Size Matters?

I'm debating applying to Princeton University but I'm a little nervous about the size. Is it too overwhelming or does it have that tight-knit community feeling?

Even though Princeton is an Ivy League institution with a high volume of students, rest assured that it has managed to maintain a tight-knit community feeling. The college works hard to create a smaller community feel through its residential colleges, where students live and dine, and which host their own events and traditions. They also have a robust advising system to provide academic support and a sense of community.

Princeton structures its academic departments to foster strong relationships among students and their professors. Particularly, in the humanities and social sciences departments, seminars and precepts (smaller discussions for larger lecture courses) create opportunities for close-knit academic discussions.

Outside of academics, Princeton hosts a lot of student-run extracurricular activities. These range from sports teams, debate societies, to performing arts groups, and more. Joining these groups can help foster a feeling of community, no matter how large the overall student population might seem.

However, keep in mind that everyone's experience is unique. Some will find the community a little overwhelming at first, but there plenty of resources on campus to help students adjust. Ultimately, you'll need to consider your own personality and comfort in deciding whether a larger or smaller school would be a better fit.