PATRICK CADDEAU

Dean of Forbes College, Princeton University

Patrick Caddeau

Advising Overview

Welcome to Forbes College. Please feel free to stop by the College Office M-F 9-5 when classes are in session with advising questions, to get signatures for registration forms, to request academic support, or just to say hello. If I’m unavailable when you visit, the Forbes College staff can assist you or help you to reserve time on my calendar

First things first: review Princeton’s expectations for scholarly integrity. When in doubt, ask your professor or preceptor before submitting work.

Advising Network at Princeton

Your advising team includes several partners who support you from orientation to senior thesis:

  • Faculty advisers help you think broadly about the curriculum and plan a balanced schedule.
  • Departmental advising (directors of undergraduate studies and departmental staff) guide you on requirements, courses, and independent work in your field.
  • Peer Academic Advisers (PAAs) are trained upper-class mentors who share practical advice on classes, workloads, and life at Princeton.
  • McGraw learning consultants offer one-on-one support on study strategies, time management, and academic skills.

See ODOC’s overview of Academic Advising to understand how these roles work together.

For Thesis Writers

I maintain a practical guide for juniors and seniors planning independent work and the senior thesis: Thesis Writers: Getting Started, Staying Organized, Finishing Well .

Topics include scoping a project, timelines and milestones, reading and note-taking systems, meeting productively with advisers, and managing drafts and feedback.

Secrets to Academic Success

Jump to: Get to know your professors · Never hide academic problems · Take a mix of courses · Take small classes · Study in groups · Write, write, write · Study another language · Manage your time · Try something new · Study abroad · Ask for help

  1. Find a good space and pace for studying. Find daytime study blocks (20–50 minutes with short breaks). Build routines.
  2. Talk with your professors. Build relationships each term. Ask specific, forward-looking questions about your work and sources.
  3. Never hide academic problems. Use Princeton’s support early: tutoring & study halls, learning strategies consultations, and your residential college advisers.
  4. Take a variety of courses. Balance requirements with topics that genuinely motivate you.
  5. Take small classes (≈15 or fewer). More interaction, feedback, and connection.
  6. Study in groups. Work individually, then meet weekly to compare reasoning and methods.
  7. Write, write, write. Prefer courses with multiple short papers so you can iterate. Visit the Writing Center.
  8. Study another language early. Small, interactive classes with frequent feedback are transformative.
  9. Manage your time. Try “OK4R” (Overview, Key Ideas, Read, Recall, Reflect, Review). For note-taking, the Cornell system is a good default.
  10. Try something new, get a job, or volunteer. Engagement supports wellbeing and learning.
  11. Study abroad. Explore Study Abroad and PIIRS Global Seminars.
  12. Ask for help. Talk with your residential college dean/assistant dean of studies; we’re here to help you find the right resources.

Some material adapted from Kate Zernike (NYT, 2001) and Richard J. Light, Making the Most of College (Harvard, 2001).

Dates & Deadlines

See the Registrar’s Academic Calendar & Deadlines for add/drop windows, P/D/F dates, Dean’s Date, and exam periods.