Choosing Your Coursework: A Guide

Choosing the right courses at Princeton University can be an exciting yet challenging task, given the vast number of options available. With over 1,000 courses offered each semester and courses taught in over 100 departments and programs, students are encouraged to approach course selection with a balanced approach, taking into account academic rigor, personal interests, and program requirements.

Here are some key tips to help you navigate Princeton's course selection process:

Explore the Princeton course catalog and program websites: Detailed listings of available courses, minors, and requirements relevant to your major and interests can be found on these resources. [5]
Aim for challenging and rigorous courses: Princeton values intellectual curiosity and in-depth engagement. Consider taking honors, advanced placement (AP), or advanced undergraduate courses if eligible. [2]
Consider AP credits and advanced standing: This can allow you to skip introductory courses and potentially graduate earlier. Consult the AP credit policy related to subject areas like math, physics, chemistry, and languages. [2]
Reference Princeton-specific programs and traditions: Programs like the Bridge Year Program, senior thesis, or the Pace Center can guide your course choices towards experiential learning and civic engagement opportunities. [3]
Use Princeton’s scheduling tools and online portals: Tools like the course search tool on the University website can help you plan a balanced schedule that meets your major’s requirements, distributes workload evenly per semester, and fits your extracurricular and personal commitments.
Seek academic advising early and regularly: Advisors can help tailor your course selection according to career goals and graduate school aspirations.
Explore cross-disciplinary courses and minors: This can broaden your education beyond your major field. [5]
Check registration timelines and be prepared with alternative choices: Some popular courses fill quickly, so it's important to have backup options ready.

Recommended resources include:

Princeton’s official course catalog and department websites for up-to-date course offerings and descriptions. [5]
AP credit policy documents available via Princeton’s admissions or registrar sites to understand course placement advantages. [2]
Online platforms like Crimson Global Academy for AP courses if high school courses were limited. [2]
Princeton Online and MOOCs for enrichment and preparing for future coursework. [3]
Academic advisors and faculty mentors for personalized scheduling and course strategy advice.

In addition, students are encouraged to reach out to their PAA, RCA, faculty adviser, residential college Director of Studies, and/or Department Representative for additional guidance and support. [4]

By following these strategies, you can build a strong, coherent course schedule that leverages Princeton’s academic strengths and supports your intellectual and career development. Course selections begin with senior selection starting December 5th and end with first-year selection through December 14th. [6] Each course at Princeton is an opportunity for travel, getting to know professors, learning independent work, and exploring interests. [7] For more information on when course selection opens for each class year, spring add/drop and PDF periods, see the Office of the Registrar. [8]

[1] Courses are taught by professors who have served as Presidents, been awarded Nobel Prizes, made groundbreaking discoveries, and received Pulitzer Prizes.

[2] TigerPounce is an app that notifies you when a course or section that is full becomes available.

[3] Precourser is a course scheduling app similar to ReCal, but found more user-friendly.

[4] Recourse is a course selection app that allows you to search for courses by interesting filters.

[5] ReCal is one of the most used course selection/scheduling apps.

[6] Princeton Courses is a user-friendly app for viewing course information.

[7] It is recommended to listen to reviews and consider popular courses, balance course sizes, distributions, and assignment types.

[8] It is suggested to take at least one small class per semester for building relationships with professors.

[9] Students are advised to balance their workload and exam schedule.

[10] First-year students are encouraged to explore various subjects, even if they have not decided on a major.

[11] Sophomores are advised to consider knocking off a few distributions in their course selection.

[12] TigerPath is a four year planner that allows you to map out major/certificate requirements as well as distribution requirements over multiple semesters.

[13] For more information on when course selection opens for each class year, spring add/drop and PDF periods see the Office of the Registrar (Office of the Registrar - Course Offerings).