Frequent Term-Time Questions
When should I call about my student?
Firstly, you should always encourage your student to come speak with us him/herself. However, if you are worried about your student's physical or psychological well-being or safety, you should call the college office at 609-258-6094. We will be happy to listen to your concerns, and will do our best to support your student.
Will I be able to talk confidentially with the college staff?
We cannot promise absolute confidentially in every case, as it is our usual policy to inform students when we speak with their parents.
When might I expect to hear from the college staff?
We will certainly call you if your student is in imminent danger, or if we are so concerned about her safety and/or well-being that we think you need to be involved. We will also inform you if your student's status at Princeton is likely to change- if s/he is facing a serious disciplinary charge, or a separation from the university for academic reasons.
How do I best support my student during his/her Princeton career?
College is an exciting and daunting time for both students and their families. Our institutional goal is to produce competent and capable adults who are able to manager their own affairs. To this end, we recommend active familial support- with an eye towards autonomy. This is a difficult balance to achieve, and will look quite different for each family.
How can my student get involved in the community?
There are lots of different ways to get involved at Princeton, from the residential college council, to intramural sports, to recognized student organizations, to volunteer activities through the Pace Center. Your student should take a look at the manifold options before the fall, and decide on a few to check out in September. S/he should also talk to his/her Residential College Advisor (RCA) about fun things to do on campus once they get here—upperclassmen are always an invaluable source of information. http://www.princeton.edu/odus/activities/organizations/
Who will be advising my student during the first two years?
http://www.princeton.edu/odoc/advising/
If my student is struggling academically, where should I send him/her?
You should always encourage yoru student to speak with his faculty member or TA, and then make an appointment with either the Director of Studies, Patrick Caddeau, or the Dean, John Hodgson, to discuss the problem/s.
If my student is sick, what should I do?
If your student is ill, you should tell him or her to head straight over to the McCosh Health center, unless it sounds like a life-threatening emergency, at which point s/he should call 9-1-1.