Revised viewbook plays down clubs

In her first year, new admission dean Janet Rapelye has overseen the revamping of the University's viewbook for prospective students, which now includes extensive, detailed course descriptions. The additional academic material is included at the expense of some of the previous descriptions of social issues — in particular, mention of eating clubs.

The clubs receive only one reference in the book's "campus life" section, while underclass residential colleges are portrayed as the main social hub for students.

Rapelye cited the need to include more academic information as the reason for reduced discussion of social options.

The samples of academic course selections in the viewbook are part of an attempt to reach out to lower-income applicants who may not have access to the Internet, Rapleye said, and are not able to check the online course guide.

This change was essential, Rapelye said, though it took up precious space in the slim, 60-page brochure. Rapelye said she had wanted to reference the clubs, but the viewbook was meant to be an overview of University student life and not a comprehensive study.

In addition, Rapelye said, she wanted to emphasize the University's recent move to replace all student loans with grants and to showcase the fact that "since 1998 the number of students on financial aid has jumped from 38 percent to 53 percent," as written in the viewbook.

"The viewbook is a very strong statement of what Princeton has to offer, and if [students] have specific questions, it allows them to address them through further research," she said. "It's a teaching tool for what's available at Princeton right now."

Rapelye said a revamped booklet presenting a "fresh, new look on the incredible offerings we have here," was one of her top priorities as first year dean.

"The biggest challenge in revising and updating the new viewbook was deciding how to balance the rich history of Princeton with how vibrant the institution is right now," Rapelye said. "This is not a museum. It's a great place to be a student."

The new design attempts to make the viewbook more approachable for applicants, featuring more pictures and brightly colored inlays of interesting facts and quotes, Rapelye said.

The communications office began work on the viewbook last summer, Rapelye said, and has completed the project in just three months — a fraction of the 18 months expected.