A glimpse of the future

With orange lanyards around their necks and maps sticking out of their pockets, roughly 630 admitted students have descended on campus for the first weekend of Princeton Preview.

Participants said they have enjoyed their first hours on campus — and for some prospective members of the Class of 2014, the experience has already cemented their decision to matriculate.

Neelay Patil said he has enjoyed walking around campus. “Seeing all the architecture and all the students and how happy everyone seems has been the highlight,” he explained.

After observing a class and getting to know his hosts, Simon Segert, from Columbia, Miss., said he will definitely enroll at Princeton. “This program has just cemented that decision,” he added.

Matthew Zhou, from Troy, Mich., said that he was “stunned by how quiet and peaceful” the “magnificent campus” is, adding that “it has so many beautiful buildings and study spaces.”

Zhou said he has also been impressed by his interactions with students. “The people have been amazing,” he said. “Everywhere I go, when I stop to look at the map, people come ask me whether or not I’m lost, and I’ve never seen that anywhere else. So I’ve been shocked by how nice everyone is.”

His host also shared “a lot of secret tidbits about Princeton, like the eating clubs and about how Forbes College is probably the best residential college,” Zhou added.

In terms of academics, Zhou, who hopes to study mathematical modeling of financial markets and physics, said he is looking forward to experiencing grade deflation. “The funny thing is that grade deflation attracted me to apply in the first place because I really wanted a big challenge in college,” he explained. “I found that in high school, when things got too easy, I felt myself getting dumber and dumber, so I thought Princeton would be a great fit.”

Russell Morton, from Roxbury, Mass., also said he was excited by the academic opportunities offered at the University, noting that he is interested in concentrating in the Wilson School or politics.

“I’m really excited about the focus on undergraduate education here,” he said. “I’ve heard at other universities, high-level classes were being taught by T.A.s, which didn’t really interest me. The Woodrow Wilson School is unique and exciting from what I’ve heard, and its policy seminars sound like a glorified Model U.N.”

Many students, of course, are still undecided.

Betsy Riley, a senior from Boston interested in studying physics, said she hopes the weekend will help her decide between Princeton, Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Chicago.

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“It’s been great, especially since it’s such a gorgeous day outside,” she said. “The students seem really nice and excited.”

Riley, who has already visited MIT, said she is “still exploring” which college to attend, though she has been impressed with Princeton.

Similarly, Jack Greisman, a senior from New York City interested in studying molecular biology, was trying to decide between Princeton and Cornell, though he said he is “set for the most part on Princeton.”

“I like Princeton — it’s a great day and a great campus that’s got a really nice close-knit community,” he said.

Greisman said he is leaning toward attending Princeton because of its focus on undergraduates.

“From what I’ve heard, the small size and attention you get here from professors is fantastic,” he said. “I’m especially looking forward to the research facilities.”

But Riley noted that she was taking note of campus life beyond academics.

“I think that the most important thing I’m looking at right now to help me decide is the student culture, which is something you can only get by visiting each school,” she said.