Student Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my degree candidacy?
You must meet all the
regular requirements for your new degree. This
change should ordinarily take place before the beginning of the sophomore year;
only rarely is it possible to change your degree candidacy after the beginning
of the junior year. If you are interested in changing your degree candidacy,
consult with the your college dean or Dean Peter I. Bogucki in the School of Engineering.
During the first two weeks of the fall term of junior year, you may change departmental concentration, provided you are accepted by the new department. Your records will be transferred to the new department. After the first two weeks, transfers can only be made with the new department's permission once you have made appropriate arrangements to complete your junior independent work. Transfers are normally not permitted after the beginning of the second term of junior year. By the end of your junior year, you must meet all requirements set for members of the same class in the department into which you have transferred.
The "Application to Transfer Departmental Concentration" is available in your residential college office.
Can I get credit for work done at other institutions?
After matriculation at Princeton, A.B. students can count up to three, B.S.E. students up to four, courses taken at other schools toward their course requirements. (Exceptions apply to students with advanced standing, study abroad participation, and other special programs.) Non-Princeton courses must be preapproved by your dean or director of studies and a representative of the relevant Princeton department. Such courses can be used to remove a course deficiency or can be "banked" to offset future deficiencies. They can also be used for prerequisites in certain departments or for partial fulfillment of certain distribution areas, with a limit of one course in each of two of the following areas: literature and the arts, social analysis, or science and technology with laboratory. Details.
I can't get all my coursework completed in time! What do I do?
If you will not be able to submit all required course work by the appropriate university deadline (commonly called "Dean's Date") or take an examination at the scheduled time, you must see either your residential college dean or director of studies to discuss an extension. This conversation must be held prior to the deadline. It is important to remember that faculty members may not authorize the submission of any course work beyond the university deadline.
I'm not so sure about my final grade in a class. What should I do?
Grading often requires clarification and explanation. Calculation errors sometimes happen. The rationale for a grade that is well matched to the quality of the student’s work may make clear sense to the professor and the preceptor but may not be transparent to the student who receives it. A student who questions the appropriateness of a grade should begin by talking to the faculty member in charge of the course. If the student continues to believe that the grade seems unjust, the next step would be to talk to the chair of the department (or departmental representative) or the director of the program in which the course is offered. If the student is still not satisfied, the situation may be reported to the Dean of the College. In unusual circumstances, where these conversations have not yielded a satisfactory understanding, a formal appeal may be presented to the Faculty Committee on Examinations and Standing. A grade change can be submitted by the faculty member in charge of the course if circumstances warrant such an action.
For an explanation of the grading system, please refer to the corresponding section of the Undergraduate Announcement.