Academic Advising for Sophomores
Many Princeton students find their sophomore year to be one of the most challenging of their undergraduate career. If the first year is a time for exploration and discovery, the sophomore year is a time for reflection, consolidation, and decision making. It is a pivotal moment because it is the year in which you choose an area of concentration or major, after which your undergraduate program will take on a new kind of focus.
You are encouraged to sort out academic options and career goals simply by talking about them, not only with advisers and faculty members, but also with friends and family. The residential colleges sponsor a number of major choices programs and events designed to provide students with a deeper understanding of the full range of concentrations and options available to them when selecting courses. Many questions regarding course of study can be answered by consulting the Undergraduate Announcement and the brochures and information sheets available from departments. In addition to the selection of a concentration, the sophomore year is an excellent time to consider ways to pursue your intellectual interests and passions beyond the classroom though fellowships, internships, community based learning initiative projects, and study abroad. Other opportunities available to sophomores include field study, independent concentration, and interdepartmental certificate programs. Refer to the section on special programs for additional information.