The Academy of Massage Therapy

Date: Jun 11 2014
Major: Undecided (This Major's Salary over time)
I have just finished my first year at Princeton. I have met wonderful friends whom I have found helpful and always willing to collaborate. Some classes are exceedingly hard, but I have found that utilizing office hours can be beneficial. Of the eight classes I have taken this year four have had precepts. My preceptors ranged from absolutely amazing to worse than awful. Some have encouraged me as I adjusted to the increased demands and rigor while others have actually told me I could end with no grade above a "C" and should not continue to the next level class.. and I ended with a "B" in that class. Although I think she was truly an outlier. Her negativity was disconcerting and did set me back and impact my motivation for awhile until I realized that I could and would prove her wrong. Lesson from this was that if you go to Princeton, you must believe in yourself.

Acitivities have been great for me and I have found my niche in a club (sports) program, community service activity and an extracurricular club. I have met many people in these organizations and it has widened my circle of friends beyond the dormitories and class year peers. Each person has been amazing in his/her accomplishments. Are some arrogant? Yes, but I then to pursue friendships that are geared towards my "fit." Not everyone is going to be my "cup of tea," but this is no different than any other institution or situation.

Grading is tough, with the current grade deflation policy being a bit onerous. Although I do believe it is more impactful for the humanities rather than the sciences. Still, it makes for a few tears along the way. Some students will retake classes that they received AP scores of 5's on to cushion the blow, but after talking to my friends at other colleges, this is not unique to Princeton. It will take more effort to obtain an "A," sometimes you want to go for it and sometimes you say "is it worth the effort?" "B's" are well within reach for most disciplines and with average effort. If you are an "A" junkie, Princeton can be a hard mountain to climb.

While there is competition for that "A" grade, I have not found that to impede collaboration between students or create an aura of ultra competition. In fact, I had one classmate offer to explain a problem set to me and I really did not even know him, He approached me and not visa versa! Really, in my experience, most students know that they will be great at somethings and average at others so they help were they can and ask for assistance when they cannot.

In reflection, I have found my first year to be a challenge, but a welcomed one at that! Classes have been enlightening in many ways. Most teachers have been great, but there are clunkers that I know to avoid. I have a wonderful circle of friends, learned a lot about my self, and am looking forward to the years ahead.