Princeton Engineering

The School of Engineering and Applied Science welcomed its largest-ever incoming class of undergraduate engineering students during freshman orientation on Monday, Sept. 14.

The Princeton class of 2013 includes 268 freshman engineering students bringing the total number of undergraduate engineering students on campus to 936, or about 19% of the Princeton undergraduate student body. The incoming students include 105 women and 165 men. 

The engineering school also welcomed 123 new graduate students from 20 countries, including 31 students from China, seven from India and two from the Ukraine.

During freshman orientation the students were welcomed by H. Vincent Poor, dean of the engineering school, and listened to presentations by faculty from the six engineering departments, who encouraged the students to join their department and explained what their engineering discipline entails. 

“We have really cool tools,” said Michael Littman, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, drawing laughter from the students. He explained that students in his department use wind tunnels, lasers and other high-tech devices for research and other projects. 

James Smith, a professor of civil and environment engineering, was not to be outdone. “We also have lots of cool toys to play with,” he declared during his presentation. He noted that his department has a sensor network deployed across campus to track changes in the atmospheric and that the department has a new study abroad program in Kenya. 

After the other faculty members finished their presentations, the student met with their faculty advisors and then attended a welcome reception on the lawn outside the Engineering Quadrangle. The engineering school office of graduate affairs hosted an outdoor barbecue Wednesday to welcome the new graduate students.

Photos: Frank Wojciechowski