Princeton Preview moves indoors amid budget cuts

Hundreds of prospective students with orange and black lanyards swarmed campus on Tuesday — but the massive tents that usually accompany their arrival were nowhere to be found.

Due to budget constraints, the University is hosting Princeton Preview primarily indoors this year, according to University spokesperson Jennifer Morrill. Current students voiced mixed opinions on the implications of an indoor Preview, but for prospective students, the day couldn’t have been brighter.

“I’ve absolutely loved it here. Everyone has been so kind and welcoming, and it’s been great to hear from so many current students and faculty,” said prospective student Charlotte Kleid. “Everyone’s just been so willing to share their experience and their stories, and it just makes me feel at home.”

Every year, the University organizes days full of programming to give accepted students an impression of the student experience on campus, often swaying students in their final decisions on college commitment. In past years, Princeton has held this event on two separate dates, but this year the Office of Undergraduate Admission announced a third date. This change, motivated by budget constraints, allows smaller cohorts to attend each Preview day. Preview is being held on April 7, 14, and 28 this year.

Prospective students and their guests attended a variety of events, including an opening ceremony with Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Karen Richardson ’93, a student panel, and dorm tours. 

“[The student panel] gave us the student perspective, which is really nice. They were real with us, but it was very encouraging,” Aayushi Bharati said during lunch in the Rocky-Mathey dining hall. “I was very intimidated coming into the program thinking, okay, everyone’s gonna be so smart and scary, but actually everyone’s super nice.”

For lunch, parents ate on Nassau Street and at Frist Campus Center while prospective students ate in the dining halls. 

“I think it’s great that they separated the parents and the kids so that, you know, they can go off and do their thing, and then we can get our questions answered, but we’re not hovering,” said Rimma Fehling, a parent of a prospective student. 

Another parent noted enjoying her experience both on and off campus, feeling assured of Nassau Street’s safety by her experience at Alfalfa. 

“This is my first time really being in the town… I feel like [Alfalfa] is very safe, clean, secure, vibrant, happy,” parent Ali Roukas said.

While the town is an integral part of Princeton life, some students said they were more excited about trying the dining hall food.

“This is the food that I’d be eating with an unlimited plan most of the time, so I had to see for myself,” Katya Geyer said. “But I like the option of … the food is nothing to worry about, and then if I want to go for a special treat outside, it’s also available.”

“I really like the food,” Juliet Wei said. “I just got my wisdom teeth removed, so the availability of soft food that’s still delicious, that was great.”

Princeton Preview, as usual, included an activity fair held in Dillon Gym. Students walked around looking at various booths displaying the many clubs and organizations at Princeton.

“I really like the political clubs, as well as the singing portion of the clubs,” Valentina Angon said. “There’s literally something for every student here.”

To some students still deciding between schools, Princeton Preview has played a role at pushing them one way or another. 

“It’s so beautiful. I love it so much. The architecture is so cool, and the events that they’ve planned are very pushing me for Princeton,” Geyer said.

“It’s been very nice to see lots of different people from all over the country, and see what kinds of different things people are interested in, and get to talk to a lot of current students and faculty … to envision what the environment would be like if I chose to come here next year,” Madeline Rugg said.

To others already committed to Princeton, Princeton Preview helped them cement the reality of their decision.

“[Princeton Preview has] honestly made it all feel real. I had this idea of what Princeton was broadly, but now I’m walking around here, realizing Princeton students are just like any other students, really welcoming. So it’s been great so far,” Edward King’oo said.

The day has also allowed students to picture the next four years of their campus life.

“It’s been very busy, very jam-packed, but I’ve loved it. I think it’s definitely a great introduction to what a day at Princeton would look like, some of the interests my peers would have, how the faculty interacts with students,” Arsh Parekh said. 

“It’s surreal. I think there’s really no better way to put it — it truly is a dream come true,” he added. 

“It has made me feel like I did make the right choice,” Angon said. 

While the day went swimmingly for prospective students, the change from previous Previews is evident to current students, especially with the absence of the tents. 

In a statement to the ‘Prince,’ Morrill wrote, “The Office of Admission made the decision to host three smaller previews to eliminate the reliance on tents, which are a significant expense.” 

Tents, in the past, have allowed for an indoor and outdoor experience to Princeton Preview, showcasing all aspects of the campus. This year, many activities that would usually be held outside are being held in Richardson Auditorium and Dillon Gym. Additionally, the welcoming address, held in the University Chapel in the past, will also be held in Richardson Auditorium. 

“It was a really nice environment with several hundred of us packed in,” Emmett Appel ’29 said about the Chapel address University President Christopher Eisgruber ’83 gave last year. 

“It’s kind of sad, because I feel like our campus is so beautiful, just being outside,” Appel added in response to this year’s Preview being mostly indoors. 

Cindy Liang ’29 noted that, while she “liked the outside aspect,” she doesn’t believe it would have significantly influenced her decision to come to Princeton. 

On the other hand, Nora Glass ’29 said, “if I had gone to Preview last year, and it would have been partly in Dillon Gym, I maybe would not have gotten the same sense of jaw dropping, being in love with the school, everything being perfect. That definitely was the sense that I got from Preview.”

Additionally, Elli Sourli ’29 said of the presence of tents and outdoor events, “when I came for orientation, it was pretty similar to Preview, and that was really reassuring.”

While the format has changed, students continue to emphasize the magic of Princeton’s campus. 

“Everyone here has been so welcoming. Everyone’s always stopping to talk to one another. I feel able to approach so many people, and I’ve already met so many future classmates,” prospective student Natalie Surges said.

Benedict Hooper is a staff News writer for the ‘Prince.’ He is from Greenwich, Conn., and can be reached at bh3193[at]princeton.edu.

Elizabeth Hu is a staff News writer, assistant head Copy editor, associate Data editor, staff Podcast producer, and contributing Features writer from Houston. She can be reached at exh[at]dailyprincetonian.com.

Lulu Mangriotis is the assistant News editor for the ‘Prince’ leading student life coverage. She is from New York City and can be reached at lm8001[at]princeton.edu.

Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.