One of Princeton’s most distinctive characteristics is its close-knit residential community. On-campus housing is guaranteed for undergraduates for all four years. The University’s seven residential colleges are the center of residential life and offer an array of academic and social programs that enhance the undergraduate experience. There are a number of staff and peer support resources set up in the colleges, including the residential college office, your RCA (Residential College Adviser), PAA (Peer Academic Adviser), and the RGS (Resident Graduate Student). More information about Residential Colleges can be found here and on each college’s website.

You can find out more information about your first-year in the residential colleges by checking out our Campus Dining and First Year Residential Experience (FYRE) websites.

We recognize Princeton students come to campus with an array of identities and diverse experiences. Whether you are looking for ongoing support or want to explore different opportunities, we want to make sure you know what is available for you. Princeton strives to be an inclusive place for all members of its community. In addition to the resources identified in the residential colleges, Princeton has a number of offices and organizations designed to help you find your path at Princeton and support you along the way. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion is committed to supporting and challenging all undergraduate and graduate students by facilitating co-curricular experiences and learning about identity, inclusion, equity, and social justice education. They serve the campus community through education, advising and training, and university-wide programming. They also support the work of the Carl A. Fields Center for Equality and Cultural Understanding and the Gender + Sexuality Resource Center. Each Center provides student support and mentoring, educational opportunities for students and employees, community advising, and University-wide programming.

The Office of Religious Life houses 10 chaplaincies and groups which attend to the spiritual needs of students, staff, faculty, families, alumni, and friends through many opportunities for ritual observance, spiritual counseling, and engaging programming. The Emma Bloomberg Center for Access and Opportunity provides all students, especially those from first-generation, low-income and underrepresented backgrounds, with the mentorship, academic enrichment and community that they need to thrive at Princeton.

The Davis International Center is committed to providing services and programs that support the growth, development, and welfare of international students and scholars on multiple levels -– immigration regulatory advising and processing, cultural adjustment, social enrichment, and assistance with practical matters related to living in the U.S. The Davis IC also acts as a center for cultural and educational programming that advances cross-cultural understanding and interaction between U.S. and international students and scholars and promotes cultural competency across the University.

Princeton provides students with an array of medical services on campus at University Health Services, located in the Frist Health Center. Frist Health Center is a fully accredited health care facility with an infirmary available 24/7 for students to utilize during the academic year. McCosh houses Medical Services, Counseling and Psychological Services, Sexual Harassment/Assault Advising, Resources and Education (SHARE), and Health Promotion and Prevention Services. There are also peer advisers for the SHARE and Health Promotion and Prevention Services offices. 

The Eating Clubs are part of a tradition that dates back more than 100 years. In the early years, the University did not provide students with dining facilities, so the students created their own clubs to provide comfortable “houses” for dining and social life. There are currently 11 eating clubs, 10 are located on Prospect Ave and Terrace Club is on Washington Road. All of the clubs are co-educational and reflect the diversity of the Princeton student body. The clubs provide spaces for dining, studying, socializing and hanging out. The eating clubs are unique to Princeton and a popular dining and social option for students in their junior and senior years.

Orientation for the Class of 2029 is scheduled to take place from Friday, August 22 to Monday, September 1. During Orientation you will get to know your residential college, engage in small-group experiences, attend programs that will prepare you for academic life at Princeton, learn Princeton traditions, and most importantly… have fun!

For more information about the Orientation program, please visit our Orientation website.

Wintersession is a two-week experience filled with active and intriguing workshops, trips and events prior to the start of Princeton’s spring semester. Wintersession is a hybrid between a conference and a festival, where students, staff and faculty can take everything from ceramics to dance for klutzes to cooking classes to a coding bootcamp. Sessions are led by students, faculty and staff who submit proposals and can receive funding to cover costs of their session. There are engaging evening events hosted by the Office of Campus Engagement, student groups, academic departments, and administrative offices offered each night throughout Wintersession. All residential colleges and dining halls will be open so students can be on campus at no extra cost, and all Wintersession offerings are free.