We’ve now visited Princeton twice, with a third visit planned for April 2025 for accepted students day.
April 2024, spring of kiddo’s junior year. Unbeknownst to us, we were there right before c/o 2028 accepted students day, so there were lots of tents and some Princeton admits on campus. The drive is bearable - we’re New England, and driving 95 is something of a slog. Stayed at Sonesta Suites, a few miles or so off campus, and I can’t remember now if that was because so many closer places were booked solid or if I just wasn’t willing to pay more. Inexpensive, two bedrooms, shabby around the edges but clean. We’re not fussy, though, so YMMV. Big downside was being so far from campus.
Did a campus tour and an engineering tour. As with many schools, book these well in advance and/or haunt the websites for cancellations a day or two prior. Both tours were informative. We were surprised at what felt like the separation of engineering from the rest of the campus, although the new engineering buildings are slated to be finished fall 2025. & I have the feeling that the separation felt like that only because we were unfamiliar with the campus.
Vibe was good. Lots of good student energy and there was at least one admitted student on our campus tour. Afterward, we poked around in a few buildings with classrooms and admired all the student noodling on the chalkboards near the physics department.
The campus is even more beautiful than the website and glossy brochures can make it look. We didn’t even try to close our gaping mouths. It’s that gorgeous.
Princeton is a great college town with more eateries than you’ll be able to visit in a few days. Our favorites were Agricola Eatery ($$$), Jammin’ Crepes, Mamoun’s Falafel, Madras Dosa, and Tacoria.
Okay, we told our kiddo. Apply, but don’t get attached, these places are long shots for everyone.
Dec. 2024: kiddo accepted. WHAT. Biggest failure: me not buying a lottery ticket that night.
Feb. 2025: Kiddo and I take the train for a 2-day visit. This is the way to go if you have close-enough rail service. We did Amtrak to Moynihan in NYC, walked across the street to Penn Station, grabbed a NJ Transit Rail to Princeton center, then the adorbs Princeton Dinky to the edge of campus. Two apps made this smooth sailing: the Amtrak app and the NJT app. The huge bonus was not having the stress of driving, and I got to work on the train rides. While there, we either walked or took Tiger Transit (another easy-to-use app, & Tiger Transit is free). We stayed at an AirBnB a few blocks from Nassau Street. Easy peasy.
Kiddo went to two classes with Princeton students who are friends of a HS classmate, ate at the Yeh dining hall, saw a college dorm and the gym. The report back was that all were excellent. I made myself scarce and walked the campus and town by myself. As expected, everything felt quite different on this visit, the oh what a nice campus vs OMG you are probably going here.
What really blew my kiddo away, though, were the thoughtful, engaged students and conversations both inside and outside the classrooms. Obviously, these types of students exist at any university, but it was constant here, and the small classes contributed to a high level of student engagement.