Princeton University

Date: Oct 14 2004
Major: History/Histories (art history/etc.) (This Major's Salary over time)
Princeton, like many descriptions of the Hindu goddess of creation/destruction-Kali, is many things to many different people. It is a truly challenging experience in that one tends to be surrounded by fairly bright, individuals who have a great deal of ambition. Socially, in the late adolescent, early adult years that tend to be indicative of the character-to-be of the student(s), Princeton offers the odd, somewhat outmoded construct of the Ivy League private eating clubs. These represent a sub rosa manner of allowing students to believe that they are making their first real choices of whom they will snub or with whom they will bond. Although not officially ordained by the school; the strange ritual of bickering and developing new neuroses to take with you for the next 20 years of your existence, is essentially maintained and supported de facto, if not de jure, by the University community. This only makes sense though, when one considers that (when I was in school) there is/was little else that a student of limited means could seek out for entertainment in central New Jersey. At least little that was safe and legal. The academics are excellent. Athletics are fine for 'club sport' enthusiasts and upholders of old school east coast basketball styles, involving quaint notions such as selflessness and placing the good of the many above the interests of the few or the one. Bill Bradley meets Mr. spock, if you will.

Overall, as I suspect American educational experiences are geared at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st centuries, Princeton is a valuable commodity and terrific opportunity—probably a 'best buy' on a number of levels. Just remember: caveat emptor.