and jotting down notes on the board. It was here that I completed the final three pages of my paper.

Image

With this completion under my belt, I felt brave enough to brave the monster of all study spots on campus — Firestone Library. I needed one last place to do the final edits on my paper. And I also needed a change of scenery. Firestone Library is the monster of all study-spots during reading period. The library has six levels — all stocked with large clusters of cubicles and a plethora of reading rooms where silence is mandatory. It is the motherlode of tranquil study spaces on campus. But, for a first-year still acclimating to the study culture, finding the right spot can be a little daunting. On this day, however, I was ready.

Image

I sent the elevator to every floor, quietly and discreetly inspecting each reading room to see which one had the most encouraging sunlight and the least daunting amount of people. I landed on the C-floor Reading Room. Nestled behind the library’s Specials Collection section, the C-floor reading room has a ceiling of windows, so sunlight reaches every corner. It also seems the quietest of all the reading rooms — even during the reading period, many people seem to ignore it or forget that it exists. For me, it was the perfect place to conclude my beast of an essay. There, I completed the majority of edits for my paper, even added an aesthetically pleasing cover page, and called it a day. Throughout my spring semester, I often returned to the study spots I found on this day-long journey for tranquility, sunlight, and productivity. I’ve found that, usually, when I’m too deep into an assignment and unsure of what to write/do next, I just need to move. Having several go-to study spots on campus allows me to circulate, and not stay in one place mentally or physically.

Image

I’m grateful for the opportunity to study on a campus with such a plethora of tranquil, sunlit spaces to focus, and I look forward to the study-spot discoveries that my next three years at Princeton will bring.

Dear Reader,

Last week, residential college assignments dropped for the Class of 2028 and this prompted me to reflect on my experience living in the Mathey College community last year.

The Clash of the Colleges during orientation week is one of my first and fondest memories at Princeton. Everyone in the college dressed up in Mathey shirts and antler headsets (because our mascot is a Moose!) to compete against the six other colleges: Rockefeller, Whitman, Butler, Yeh, Forbes, and New College West. Marching to the stadium together, we supported our teams as they competed in different team games. The live broadcast showed our Mathey side—a large mass of maroon-colored shirts and deafening cheers—against the field.

Image

Great as Clash of the College was, the first week of school was tough. While the college is historic, with gothic architecture, it lacks air conditioning in the rooms, unlike Butler, Whitman, Yeh, and New College West. Fortunately, Princeton gave out window fans for students like me, so I was soon equipped with a much cooler room. Mathey’s central campus location also became my favorite part: Blair Arch, Nassau Street, East Pyne Hall, Firestone Library, and Richardson Auditorium—all of which are arguably the most picturesque spots on campus—are right next door. (And as an AB student, classes are a short walk away.)

Image

Throughout the semester, I grew only fonder of the Mathey community, particularly through Moose Monday, which is a weekly series of social time with free food, from acai bowls, to waffles, to chocolate fountains for Valentine’s Day! As a proud member of the Mathey College General Council, it makes my day to see others enjoying the delicious food and taking time to relax with their friends after a long day of class. Most of the Moose Mondays are open to everyone in the community, regardless of their residential college, so anyone can join!

Image

Speaking of food, Mathey houses a grand dining hall that most resembles the one in Harry Potter. Lit with golden chandeliers and long wooden tables, the atmosphere is a welcoming one, either for hanging out with friends at dinner or enjoying a peaceful morning breakfast.

Image

Finally, I must not forget to mention (from a totally unbiased perspective) that Mathey has the BEST residential college merch. Jackets, water bottles, beanies, bucket hats, and crewnecks, there is gear for all seasons and weather, all in fashionable maroon. As incoming Gear Chair for the Mathey College Council this fall, I am excited to create more merch for my fellow Matheyites and I am grateful to be part of this community. 
 

Image

As an international student from Sydney, Australia, Princeton is a long way from home. Before coming to Princeton, I was nervous about whether or not I would be able to make friends and adjust to the American way of life. However, within my first few days of arriving on campus, my fears disappeared as I participated in an event that all first year international students are invited to: International Orientation (IO). 

IO was a three-day event where we were grouped together with student leaders and participated in social events, talks, and dinners. My favorite memories from IO include watching the student leaders perform USA 101 (a skit about adjusting to living to the US), buying cute succulents for my dorm during a trip to Target, and the final closing ceremony where every student stood up and was applauded when their country of origin was named. IO was where I met the people who I’d consider my best friends at Princeton, and where I learned that there was a community on campus for me. 

After IO, I participated in other orientation events like Community Action (CA). I was excited about meeting new people during CA, but I was also comforted knowing that there were familiar faces in my CA group or residential college that I got to know from IO. Throughout my first year, I always felt a sense of belonging and community when waving to another international student or catching up with someone that I first met during IO. 

At the end of freshman year, I decided to apply to become a Davis International Center leader, and was able to welcome international students from the class of 2027 during this past year’s IO. Being on the reverse side of IO made me appreciate it even more. Being able to make friends with fellow leaders, talk to and welcome new international students (especially those from Australia!), and to plan IO events made me even more appreciative of this group of people. When we host events throughout the semester, such as IO reunion and international karaoke, the amount of people who show up proves to me that the international community is valued and appreciated at Princeton.

As a rising junior, I am still sometimes get hit with a sense of longing for home. But, knowing the friends that I made during IO will be navigating this four-year experience with me, or that I will always be able to reach out to the international community on campus, makes me feel that I’ve found my home away from home. 

My first week at Princeton was humid and hot. On Convocation day, 1400 of us sat under the shade of lush, green trees in front of Nassau Hall, buzzing with nerves and excitement along with the crickets chirping. An almost feverish energy hung in the air, as we erupted into applause after each speaker welcoming “the Great class of 2027.” I could not wait to begin this new chapter. With only Orientation events scheduled, I would stroll for hours around campus with my new friends, getting lost in the gothic architecture and enjoying the nice weather outside. Princeton felt so big then. as a brand new first-year. 

Image

After a few months, I gradually fell into a pattern for my first semester. New people, new classes, and new things to learn about every day transformed into a familiar routine. The changes in the season paralleled my sentiment: it started slowly, eventually increasing into a blur. As I walked along the pathway from East Pyne between classes, I suddenly noticed the green in the trees had faded into a brilliant gradient of the changing leaves, from tangerine orange to light hazel. The lawns were filled with readers lounging around, bathed in the warm sunlight as a slight breeze rustled the leaves. I was constantly reminding myself to slow down and look around at the beautiful scenery. 

Image

In the middle of December, darkness descended every day at 4 pm, draping the campus in a cold hush. Overwhelmed with exams and assignments, Firestone Library was littered with late-night goers and frantic typing of keyboards. One tiring night, I was trudging back from a study session when I noticed a flurry in the air. The next morning, the campus was covered with a fluffy snow blanket. Snowmen were scattered around campus, with one being taller than me! I could almost hear the Oppenheimer music playing when I walked under the East Pyne arch. Unfortunately, the snow day did not happen and classes went on as scheduled. Despite the cold, I felt strengthened by the beauty that continuously fell from the sky. Fortunately, I was surrounded by friends and even strangers who were all supportive of one another, serving as reminders that I was not alone even in moments of stress. 

Image

Last week, the persistent cold finally thawed, replaced by a gentle ray with 50-degree weather. Readers on the lawns returned, the sun lingered past 6 pm, and I took out my sundress. The new semester now felt more exhilarating than scary. I no longer felt as nervous when meeting new people. I walked into my new classes with a spring in my step. Familiar faces popped up and smiled around campus. I looked forward to the new possibilities that each week brought. I was metamorphizing, slowly but surely. I believe this cycle will never end during my time at Princeton. And like my anticipation of the changing seasons, I can’t wait. 

Image

Now that school is starting to wrap up for many high school students, I wanted to share some tips for enjoying your summer which are especially relevant to incoming first years, who we also refer to as pre-frosh.

If I had to summarize my first year at Princeton in one phrase, it would be, time flies! It can be hard to enjoy the stage of life you’re currently in, especially as you anticipate the next step in your life, but remember that you will never be exactly where you are right now again. Whether you are in the summer before Grade 12, the summer before a gap year or the summer before college, try to soak it all in for what it is. I remember feeling a mix of nervousness and anticipation about heading to Princeton in the fall and most of all, not knowing what to expect. If you have any questions, I encourage you to reach out to admissions bloggers (I am always an email away!), your summer engagement coordinator, who you will hear from in June, or any friends, alumni from your high school, or students from your hometown who attended Princeton. I know I had many questions about travel, logistics and packing, but I also found it exciting to wait and find out for myself what Princeton was like academically and socially.

Enjoy your time at home without the pressure of school. It may be a long time before most of your friends and potentially all your siblings are in the same place again, so hang out with your friends at your favorite places, take fun pictures to put on your dorm wall, and enjoy some quality time and your favorite home-cooked meals with your family. It’s hard to maintain regular contact with more than a few people once everyone goes separate ways, so I always enjoy spending time with friends from junior high and high school when I go home.

It can be very exciting to begin preparing for college by buying a lot of new things, but speaking from experience, you will accumulate a lot more than you would expect over the course of one year here! I arrived with two suitcases and a backpack, and I now have an additional six bags and eight boxes of varying sizes as well as some loose ends like a fan and drying rack in my possession (in my defense, a lot of it is bedding, textbooks and cooking utensils). It is stressful and time-consuming to pack and store all of your belongings for the summer, and you would be surprised how much you can buy from students and sales once you get here. Do your best to limit how many new things you buy and bring with you—your future self will thank you!

Consider writing a letter to your future self! This is something I wanted but forgot to do the summer before starting college and now it’s a little difficult to remember exactly how I was feeling (see #1). I wrote a letter to myself as part of the orientation activities at my United World College, a two-year international boarding school, and it was interesting to see how my experience differed from my expectations and realize how much I had learned and grown over the course of just one year. You could open the letter after your first year or at graduation by having someone hold onto it for you, putting it in a specific place and putting a reminder in your calendar to open it at a certain time, or having it emailed to you using a website like FutureMe.

Read for pleasure. The summer is a great time to get a lot of reading in, especially if there are books you have been wanting to read for a long time or if you just want to expand your horizons. I love reading, so it was something I missed once I began college and it was much harder to find the time. Thankfully, I read at least one book a month during my first year as a member of the Asian American Student Association’s book club. My favorite out of the books we read was Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner. Hannah Lee, one of my Community Action leaders and my PUMP mentor, recommended that I read Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee, and I read it in one day when I came back to Princeton at the end of winter break. I highly recommend reading it after spending some time in Princeton because you will recognize the buildings and some of the traditions mentioned!

On a similar note, do the things you love! Whether that is running, dancing, crocheting, cooking, playing an instrument, or something else entirely, it might be difficult to engage in your hobbies as frequently at college. That said, I have managed to do all of those activities and more through Princeton’s over 400 student groups, my co-op, 2D, and awesome Wintersession offerings.

I hope your school year ends on a good note, and congratulations to graduating high school students! We cannot wait to see you in the fall, and in the meantime, I hope you have a restful summer. I am always available at the email in my blogger bio to answer questions or if you have any blog topic requests.

Congratulations on your acceptance to Princeton University! As an international student, you’re about to embark on an incredible journey filled with new experiences and opportunities. Knowing how overwhelming and confusing the transition can be, here’s a detailed guide on the essential steps to take before you arrive on campus.

1. Connect with Future Peers on Social Media

Looking back, one of the best things I did to start my Princeton journey was connect with future classmates online. Social media platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp are great tools for this. While I didn’t join the Facebook group for incoming Princeton students, I did participate in discussions with my Summer Cohort group, and I also reached out to people I saw on the Princeton 2026 Instagram profile as well as current students. These connections provided me support, answered my questions, and overall helped me transition to college life.  

2. Arrange Your Visa Appointment

Securing your visa is a top priority. I applied and scheduled my visa appointment with the U.S. embassy (or consulate) as soon as I received my I-20 form from Princeton. Visa processing times can vary, so it’s important to act quickly. Ensure you have all the required documents, including proof of financial support and any other paperwork specified by the embassy or consulate.

Steps for a Successful Visa Application:

• Gather Documents: I checked a thousand times that I had my I-20, passport, financial documents, visa pictures, and any other required paperwork before going to the embassy.
• Schedule the Appointment: Book your appointment as early as possible to avoid delays. I checked every day and yet it took me 2 weeks until I got an appointment in which I would get my visa on time before leaving. Ideally, you would get the visa before buying flights, but that can be very expensive, so just be on the lookout for appointments daily. Even if it seems as if there are none, the website is updated every day. 
• Prepare for the Interview: Before going to the embassy, I also prepared myself to explain my study plans and how I was going to finance your education (just in case.)

For more information, the Davis International Center is a really good resource to understand the different types of visas and the application requirements. 

3. Register for International Orientation

International Orientation is a program (the best program) designed to help you acclimate to life at Princeton and in the U.S. This orientation introduced me to campus resources, provided important information about visa regulations, and helped me meet other international students. We did awesome activities and even went to Target to buy anything we needed! I also got paired with two IO leaders, who were older international Princeton students that were great resources. This was truly an invaluable resource for a smooth transition.

4. Complete Matriculation Documents

Princeton provided a list of matriculation documents that had to be completed before my arrival to the US. This included health forms, financial documents, housing applications, and other administrative paperwork. It was a bit much to handle, but completing these documents promptly was essential to ensure a smooth start.

5. Pack Smart: Essentials vs. Non-Essentials

Packing for a move across the globe was stressful, as I had to find the right balance between taking what I needed but not overpacking. It may be difficult at first, but I ended up getting used to it. After two years here, I have realized that overpacking can make both move-in and move-out a lot more difficult, so focus on essentials. The following is the prioritization that worked for me:

Essentials to bring:

• Personal Documents: Passport, visa, admission letter, I-20 form (for F-1 visa) or DS-2019 form (for J-1 visa), and any other important papers.
• Clothing: I made sure to pack for all seasons, as Princeton experiences a full range of weather. However, for certain stuff that takes up a lot of space, like a winter coat, I bought them in American outlets for reasonable prices. 
• Electronics: It was essential for me to bring my laptop, phone, chargers, and any necessary adapters or converters for U.S. outlets. I wish I had brought a portable power bank for convenience.
• Personal Care Items: I only brought basic toiletries for the first few days and then bought the rest in nearby stores.

Items to Buy in Princeton:

• Comforter, Pillows, and Bedsheets: After having gone through the struggle of packing all my stuff after the year is done here in Princeton, I have learned that these can take up a lot of space. I personally bought them locally to save space.
• Furniture and Room Decor: One of the things I enjoyed most about move-in was decorating and personalizing my dorm with pictures, lights, and posters. Other items that I have seen other students buy are lamps, rugs, and storage solutions. These are best bought locally.
• School Supplies: I bought cheap notebooks, pens, and other school essentials at Target, so don’t worry about them. Also, despite being very old school, after a few lectures I realized that it was easier and very convenient to take notes on my computer.

6. Figure out Mobile Phone and Bank

I personally came to the US with a bank already and had a good idea of what mobile company I wanted to use, as it was much easier and less stressful. However, International Orientation also had a "fair" with different companies that could provide services. But in all honesty, I was able to get through the first semester without an American number at all because Princeton had Wifi everywhere and I didn’t really go off campus very frequently. Some of the most popular phone companies and banks among internationals are Mint and Chase. 

7. Final Preparations: Get on a Flight and Enjoy

As the departure date approached, I made sure to confirm my flight details and check that I had all the documentation needed. I also made sure to know how to get from the airport to campus with public transport. The Davis IC has a really good guide as to how to arrive. This guide also contains useful information about different topics mentioned above (weather, banks, phone number…) that I found particularly useful. 

Final Thoughts

Preparing for Princeton as an international student involved careful planning and a sense of readiness to embrace new experiences. Connecting with peers, packing strategically, completing necessary documents, and participating in orientation and meetings, really prepared me for a successful and enjoyable start to your Princeton journey. Safe travels, and see you on campus!

One of the biggest questions I remember asking myself after I got into Princeton was: what is my room going to look like? I think it's a valid question especially since you may spend a lot of time in your room, and potentially with roommates. While first years are placed into their rooms by their Residential College’s Dean of Student Life (DSL), the rest of Princetonians have the option to select their roommates and room in a process called Room Draw. A small caveat worth mentioning is that rising sophomores must draw into their residential college again, and rising juniors and seniors have some more options. For some context, I am a member of Butler College and have been in a single, quad, and next year a quingle. 

Singles: As the name suggests, a single is a room where only one person occupies it. Each building’s singles differ in the size and layout but generally are similar. Some buildings have two singles that share a bathroom (called Jack & Jill), which is pretty cool. Singles are highly coveted by all class years. I was placed in a single freshman year in Bloomberg, so feel free to reach out and ask more questions! 

Doubles: Doubles are where two roommates share a single room, which is larger than a single. Depending on the building some doubles come with a common room and a bedroom, which a lot of students convert into two singles. 

Triples: Triples are similar to doubles but the room also varies by building. I believe most triples consist of a common room and two bedrooms. Think of a double and a single that have a common room in between them. Like doubles, most students convert the common room into a bedroom so all three roommates effectively get a single. 

Quads: Quads consist of two doubles with a common room in between them. A lot of quads also have a bathroom, which is really nice. I am in a quad this year in Butler’s 1967 Hall and it's a blast. I would recommend trying to get a quad your freshman year so that you can have some built in roommate friends! 

Quingles: Perhaps the most unique rooms at Princeton, a quingle is the child of a quad and a single (get it, quad + single = quingle). Quingles are four singles connected together via a private hallway, which usually also has a bathroom. Some quingles have a common room on top of that. These are the biggest rooms at Princeton and are also highly sought after. Next year my roommates and I will be in a quingle in Bloomberg, which I’m super excited about. 

Independent/ Co-op: Rising Sophomores and Juniors have the options to draw into independent rooms. This just means that they will not be on the dining hall meal plan. One of the most desired independent buildings is called Spelman. Spelman rooms are like a quingle but also have a kitchen so that students can cook their own meals. There are also some students who opt to room in a Co-op where students take turns cooking dinner. I'm not very knowledgeable about these rooms so that's all I can say on them. 

Other: Outside of these rooms, there are some unique rooms that have different layouts/ number of students living in the room. To my knowledge these deviations are primarily in Upperclassmen buildings, so it’s nothing to worry about for first years. 

Overall, Princeton has a lot of housing options and a lot of different buildings. No matter where you end up as a first year, your room will be amazing. Starting from scratch and designing your own room is a lot of fun. If you have any questions please reach out to me and I’ll answer your questions to the best of my ability. You can also look at the housing website linked here.

As the first semester of my final year at Princeton draws to a close, I find myself thinking more about what I would have done differently throughout my four years, and what I would tell myself in freshman year if I had the chance. Most of it is related to academics, such as getting distribution requirements out of the way as soon as possible, or that the best study spot on campus will be the Firestone B floor (though I have heard it is an acquired taste). However, my ‘words of wisdom’ would also expand beyond my academic pursuits, and I wanted to take the time and space to do that here.

1. Don’t pigeonhole yourself into one career path from the get-go. 

I told myself all throughout high school that I wanted to be a journalist or diplomat, determined that a career traveling all over the world reporting on the most pressing issues was the path for me. I didn’t really consider the other options I would have, convinced that the dreams I had when I was eighteen would hold when I was twenty-two. Though I do not want to discount the experiences of those who know exactly what they want to do with their lives, and thus pursue the classes and activities that allow them to do so, I think it's worth taking the time as an underclassman to explore what various career options you have, and who knows, you may find your new passion!

2. Not every extracurricular activity has to be academic.

This may be something that was more specific to me, but I felt guilty finding clubs that were purely ‘fun’ when the people around me were building career skills or attending national competitions that I did not attempt any till my sophomore spring. Admittedly, I ended up in an a cappella group I love and have become some of my closest friends, but one of my biggest regrets is that I didn’t audition earlier because I felt pressured to continue ‘working’ outside of my class hours. Take the leap. Have fun. You deserve it. 

3. Do not stress so much about your interpersonal relationships.  

One of the greatest things about college is the sheer number of people you meet and interact with on a daily basis. In classes with over a hundred students, in the different (or same) dining halls you eat at every day, and the people you live near every year, to name a few. Coming from a close-knit friend group in high school, I set the unrealistic expectation for myself that I would find a similar group of friends within my first few weeks at Princeton. Inevitably, this caused me to stress out and hindered me from interacting with more people. My current group of friends, whom I cherish very much, didn’t really solidify until my junior fall. I wish I could tell my freshman year self that. 

Ultimately, there is so much more advice that I could give (maybe I’ll write another blog post about academic advice for incoming freshmen). However, I remember being incredibly nervous and excited about the non-academic aspects of Princeton, and hope that this blog post helps assuage those concerns.

As a humanities/social sciences student, readings dominate my life at Princeton. It’s why in my first semester, I left large gaps in between my classes. This way, I could spread my assignments throughout the day, and spend time with my friends at night.

I also mostly worked alone in my first semester. I thought doing homework with my friends would be too distracting. I love to join in on conversations, but sometimes we’d get so deep in discussion that my plans to read that next page, write that next paragraph, outline that next paper went out the window. Additionally, I was surrounded by STEM students in my Zee Group. They were not interested in, nor did they ask about, my readings, and likewise, I was not interested in, nor did I ask about, their problem sets. Yet the more I worked alone last September, the more I missed having somebody to parallel play with while still socializing.

Enter the McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning. Beyond the peer tutoring sessions, academic strategies workshops, and learning consultations, there is also the fairly new Study Partners Program. You first fill out an interest form, after which McGraw matches you with your study partner via email. From there, you and your study partner exchange contact information and decide where/when you want to study.

Image

All of the selections are random, which I appreciated when I was a freshman. While it is important to befriend students in your home residential college, often by way of your zee group, it’s equally important to branch out and meet students in other residential colleges. Who knows? They could have the same academic interests as you! 

I lucked out with my study partner, who I now consider one of my closest friends at Princeton. He lives up north at Rockefeller “Rocky” College, and I down south at Forbes College. But despite being on opposite ends of campus, he, too, loves the humanities and social sciences. During our study sessions at Firestone Library, he would annotate his Politics readings and I would annotate my Philosophy readings. We also took turns discussing what we were learning. It’s not unusual for us, even now, to exchange book recommendations from our classes (with dashes of us sharing our extracurricular activities).

Having a study partner has also not been as distracting as I previously thought. We hold each other accountable by setting personal goals, as well as offering help to each other. For instance, he helped me brainstorm for my papers when I took my writing seminar last spring, and I offered encouraging words while he studied for finals. It’s because of this reciprocity that more often than not, we achieved our goals. 

Don’t get me wrong. Some students work better alone—I do if I’m under a major deadline—but regardless, I highly recommend the McGraw Study Partners Program to all incoming students. Not only will you be building yourself a support system and finding someone to parallel play with, but you might also make a friend in the process.

It’s hard to believe that I will officially be a “sophomore” in a few weeks. It feels like yesterday that I moved into Forbes College, and sat through day long orientation programming. Now that I’m somewhat settled into my new home – that is, the Second Floor of the Forbes Annex – I want to share with you the three most important lessons I learned freshman year. Who knows? Maybe they can help you become your authentic self at Princeton.

1. Don't forget to laugh!

While it’s very easy to make me laugh, I sometimes feel so stressed from school that I forget to. So rather than seek out instances that make me laugh, I let them come to me.

For instance, I went to Princetoween (our post Fall break Halloween celebration) with one of my friends. While at Colonial Eating Club, I ran into a Forbesian dressed like a teenage Michael Jackson. I asked him where his five brothers were. At first, he was confused. But once he understood what I was talking about, he agreed he looked like Michael Jackson with his afro and tall, slender appearance. Back at Forbes, I cried laughing while telling the story to my Zee Group. As the saying goes, “laughter is the best medicine.” Yes, even in an environment where students seem to be working nonstop.

Image

2. Your special interests are valued.

I have several special interests including Sesame Street (among other children's cartoons), writing, and most recently my new major: Cultural Anthropology. I could go on for days! But from elementary to middle school, it wasn’t unusual for my interests to be dismissed as, well, unusual.

Now, I am incredibly grateful to have friends who share my special interests, if not have their own. Some powerlift. Others love Procreate. Some fight to divest Princeton. Others passionately believe Oppenheimer is better than Barbie. I firmly believe that by sharing my interests with my friends (and vice versa), I have learned so much more about their life experiences. 

3. The people here keep you going.

Coming into Princeton, I envisioned it would be a cutthroat environment where nobody wanted to help each other. This assumption couldn’t have been more wrong. My friends keep me going even on my toughest days. Examples include texting me to ask about my day and offering to read my papers. Mind you, these relationships are not one sided. I do the same for them because I care about them. 

These friendships have also made it easier for us to be vulnerable about our life experiences. Our conversations occasionally include crying and hugging. But no matter what we discuss, we always reaffirm to each other that we belong here. Princeton is a major life change academically, emotionally, and socially. So please make it a point to make friends who always push you to be your authentic self.