Rockefeller College

• Enroll in classes
• Add or drop a class
• Choose P/D/F grading for a class
• Take a graduate-level course
• Join a department
• Change concentration
• Switch degree candidacy between AB and BSE
• Get a summer course approved for transfer credit
• Study abroad
• Request an extension
• Take a leave of absence

AB freshmen and sophomores enroll in classes after meeting with their faculty adviser.  The Academic Planning Form in SCORE must be complete before your advising meeting; be ready to discuss not only your course selections, but also your broader interests and ambitions.  After you join a department as a junior, your department representative or adviser will approve your courseload.  BSE students meet with their faculty adviser freshman year to enroll in classes, and with a department representative thereafter. Before choosing your courses, be sure to take advantage of the wide variety of peer advising events sponsored by the college.

Pay close attention to the add/drop deadlines: they are quite firm. In order to add or drop a class, you need the approval of your academic adviser or director of studies (freshmen and sophomores) or department representative or dean (juniors and seniors). Approval may be an email, or a signature on a SCORE Worksheet. Then you may drop the course online using SCORE. Please note that anytime a drop means that you will incur a course deficiency--that is, you will be below the normal course-load for that term--you need to talk with your dean or director of studies before dropping a course.  (top)

The P/D/F declaration period is between the beginning of the seventh and the end of the ninth week of classes. To change your grading option, log into SCORE and click on Elect P/D/F Option (the Registrar will email you detailed instructions during the declaration period). Remember that you should not P/D/F a course if you are thinking of majoring in that department, or might use the course as a cognate. Questions? Contact your AB or BSE academic adviser.  (top)

In order to enroll in a graduate course, you need approval from the instructor of the course, as well as from the appropriate departmental representative and from your dean or director of studies.  Take the graduate course form to the department first, then bring it back to the college.  Note that graduate courses do not satisfy undergraduate distribution area requirements. (top)

AB students should think broadly about potential fields of interest.  During your freshman and sophomore years, we recommend that you consider filling the prerequisites for more than one department.  Be sure to attend the departmental open houses in April, as much useful information is disseminated there.  Once you've settled on a concentration at the end of your sophomore year, you'll join your department.  The Registrar will send you the link to the majors-declaration page on SCORE, and you'll have an individual meeting with the department representative.

After taking core quantitative classes, BSE students join a department at the end of freshman year.  The school of engineering sponsors an open house in spring semester that allows you to learn about all six BSE majors, as well as meet faculty and students in each field.  You may also want to take EGR 194, a project-based course that gives an introduction to the various disciplines of engineering.  (top)

In order to change your concentration, you'll need to schedule a meeting with Dean Avens, who will advise you on the feasibility of the change.  If you realize very early in your junior year that you want to switch majors, it's very straightforward; after that, it's less so.  If you want to change BSE departments, see Dean Bogucki for advising.  (top)

To switch your degree candidacy from AB to BSE or vice-versa, you need to schedule a meeting with Dean Peter Bogucki in the School of Engineering (609-258-4554).  Dean Bogucki will give you the paperwork that you need, and will authorize the change.  Bring the paper to the Rocky College Office; your dean or director of studies will confirm the change and will consult with you about how it alters your academic requirements.  It's easiest to switch degree candidacy during your first two years; if you have questions about its feasability, contact Dean B. or your director of studies.  (top)

Any external course must be preapproved both by a Princeton department and by the college to qualify for transfer credit.  The process is not difficult, but it is detailed: see the summer course information page.  Please remember that the deadline for course approvals is Dean's Date of the semester before you plan to take the course (so, spring Dean's Date for a summer course).  (top)

First, think about what timing would work best for you--and think early. Sophomore spring is a great time to study abroad, and an increasing number of students take that semester internationally. For some departments, there are semesters when study abroad is most convenient, so talk with the department representative or with a peer adviser for more information.  The Office of International Programs has a useful website and drop-in hours; it's very helpful to schedule an advising appointment with Dean Nancy Kanach or Mell Bolen early in the process of thinking about studying abroad (609-258-5524).  (top)

If you are seriously ill or have a family emergency, contact your dean or director of studies. In these cases, the college will write to your professors on your behalf. If you find yourself needing an extension during term-time because you have not planned your time well, because you have scheduling complications, etc. you should talk directly with your professor or preceptor. Bear in mind that if you have not been active in class, or have missed classes or precepts, your professor may not be sympathetic to requests for extensions. After the end of classes, all requests for Dean's Date extensions must go to your dean or director of studies; faculty members may not authorize end-of-term extensions.   (top)

Sometimes students need to take time off from Princeton, whether because of illness or family emergency, or because they want to take a break to do something else.  See the Undergraduate Announcement for regulations concerning withdrawals and leaves of absence. The procedure to arrange a withdrawal or leave is quite straightforward: make an appointment to see Dean Avens, and he will help you through the process.  (top)