Before You Arrive
- Go to the University's Student Government website "TigerApps and Links" tab to read reviews of classes, and check out "Point" and Tiger Trade, among others:
http://www.tigerapps.org.
- Check out the student-written "Insider's Guide to Princeton" at: http://princeton2017.com to get a feel for campus life.
- Read the Daily Prince and other sources to find out what Princeton academics are really like.
- Comb through the course offerings in the Undergraduate Announcement highlighting the most interesting in order to select a good (tentative) combination of classes.
- Pick a freshman seminar on a topic that interest you, but which you might not otherwise explore.
- Get a calendar you will really use--an electronic one like iCal or whatever works.
- Look at the Academic Calendar to get a sense of the (rapid!) flow of the semester:
http:registrar.princeton.edu/academic-calendar.
- Don't stress if you feel unprepared; we'll help you figure things out when you get here.
In the First Few Weeks
- Attend at least one academically-oriented workshop or activity (e.g., McGraw's workshop on adjusting to Princeton)
- Go to a few departmental and certificate program open houses to get more specific information about courses and requirements
- Get input on your course schedule from an upper-division student--class selection is crucial
- Go to the activities fair, and select a small number (2-4) to consider--don't overdo it
- Use the Interactive Campus Map: www.princeton.edu/~pumap to find routes to your classes and other destinations
- Look ahead: once you get your syllabi, map out your due dates for all your classes
- Visit the ASAP (Academic Support at Princeton) webportal: www.princeton.edu/asap to find out what resources are available for your classes
- Sleep a little, if you can; you'll get more out of your transition if you do
During Your First Semester
- Create a study group for one of your classes--they're really efficient
- Schedule a Learning Strategy Consultation with a McGraw Consultant
- Try out the Writing Center: www.princeton.edu/asap/writingcenter on your first big paper
- Go to at least one of your professor's office hours to talk about something you find interesting in the course
- Even when things are hectic, take time for recreation--this will actually make you a more successful student
- Find at least one of McGraw's workshops to prepare for your fist midterms, finals, and everything in between
- Take 20 minutes a week to reflect on your academic approach and ways you might adjust it to meet Princeton's demands
- Look around campus for additional resources, workshops, and activities to help make a stress-free transition
