Dear Class of 2012,

You've been admitted to Princeton at an exciting time. The University is working hard to expand the social, residential and academic options available to students. Last year, the University established two four-year residential colleges, opened beautiful Whitman College and began construction on several new residential buildings. The University will tell you much about the four-year residential college system and the amazing dining options. We'll leave that to them.

During your visit you will have opportunities to explore the residential colleges, but you will not likely experience another important part of Princeton: the eating clubs. With about 70 percent of upperclassmen as members, the eating clubs exert a heavy influence on the Princeton social scene.

Do not be afraid. The Street, as the eating clubs are collectively called, is not the elite, snobby place you may have been told about from those who base their information on hearsay or having read "This Side of Paradise." On most weekends, many eating clubs are open to all Princeton students free of charge. The proximity of the clubs to each other allows for a wide array of students to interact in one place. If you are curious about the eating clubs or Princeton's many other social and cultural offerings, ask your host or other Princeton students you meet. They can give you a valuable "on the ground" perspective regarding social and residential life at the University.

The academic environment at the University is why most of us are here. Princeton takes teaching very seriously, and at few other institutions will you interact so closely with among the best professors in academia. Not only are the academics stellar, but the University is also continually adding to its offerings. The African American studies program is currently being expanded and new certificate programs in global health and South Asian studies are on the way. The University is also working to bolster its creative arts programs through the recently created Lewis Center for the Arts.

The best advice we can give you is to ask questions and explore all that Princeton has to offer. Don't just settle for one person's opinion. Princeton is so diverse that almost everyone on campus has a unique perspective on the Princeton experience. As you learn more, try to picture yourself at Princeton and think about how you can take advantage of what Princeton can offer you. We think you'll like what you see.