First-Year Students

Your first year is a wonderful time to explore Princeton and all of the rich academic and co-curricular opportunities that it has to offer. At Princeton, we value the ideals of a broad liberal arts education and intellectual discovery. Some students enter Princeton with a good sense of what they'd like to study and some are more undecided, but all discover new areas of interest and ability here. Be open to what might capture your interest!

Your First Course Selection
Your Path to Princeton is a good first resource, but you should also peruse Princeton’s Course Offerings, the Undergraduate Announcement, the First-Year Academic Guide, information about sending and using AP/IB/A level scores, and, for BSE candidates, the School of Engineering advising site to further familiarize yourself with Princeton academics. You will meet your faculty adviser to select courses before each semester (for the first time in September, and then again in December for spring course selection), but you're always welcome to talk with your college assistant dean, your Peer Academic Advisers (PAAs) who have also provided their own helpful Peer Advice on Course Selection, and your Residential College Adviser (RCA) about everything from getting academic support to choosing courses and majors to making the most of academic opportunities beyond the classroom! As you select your courses, we recommend that you keep these goals in mind:
 
1. Exploration. Try some things that might surprise you!
 
2. Balance. Some classes are taught as small seminars and some are large lecture courses. Some classes require many papers, others emphasize tests and exams, and others include labs. Too much of any one will likely become monotonous and will end up overloading you. Seek a balanced schedule with lots of variation in type and timing of work.
 
3. Thinking about Your Major. For some departments – notably the science and language departments – it may be necessary to begin fulfilling pre-requisites in the fall of your freshman year, but the prerequisites for many majors consist of only a few courses. Explore your options as much as possible. For more information on majors that may interest you, you can consult your advisers, the Undergraduate Announcement, and the Major Choices page. You may also find it helpful to attend the panels and advising fairs on different fields during orientation. 
 
In addition to these general philosophical points, there are also some more specific requirements that will help guide your course selection:
 
1. Writing Seminar. in July the Writing Program will inform you whether you will take the writing seminar in the fall or the spring. Information on enrolling in your writing seminar is available on the Writing Program’s website. 
 
2. Foreign Language. If you have not placed out of the language requirement, you should begin completing this requirement right away. If you have placed into a higher level of the introductory sequence, you will perform best if you continue in the language while it's still fresh. If you will be beginning a language at the 101 level, you should get your journey through the language underway, and 101 language courses are only taught in the fall. 
 
3. Four-Course Load. In fall semester, AB first years take four courses, which is the normal course load for all AB students at Princeton. Four are plenty to keep you busy, and you will also want to use your first two semesters to get adjusted to college life, make friends, and explore activities outside of class. If you find that you can handle four courses well, then you can always take five in subsequent semesters. 
 
BSE

For BSE candidates, many courses during the first year will be devoted to fulfilling BSE requirements in chemistry, physics, math, and computing, but in the BSE program as well, Princeton prizes the ideals of a liberal education, and you will have space for electives in the humanities and social sciences. In addition, like AB students, you are required to take a writing seminar. The writing program will contact you in mid-July to tell you whether you have been assigned to the fall or spring semester. Information on enrolling in your writing seminar is available on the Writing Program’s website.

When it comes to the particulars of choosing courses and meeting BSE requirements, Dean Bogucki and your engineering advisers are your best guides. Information on first-years advising is also available on the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences advising site.

Course Changes

After you select courses with your adviser at the beginning of the semester, you will have two weeks to add or drop courses without a fee. It is generally a good idea to check out a few additional courses in the first week or two before finalizing your schedule. It is advisable not to take too long to settle on your schedule, however. Princeton’s semesters are fast-paced and you don’t want to fall behind in the coursework for the classes you decide to take.

You have the opportunity to drop a course until the end of the ninth week of the semester, but it is not possible to add a course after the second week of the semester. You can also opt to take a course as "pass/D/fail," an option that was designed to allow you to take intellectual risks. Before you make any changes to your schedule, you should consult with your faculty adviser. In cases where you would be incurring a course deficiency by dropping a class, you must consult first with your assistant dean. They will help you make sure that dropping the course is the wisest plan, and if it is, they will help you plan how to get back on pace to complete your degree. 
 
Navigating Your First Year
 
Once you begin to settle in at Princeton, we hope you'll begin to take advantage of other opportunities to supplement the learning that you're doing in the classroom. We've given you a month-by-month guide below to help you make sense of your Princeton experience.

Mid-September

Now that you've settled into your classes, begin to take stock of your work and where you could use support to be the most successful student you can be. Sign up for McGraw Center workshops, tutoring, or a Learning Consultation to hone your skills. Join a study group. Talk with your PAA to get tips on studying and finding the right resource for you.

Late September

Have you reconnected with your faculty adviser yet? Now is a great time to do so! Update them on your transition experience. Invite them to lunch or dinner in the residential college. They're waiting to hear from you!

Early October

Apply to go on a Breakout Trip! These experiences, which happen during fall recess and spring break, are designed to heighten participants’ awareness of critical social issues, enhance their individual growth, and prepare them engage with social issues throughout their lives. Each week-long trip integrates service, reflection and education about social issues and the multifaceted nature of these issues. Trips are offered throughout the year in local and national destinations.

Late October

Prepare for midterms! Your midterm exam schedule will vary depending on your courseload and the kinds of courses you're taking (writing-intensive vs. problem-set focused), but it's likely that your workload may feel heavier during this time. Seek support from McGraw, from your Peer Academic Advisers, from your RCAs, and from your fellow students in study groups. You can do this!

Early November

Reflect on your progress so far this term. What have you learned? What do you hope to do? Are there any adjustments you'd like to make to your study habits? Would you like to get some academic support to make the most of the rest of the term? Talk with your academic adviser and/or assistant dean about your plans for the weeks ahead.

Start applying for Princeternships for the January reading period. Explore careers in settings where you'll meet alumni!

Explore research in different fields before you make a major choice, connect with graduate students to learn what the research life is all about, and get some great research experience before your JP/Senior Thesis by attending ReMatch Meet and Greet and Meal for Mentoring events.

Late November

Begin to discuss summer study abroad options with OIP advisers. Summer programs are a great way to learn something new over the summer, and while many students seek out internship placements, you may wish to consider one of these opportunities, too!

Early December

Reflect on your first semester at Princeton, make new friends, and think about what you want the rest of your experience to look like.

Meet with your academic adviser to discuss spring courses. Talk about your interests in a few possible concentrations, plans for the summer, and new involvement on and off campus.

Apply for a PICS internship!

Mid December

Apply for Princeton International Internship Programs.

Early January

Prepare for Dean's Date and Final Exams. Get support from your PAA, from your assistant dean, and from McGraw study halls, learning consultations, and workshops.

Attend the HireTigers Meetup for Internships. Meet with employers and alumni for recruiting and networking. Even if you don't get an internship for the summer, these first conversations help you to become comfortable speaking with potential employers. 

Early February

Apply for Princeternships for March (Spring Break).

Early February

Apply for the ReMatch+ Summer Research Program.

Late February

Apply for Princeton summer study abroad programs. Begin to discuss fall study abroad options with OIP advisers.

Apply to the Office of Undergraduate Research Student Initiated Internship Program (OURSIP).

Early March

Prepare for midterms! Your midterm exam schedule will vary depending on your courseload and the kinds of courses you're taking (writing-intensive vs. problem-set focused), but it's likely that your workload may feel heavier during this time. Seek support from McGraw, from your Peer Academic Advisers, from your RCAs, and from your fellow students in study groups. You can do this!

Apply to be a Community Action leader.

Apply to go on a Breakout Trip! These experiences, which happen during fall recess and spring break, are designed to heighten participants’ awareness of critical social issues, enhance their individual growth, and prepare them engage with social issues throughout their lives. Each week-long trip integrates service, reflection and education about social issues and the multifaceted nature of these issues. Trips are offered throughout the year in local and national destinations.

Late April

Meet with your faculty adviser to discuss courses for the fall; make sure to talk about your interests across the curriculum, summer plans, and co-curricular involvement. B.S.E. students will declare a concentration.

Early May

Prepare for Dean's Date and Final Exams. Get support from McGraw, your PAA, your assistant dean!

Attend Princeton Research Day to learn about the research and creative work being done on campus and come away with new insights on choosing your major.