ec1234

The dorms themselves are never actually closed (other than over the summer), however the dining halls are closed for all of the breaks (fall, thanksgiving, winter, intercession, spring). However there are tons of people who stay on campus over breaks, although almost everyone goes home for winter break.

Re foreign language placement- I placed out of Spanish through the AP test, but decided junior year that I wanted to take a language class again. I took a 200 language class and was mostly fine in it-- and I am by no means fluent in Spanish, and it would have gone much better if I hadn't been taking 5 classes and a junior seminar. So I wouldn't repeat any of the classes, however you are of course welcome to.

Student Volunteers Council (SVC) runs a lot of the volunteer work on campus. Lots of options for tutoring both in trenton and within princeton (there is a surprising number of ESL students in the princeton community). SVC has a fleet of cars, which I assume can be used to get to trenton, although I dont know.

annabell

Does anyone know whether there's compulsory medical insurance? (I'm an international)

And should I buy a printer so that all my printing can be done in my dorm? Or does Princeton offer free printing?

screwitlah

assuming i have all the requisite AP credits to graduate in 3 years, how tough is it still gonna be to do so? would it still be tougher than graduating in 4 years even though i can skip 8 courses as a 3-year candidate?

would it be tougher than at other schools, say non-HYPSM brown/duke/dartmouth? (i know some ppl there graduating in 3 years and i'd like to compare)

Weasel8488

Yes there is compulsory medical insurance. Don't buy a printer! Most people don't. The University has free printing on high quality laser jet printers which are located in all of the residential colleges. It's a lot faster to use these when you have a 50 page print job (which happens fairly often).

1of42

Weasel8488 is actually incorrect; medical insurance is only compulsory if you don't already have some kind of medical coverage. In my case, my father's company covers me in the States even though I'm from Canada, so I had no need to get the University health plan.

JoeTrumpet

Speaking of health insurance, what if you don't have health insurance and you're on financial aid? Does the university accommodate that or is my family supposed to make up those costs through loans?

Weasel8488

Sorry for being unclear. It's compulsory in the sense that you are required to have some sort of medical coverage, be that through a private company or through the school.

Silly Puddy

People will give you different advice on this. Printing, like laundry, is free (hooray!), but there are times when it's nice to have one of your own. If you're in a hurry for a class and don't want to go to the cluster, if the cluster computer is broken, etc., a personal printer (or a room printer) is nice.

If I were you, I'd get a printer to campus if I already had one sitting around at home, but probably not go buy one.

debryc

Financial aid will increase to cover the $1000 policy you can take out with the school for insurance. You'll be automatically enrolled (unless you sign a form saying you have your own comprehensive insurance plan) so you don't even have to worry about it! This insurance covers you for the whole year, so even if you're back home for the summer, the insurance can kick in. Just read the paper work or ask questions at the McCosh Health Center.

JoeTrumpet

Wow, that's fantastic! Thank you very much!

If not for anything else, I'm glad I decided on a school like Princeton because it gets me health insurance

screwitlah

hey guys! can anybody help me out here? :

assuming i have all the requisite AP credits to graduate in 3 years, how tough is it still gonna be to do so? would it still be tougher than graduating in 4 years even though i can skip 8 courses as a 3-year candidate?

would it be tougher than at other schools, say non-HYPSM brown/duke/dartmouth? (i know some ppl there graduating in 3 years and i'd like to compare)

JoeTrumpet

You should double check what I say for accuracy, but I believe I have both heard and read that it is no easier to graduate in 3 years than in 4, and it's actually tougher because I heard it doesn't free you from the distribution requirements. I suppose that just means you have less room for electives. It is discouraged at Princeton to graduate early, and I assume this is one, if not the, reason.

ec1234

it's tough because of the independent work- I wasn't ready to do junior independent work as a sophomore.

annabell

Thanks for the answers!

I was sent a packet including the 2007-2008 Undergraduate Announcement, Freshman Seminar booklet, and Study Abroad booklet. Do you know when they'll give us the 2008-09 one with the latest information / course offerngs? By mail or when we arrive on campus?

ceebee63

It's available online... just google Princeton registrar and it'll pop up somewhere... I'm too lazy to post the link!