High tuition fees should cover student summer storage
Regarding 'A ritual of waste' (Friday, Sept. 22, 2006):
It is outrageous that a school which charges in excess of $40K/year in tuition and fees can't, as part of that very expensive package, manage to store students' personal items over the summer.
When I was an undergrad many decades ago, state schools didn't store your stuff over the summer — but hey, tuition was only $400 a year instate, and you don't expect service at that price.
The expensive private college (Carleton) which I attended for one year, on the other hand, managed to find room in the dorm basements for our neatly boxed stuff, and when I lived in the Grad College in the mid-70s, we also used the basement for storage. Renee Hylton GS '79
Nassau Hall should support the eating options students favor
Regarding 'Malkiel, students spar over colleges' (Thursday, Sept. 21, 2006):
If the issue is about "choice," it should be known that the students have clearly "chosen."
Based on a survey performed in May 2006, comprising all four classes and obtaining over 1900 responses, students overwhelmingly favor the eating clubs (79 percent), followed by Independent/coop (14 percent), then four-year colleges (three percent).
As the student body grows, the University should do more to support the options that students favor by 93 percent — eating clubs and independent/coop — instead of the four-year colleges, favored by only three percent of the students. Robert W. Klein '78
Socioeconomic divisions exist without four-year colleges
Regarding 'Malkiel, students spar over colleges' (Thursday, September 21, 2006):
Students concerned about the four-year college system creating socioeconomic divisions on campus should open their eyes — these divisions already exist.
A good many juniors and seniors, between 20 to 30 percent, choose to go independent or join a coop in order to save money and have a social life beyond the Street. These students receive more financial aid on average than students who choose to join eating clubs. While joining a four-year residential college will be cheaper than joining a club, it won't be nearly as cheap as joining a coop or going independent.
As an independent student, I think these "concerns" about the four-year residential college system betray the ignorance of the average Princeton student about the longstanding socioeconomic segregation already present on our campus. Lindsey Hornbuckle '08
U. culture changes only without the support of Nassau Hall
Regarding 'Be cool' (Thursday, Sept. 21, 2006):
I agree wholeheartedly with Johann Loh's exposure of how mainstream Princeton culture remains the dominant culture at Princeton.
I find that stating this as Loh does, however, with the motive of trying to instigate change, often has the opposite effect. Any call for difference, especially if it is strong enough to invite the support of Nassau Hall, will make the effort for change appear as stodgy as President Tilghman. The Princeton culture that Johann criticizes, on the other hand, will seem to have an independent cool.
In other words, any position that makes its way to Nassau Hall or The Daily Princetonian seems to be hurt by this official and public support, despite how true or well-written it is. I can think of no solution to this problem. Eric Meng '07
Admissions should have let Harvard play guinea pig alone
Regarding 'Admission took the bait' (Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2006):
As a Harvard alumnus and a long time interviewer, I read with a great deal of interest the comments from Marta Richards '73. She presents a very reasoned argument from a historical perspective that would serve well as a cautionary note for those schools that may rush to join Harvard's decision to eliminate Early Action.
In reality, it is not immediately clear that the elimination of Early Action will do anything to alleviate the pressures felt by students as they go through this daunting process. In fact, the delay in the application process may serve to increase the anxiety level of those who are ready to make a decision and extend the "competitive atmosphere" for an additional semester that in many ways has destroyed the youthful exuberance and relief for those students ready to make a commitment.
As for the perceived inequity on the part of lower income and minority students regarding Early Action, a university could easily reduce the numbers of those admitted early to review the entire applicant pool for a regular decision in order to "shape" their class to their liking. A more reasoned response may be to allow Harvard to proceed with its initiative and then reevaluate the process after its two to three year trial to determine its ultimate impact on the university and admissions process. E. Kirk Huang, Harvard '73
Grade deflation still has no benefits and no followers
Regarding 'Job search unaffected by deflation, report says' (Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2006):
The so-called report stating that job search is unaffected by the grade deflation policy is meaningless. It is devoid of any real statistical analysis but rather goes from to surmise to supposition to desired "fact." Did Dean Malkiel and the "investigators" realize that the investment banking firms surveyed are hiring in far greater numbers than they did in 2004?
I have informally surveyed approximately 25 young bankers involved in recruiting for their respective Wall Street firms and not one of them knew about Princeton's grade deflation policy. And what about Malkiel's confident prediction that other top universities would follow suit? It hasn't happened. What baffles me is why our brilliant tenured faculty would derogate its ability to grade as professors see fit. Michael Scharf '64
College admissions has become a mere prestige competition
Regarding 'Admission took the bait' (Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2006):
Thanks to Marta Richards '73 for a wonderful article that brings a valuable perspective to the issue of early admissions. I still wonder, however, if early admission is the most effective way of accomplishing her stated goals. While Early Decision may help identify students who want Princeton the most, evidence suggests that Early Decision also attracts somewhat less academically distinguished students who are strategically trying to maximize their chances of acceptance.
The real problem seems to be the way society has come to view higher education: a competition for prestige. Harvard's dominant reputation among the general public has never seriously been threatened by Yale, Princeton or anyone. But how many applicants know that a recent survey placed Harvard fifth from last in student satisfaction among 31 top schools? That some Harvard students go years without ever taking a class with fewer than 50 students, while some never even talk to a professor?
Some students will always wear Harvard blinders, but why not force them to at least take a good look at what Princeton has to offer? If we can do that, then Princeton will stack up well against anyone ... and when and how we admit students suddenly won't matter so much. Jonathan Jew-Lim '04
Arts neighborhood should provide Nassau Inn with competition
Regarding 'Plans for arts neighborhood take shape' (Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2006):
As a parent of a Princeton student, I would love to see a new hotel go into the commercial space that is part of this development. The Nassau Inn needs some competition. They are the only game in town and their prices, service and cleanliness leave much to be desired. The hotels on Route 1 are great, but the distance from campus makes a weekend visiting the kids a bit of a hassle. The Princeton campus is so gorgeous and walking with our kids to and from their dorm in the mornings and evenings would add so much to the visit. The project as a whole is very exciting. Jane Weil P'08
Removal of Early Decision allows for more careful decisions
Regarding 'Early admissions dropped' (Tuesday, September 19, 2006):
I believe I'm pleased that Princeton has decided to drop Early Decision. When my daughter began to look at colleges, we devoted her 10th and 11th grade spring breaks to visiting Eastern campuses. Since we were driving from northern Michigan, we managed to visit only five colleges each time.
Despite her strong academic and extracurricular record, she was not ready to commit early. She needed that year to continue visiting, exploring and deciding. She made second (overnight) visits to five of the six colleges to which she'd applied. Perhaps a challenge was that few students in our high school venture beyond Michigan's borders to attend college.
Thus, our students don't have the advantage of a continual flow of graduates heading East to college and returning to share their experiences. I feel that former Dean of Admission Fred Hargadon had some valid arguments in his support of Early Decision. However, my middle class daughter tucked away in northern Michigan found that the additional six months in her senior year allowed her decision-making to evolve more meaningfully. Pat Mericle P'05
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