The social scene in Princeton

Alumother
Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:28:29 +0000

Yes there are nerdy people in the artistic circles. I remember them well. The thing to understand is that in the circles, Theater Intime, dance groups, the program in Theater and Dance, Visual Arts, at the Daily Princetonian, etc., the work and belonging to the group really overrides any social categories. Nobody is thinking about the girl dancing next to them, or the guy doing the lighting for the Triangle Club, is she/he a nerd? They are just all working together.

The ECs at Princeton, unlike some other top universities, are extremely non-competitive. Meaning it’s easy to get and stay involved.

Myau, your daughter will love Princeton if she is happy making her group of friends and finding her set of activities IF she doesn’t feel distressed by not going to the Street or she and her friends decide to join a club together.

Your daughter will love Cal if she can find her way through a larger, more anonymous, urban school.

I will say that my daughter says she doesn’t know anyone who is unhappy at Princeton. I knew one person. But she actually joined a club. She loved her club. She just hated being in the suburbs.

In terms of Cal, because it’s bigger, more anonymous, and less socially organized, I know more kids who have been lonely and unhappy there. But this is just anecdotal evidence.

Whichever way your daughter goes will have its good parts and its bad parts.