Schedule of Events
Saturday, September 6
[ * ] Attendance is required at these meetings. Please note that students may not attend any other events at these times.
8:00–6:00. * Dormitory check-in. Baker Rink.
10:00–1:30. Brunch for parents and students in the residential colleges.
12:30–3:30. * Freshman sign-in for members of the Class of 2012. Students should bring I-9 and identification. (See “General Information” section for more details.) Dillon Gym.
12:30. Butler College
1:00. Forbes College
1:30. Mathey College
2:00. Rockefeller College
2:30. Whitman College
3:00. Wilson College
1:00–3:00. * Freshmen must pick up information packets. Residential colleges.
2:00–3:30. Receptions for parents in residential colleges. Welcoming remarks by college masters at 2:30 p.m.
3:30–4:30. Center for Jewish Life/Princeton Hillel reception for members of the Class of 2012 and their parents. Center for Jewish Life, 70 Washington Road.
4:00–4:45. Organizational meeting for all student workers in the Department of Dining Services at their assigned dining halls.
4:00–5:30. Parent orientation to University Health Services. A two-part presentation will address the health program at Princeton and the medical, nursing, and counseling services available to students. Professional staff from various departments will answer questions and concerns. The second part of the presentation will describe how the University Student Health Plan works for students needing medical care while at Princeton. 302 Frist Campus Center.
5:30. Departure time for parents; subsequent orientation events are intended for students only.
5:30–6:00. * College masters address the Class of 2012. Residential colleges.
6:00–7:00. Dinner for new members of the college, residential college advisers (RCAs), and college staff.
Butler College, Wu Dining Hall
Forbes College, Dining Hall
Mathey College, Dining Hall
Rockefeller College, Dining Hall
Whitman College, Whitman Dining Hall
Wilson College, Prospect House
7:30–9:00. * Opening meeting for all new students. Matthews Theatre at McCarter Theatre Center.
9:30–10:30. * Freshmen meet with residential college advisers. Residential colleges.
10:30. Class of 2012 welcome event, moonlight movie presentation (open to all students) presented by Center Stage Program Board. South Lawn, Frist Campus Center (Rain Location: Frist Multipurpose Room).
Sunday, September 7
10:00–10:45. Information meeting on advanced placement and advanced standing. 50 McCosh Hall.
11:00. Princeton University Chapel ecumenical worship service. University Chapel. (Please call the Office of Religious Life at 258-3047 for other services available in the Princeton area.)
11:45–12:30. Meeting for students interested in preparing for medicine or health-related professions (premedical, preveterinary, predental). 50 McCosh Hall.
12:30–1:30. Foreign language placement tests for the following languages only. Please bring two sharpened No. 2 pencils and an eraser.
Hebrew: 62 McCosh Hall
Latin: 46 McCosh Hall
Russian: 60 McCosh Hall
12:30-2:00. Class of 2012 Scavenger Hunt. Meet with your RCA group for this campus-wide scavenger hunt.
3:00. * Opening Exercises: A University Convocation. President Shirley M. Tilghman addresses the University community. Several undergraduate prizes for academic distinction are awarded during this interfaith service. University Chapel.
4:00–6:00. Pre-rade, welcome for the Class of 2012, sponsored by the Undergraduate Student Government and the class governments. A celebration of Princeton spirit at the start of a new school year, followed by BBQ dinner. Also featuring Blair Arch Step Sing starting at 5:00. Bring PUID for meal swipe. Alexander Beach.
7:30–9:30. * Assembly for the Class of 2012: “Science, Religion, and the Free Will Problem” Gideon Rosen, Professor of Philosophy and Chair, Council of the Humanities, Matthews Theatre at McCarter Theatre Center. Professor Rosen’s talk will be followed by discussion groups in the residential colleges.
11:00–12:30. Tiger’s Roar, Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall. All singing groups perform and teach the Class of 2012 to sing “Old Nassau.”
Monday, September 8
7:00–midnight. * Online academic year registration (verification of personal information) for all students at www.princeton.edu/SCORE. (See “General Information” section for details.)
9:00–10:15. “The Aims of Education and the Problems of Society: Issues in Public Policy and Social Science Research.” Faculty panel and discussion. Moderator: Nancy Weiss Malkiel, Dean of the College. Betts Auditorium, School of Architecture.
10:15–11:00. “Learning Foreign Languages at Princeton.” Faculty/student panel and discussion. 50 McCosh Hall.
11:15–12:30. “The Arts and Humanities at Princeton.” Faculty panel and discussion. Moderator: Michael Jennings, Chair and Professor of German. 101 McCormick, Art Museum.
11:30–1:00. “Women in Science, Math, and Engineering.” Faculty panel followed by light lunch. Panel in Whig Hall Senate Chamber; lunch in Whig Hall Lounge.
1:15–2:15. * Meeting for all international students (including Canadians) who are not permanent residents of the United States. If you are an F1 student, you must bring your I-20 and passport with you. 302 Frist Campus Center.
1:45–2:45. “Integrating Study Abroad into a Princeton Education.” Panel discussion of study abroad options. 50 McCosh Hall.
3:00–4:00. * All new students meet with their residential college dean, director of studies, and director of student life in designated locations.
Butler College: Dean David Stirk, Dr. Matthew Lazen, Ms. Mindy Andino, Wu Dining Hall.
Forbes College: Dean John Hodgson, Dr. Patrick Caddeau, Dr. Lesley Nye, Forbes Dining Room.
Mathey College: Dean Steven Lestition, Dr. Kathleen Crown, Dr. Matthew Frawley, 302 Frist Campus Center.
Rockefeller College: Dean Oliver Avens, Dr. Anne Caswell-Klein, Mr. Andrew Adair, 50 McCosh Hall.
Whitman College: Dean Rebecca Graves-Bayazitoglu, Dr. Cole Crittenden, Ms. Christina Davis, 185 Nassau Street, James M. Stewart Film Theater.
Wilson College: Dean Lisa Herschbach, Dr. John Axcelson, Dr. Michael Olin, Frist Multipurpose Room.
4:00–4:30. * A.B. students continue to meet with their dean and director of studies in designated locations.
4:15–5:15. * Meeting for B.S.E. students. Friend Auditorium, 101.
4:30–5:30. * A.B. students meet with their academic advisers in the residential colleges. (Details available in the college offices.)
5:15-6:00. * B.S.E. students meet with their academic advisers. Engineering Quadrangle and Friend Center.
5:30–6:30. * Dinner for A.B. freshmen and academic advisers in the residential colleges.
6:00–7:30. * Dinner for B.S.E. students and academic advisers. Engineering Quadrangle, Bowen Hall green space.
7:00–9:00. Student Advising Fair. Peer advisers available. Residential colleges.
10:00–12:30. Tiger Night, Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall. Theater, dance, and other performance groups give the Class of 2012 a taste of their art. The Princeton University Marching Band also performs.
Tuesday, September 9
7:00–midnight. * Online academic year registration (verification of personal information) for all students at www.princeton.edu/SCORE. (See “General Information” section for details.)
9:00–5:00. * Individually scheduled academic and non-academic appointments.
10:00–11:00. Philosophy Department open house. Tower Room, 1879 Hall.
10:00–noon. Lewis Center for the Arts open house for Creative Writing Program, Visual Arts Program, Princeton Atelier, and Theater and Dance Program. 185 Nassau Street, James M. Stewart Film Theater.
10:00–noon. Media Services/Humanities Resource Center/New Media Center open house. Students interested in working as audio/visual operators, Humanities Resource Center assistants, New Media Center advisers, or website advisers should attend. Refreshments served. 011/012 East Pyne.
11:00. Chemistry Department open house. Informal meeting to introduce the general chemistry program and delineate placement procedures. Information about majoring in chemistry will be presented, followed by a question-and-answer period led by chemistry concentrators. Room 124, Frick Laboratory.
11:00. Historical campus tours. See “General Information” section for details.
11:00–noon. Psychology Department open house. O-S-6 Green Hall.
11:00–noon. French and Italian Department open house. 010 East Pyne.
11:00–noon. Spanish and Portuguese Languages and Cultures Department open house. 103 Chancellor Green, East Pyne.
11:00–4:00. Firestone Library open house. Meet in the front lobby of the library and bring your PrincetonTigerCard. Thirty-minute tours will leave continuously. (See “General Information” section for details.)
11:30–1:00. Materials Science and Engineering Program open house with tours of facilities and meetings with faculty and current students. Pizza and refreshments. Bowen Hall Atrium (second floor).
Noon–1:00. Comparative Literature Department open House. 127 East Pyne.
Noon–1:00. Latin American Studies Program open house. 216 Burr Hall.
Noon–1:00. Neuroscience Program open house. Refreshments served. 107 Schultz.
Noon–1:00. Class of 2012 kosher Chinese luncheon and open house. Center for Jewish Life, 70 Washington Road.
1:00–2:00. Center for African American Studies open house. Stanhope Hall.
1:00–2:00. Integrated Science open house. Refreshments served. Icahn Laboratory, Room 200.
1:00–2:00. McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning open house. 328 Frist Campus Center.
1:00–4:00. Athletic physicals for all first-year intercollegiate athletes (except crew athletes). McCosh Health Center. Contact your coach for assigned times for your team.
2:00–3:00. East Asian Studies Department and Program open house. Refreshments served. 202 Jones Hall.
2:00–3:00. English Department open house. 28 McCosh Hall.
2:00–3:00. Geosciences Department open house. 155 Guyot Hall.
2:00–3:00. Hellenic Studies Program open house. 103 Scheide Caldwell House.
2:00–3:00. Judaic Studies Program open house. 203 Scheide Caldwell House.
2:00–3:00. Study of Women and Gender Program open house. 113 Dickinson Hall.
2:00–3:00. Glee Club open house, McAlpin Auditorium, Woolworth Center. Meet members and learn about joining. Auditions held this week. (For information, contact vpinedo@princeton.edu (president) or rtangyuk@princeton.edu (director).
2:00–5:00. Career Services open house. Formal presentation and guided tour at 2:00 and 3:00 p.m. Meet with career counselors. Explore the career planning resources of the office, including summer job and internship experiences. Career Services, 201 Nassau Street.
2:30–5:30. Mathematics Department open house. “4-Squares Theorem, 3-Squares Theorem, and Generalization,” John Conway, the John Von Neumann Professor in Applied and Computational Mathematics. Taplin Auditorium, Fine Hall (2nd floor). Reception will follow lecture at 4:00 p.m. in Eisenhart Tower Lounge, Fine Hall Plaza.
3:00-4:00. American Studies Program open house. 42 McCosh Hall.
3:00–4:00. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department open house. 10 Guyot Hall.
3:00–4:00. German Department open house. 207 East Pyne.
3:00–4:00. Linguistics Program open house. 029 East Pyne.
3:00–4:30. Music Department and Musical Performance Program open house. 102 Woolworth Center.
3:30. Historical campus tours. See “General Information” section for details.
3:30. Near Eastern Studies Department and Program open house. “Understanding Al Qaeda’s Ideology,” Bernard Haykel, Professor of Near Eastern Studies. Refreshments served. 102 Jones Hall.
3:30–4:30. History Department open house. 210 Dickinson Hall.
3:30–4:30. Religion Department open house. Department Lounge, Room 140, 1879 Hall.
4:00–5:00. Applications of Computing Program open house. Tea Room, 201 Computer Science Building. (Held in conjunction with the Computer Science Department open house.)
4:00–5:00. Computer Science Department open house. Tea Room, 201 Computer Science Building. (Held in conjunction with the Applications of Computing Program open house.)
4:00–5:00. Environmental Studies Program open house. ENV Lab, 174 Guyot Hall.
4:00–5:00. School of Architecture open house. Room N-107, Architecture Building.
4:00–6:00. Astrophysical Sciences Department open house. 145 Peyton Hall.
4:15–6:00. “Thriving at Princeton.” An undergraduate orientation program for culturally diverse students. An informal opportunity for students to meet key administrators and faculty from a wide range of University departments and programs. BBQ included in the program. Fields Center.
4:30–5:30. Politics Department open house. 127 Corwin Hall.
7:00–7:30. * Fire safety presentation. Matthews Theatre at McCarter Theatre Center.
8:00–10:30. * Class meeting. “Reflections on Diversity.” Matthews Theatre at McCarter Theatre Center. Followed by discussion groups in the residential colleges.
Wednesday, September 10
7:00–5:00. * Online academic year registration for all students at www.princeton.edu/SCORE. (See “General Information” section for details.)
9:00–5:00. * Individually scheduled academic and non-academic appointments.
9:30–10:30. “The World in Infra-Red: Optical Sensing for Health and the Environment,” Claire Gmachl, Professor of Electrical Engineering. Friend Auditorium, 101.
10:00–11:00. Molecular Biology open house followed by question and answer discussion with students. 003 Lewis Thomas Laboratory.
10:00–11:00. Art and Archaeology Department open house. Lounge outside 106 McCormick Hall.
10:00–11:00. Finance Program open house. 26 Prospect Avenue. Bendheim Center for Finance.
10:00–11:00. Sociology Department open house. 165 Wallace Hall.
10:30–11:30. “Special Opportunities for Engineering Students.” Discussion of study abroad, certificate programs, and internships. Friend Auditorium, 101.
11:00–noon. Anthropology Department open house. 216 Burr Hall.
11:00–noon. Art Museum open house with scavenger hunts and prizes. Meet in the lobby of the museum, McCormick Hall. Refreshments served.
11:00–noon. Classics Department open house. Prentice Library, 143 East Pyne.
11:00–noon. Economics Department open house. 26 Prospect Avenue, Room 103.
11:00–noon. Physics Department open house. Joe Henry Room, Jadwin Hall.
11:00–noon. Slavic Languages and Literatures Department open house. Department Lounge, 237 East Pyne.
11:00–noon. Teacher Preparation Program open house. Teacher Preparation Office, 41 William Street.
11:00–4:00. Firestone Library open house. Meet in the front lobby of the library and bring your Princeton TigerCard. Thirty-minute tours will leave continuously. (See “General Information” section for details.)
Noon–1:00. Athletics Department orientation for freshman athletes. 50 McCosh.
Noon–1:00. Engineering Biology Program open house. A-224, School of Engineering and Applied Science.
Noon–3:00. Frist Campus Center annual open house. 100 level, Frist.
1:00–2:00. Woodrow Wilson School open house. Dodds Auditorium, Robertson Hall.
1:00–3:00. Chemistry placement test for entry into Chemistry 215 or 301/303 (for students who have taken AP chemistry or an advanced chemistry curriculum, but have not taken the AP test). Room 124 Frick Laboratory.
1:00–4:00. Athletic physicals for all first-year intercollegiate athletes (except crew athletes). McCosh Health Center. Contact your coach for assigned times for your team.
3:00–6:00. Physics placement test for placement out of Physics 103–104 (for students who have taken AP physics or an advanced physics curriculum, but have not taken the AP test). Note: this exam is not for placement into higher physics courses. For that, immediately contact the course instructor or see the physics placement officer at registration at the Friend Center. Students should meet at 3:00 p.m. sharp and should expect the exam to last three hours. A-06 Jadwin Hall.
4:00–5:00. “Crumpets in the Crypt.” Reception for freshmen interested in Chapel Choir. Chapel Crypt. (For information, contact Penna Rose at prose@princeton.edu or 8-3654.)
4:00–5:00. McCarter Theatre tour. Students gather in the main theater to learn about the coming seasons music, dance, and theater.
5:30–7:00. Center for Jewish Life picnic. Frist South Lawn, (rain location inside CJL).
7:00–10:00. * “Sex on a Saturday Night?” sponsored by SHARE. Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall. Residential college advisees will participate in a post-performance discussion facilitated by their residential college advisers and SHARE Peer Educators at their respective residential colleges.
7:00–8:00. * Performance for residents of Butler, Forbes, and Wilson colleges only.
9:00–10:00. * Performance for residents of Mathey, Rockefeller, and Whitman colleges only.
Thursday, September 11
8:00 a.m. Classes begin.
Noon. Davis International Center welcome lunch. Murray-Dodge basement.
4:30–5:30. “Reflections on Service,” sponsored by the Pace Center, Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall. A notable alumnus and four Princeton undergraduates will discuss the importance of civic engagement. Followed by an ice cream social on Alexander Beach with representatives from various student organizations.
Friday, September 12
9:00–noon. Athletic physicals for all first-year intercollegiate athletes (except crew athletes). McCosh Health Center. Contact your coach for assigned times for your team.
Noon–3:00. Activities fair. Dillon Gym. More than 250 student groups participate looking for new members.