Additional information on international Bridge Year Program available

Prospective freshmen and their parents interested in learning more about Princeton's new international Bridge Year Program now can view a document containing additional details on the University's admission website.

The program will allow those who have accepted an offer of admission to Princeton to pursue a tuition-free, enrichment year focused on public service outside their home country prior to their freshman year. Princeton will cover the majority of the costs and will provide financial aid based on need for those who cannot afford the incidental costs that families will be asked to pay.

It will launch in fall 2009 as a pilot program with approximately 20 students. University administrators plan for the program to include about 100 students each year when fully operational.

This summer, a working group of faculty, staff and students appointed by President Shirley M. Tilghman endorsed the creation of the program. Now Tilghman has prepared a document covering such topics as admission to the program, the scope of service opportunities, residential arrangements, the schedule, maintaining connections to Princeton and administrative issues.

"The Bridge Year Program brings together three seemingly unrelated goals: increase the number of students who study abroad during their Princeton career; refresh the spirits of students who emerge from intensely competitive high school environments; and have our students embrace the meaning of our informal motto, 'Princeton in the nation's service and the service of all nations,'" Tilghman writes.

More information is available under News & Announcements on the admission website.