Tags: first generation
Please note that some publications and departmental websites have not yet been updated for the current incoming class. Publications will continue to be updated throughout the summer.
When I first came to Princeton 3 years ago, I had no idea what to expect. When I arrived, I felt lost and confused. Everyone around me seemed to know what they were doing while I was struggling to figure out the basics of college. As a first-generation/low-income (FLI) student, I didn’t have anyone I knew at Princeton or back at home to ask questions, I felt that I had to figure it all out myself. By the time freshmen year ended, I realized that there was so much information that I wish I would have known about if only I had a community to reach out to for help. This pushed me to seek out a group called Princeton’s Hidden Minority Council (PHMC), which is a student organization for FLI students formed during my freshmen year. PHMC...
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“Princeton on a Dime – Tips for Thrifty Tigers”
Congrats class of 2021! Some of you may have imagined yourself at Princeton for much of your life, but now as you plan to make it a reality, some of you might wonder: what will it be like? Is it possible to live comfortably without breaking the bank? Absolutely!
Although Princeton’s no-loan financial aid policy has significantly lowered the cost of attaining a Princeton education—with about 60% of all undergraduate students receiving aid and an average grant of $48,000/year covering 100% of tuition – there are still a number of items you may wish to purchase to make your life here functional, fun, and personalized.
Princeton’s historic Nassau Street is...
Continue reading…On a very humid Sunday in the middle of a busy July, I moved into Princeton with a bubbly heart, a desire to learn, and excitement knowing that I was going to live in a new place. Okay, Princeton was new to me. I’ve always lived in New Jersey (in Newark), but at times, Princeton feels like a completely different country. The gothic architecture and Prospect Garden contrasted sharply with the concrete sidewalks and three-family houses I was used to seeing every day.
During my six weeks at the Freshman Scholars Institute, I didn’t feel this difference in culture. Many of the students who attended were, like me, from low income and first generation...
Continue reading…For my wife and I, having our first daughter attend college was very exciting. We felt happy and were not too concerned about what college or university she would end up going to. We knew that our daughter was very ambitious and hard working. Then our excitement was magnified when we learned that she had been accepted to Princeton University.
We did not know what to expect nor did we know what was expected from us, if anything. Since our daughter is a first-generation student, this was all new to us, and there was a lot of anxiety. However, we soon learned about meetings of alumni and parents organized by Princeton, and one was scheduled to take place near our hometown. We attended and were somewhat apprehensive at first....
Welcome to Princeton University, Tigercubs!
We are thrilled that you are thinking of joining our community. We’d like to take this opportunity to tell you more about amazing resources available just for FLI (first-generation and/or low-income students) at the University!
The Scholars Institute Fellows Program (SIFP) is a four-year scholars program dedicated to first-generation, low-income Princeton students. SIFP provides scholars with individualized mentorship and guidance from upperclass students, faculty and staff. SIFP Fellows also receive guided exposure to enrichment opportunities both on and off campus: think internships, fellowships, scholarships, and campus...
Continue reading…Growing up in Queens, New York I was lucky to live in a predominantly South Asian neighborhood with a mosque down the block. Community and faith were intertwined and I never questioned why I was Muslim or why I should continue being Muslim. Instead I embraced my Muslim identity openly and threw myself into all the things I could find that had “Islam” or “Muslim” attached to its name. As a result I found wonderful friends and mentors and discovered many things that I’m passionate about, but each experience sparked more complicated questions about why and what I believe that I felt severely ill-equipped to answer. It was harder to find a spiritual connection to God than it was to continue going through the motions and keeping up...
Continue reading…Since coming to Princeton, I have been growing more and more into my queerness and figuring out what this aspect of my being means to me. Growing up on Guam - where many LGBTQA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Asexual) individuals are forced to suppress their identities due to conservative societal views of the community - I did not have the chance to explore my queerness.Through the various resources and organizations on campus, I have been able to learn about my own queerness and the LGBTQA community at large. I am an intern at the LGBT Center, a LGBT Peer Educator, Vice President of the Princeton Equality Project, and have attended the...
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