News from PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
Office of Communications
22 Chambers St.
Princeton, New Jersey 08542
Telephone 609-258-3601; Fax 609-258-1301
For immediate release: Sept. 3, 2004
Media contact: Patricia Allen, (609) 258-6108, pallen@princeton.edu
Princeton welcomes new students, classes begin Sept. 9
PRINCETON, N.J. -- Princeton will welcome 1,175 freshmen in the class of 2008 and 541 new students in the Graduate School in activities and programs leading up to the 2004-05 academic year's opening day of classes on Thursday, Sept. 9.
Freshmen began moving into residence halls during the weekend of Aug. 28-29 and participated in various orientation activities, such as the University's Outdoor Action and Community Action programs. Most students will return to campus on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 3-4.
The University will mark the beginning of the academic year with Opening Exercises at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 5, in the University Chapel. The annual interfaith service will include an address by President Shirley M. Tilghman and the recognition of academic achievements of undergraduate students.
Following Opening Exercises, the class of 2008 will receive a symbolic greeting from upperclass students in the first Princeton Pre-Rade. Freshmen will gather outside of FitzRandolph Gate on Nassau Street and file through the University's front entrance onto the campus.
The procession will end with a picnic and entertainment by the University's student singing groups who will perform traditional Princeton songs. The event is sponsored by the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students, the Undergraduate Student Government and the student government of the classes of 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Other activities planned for new students throughout the first week of classes include an open house at the Frist Campus Center on Wednesday, Sept. 8, and the Princeton Triangle Club's annual Frosh Week show on Friday, Sept. 10, at the McCarter Theatre. The Triangle Club show, "Magic '08 Balls," will introduce members of the incoming class to the student-run musical comedy troupe, which is now in its 114th year. Due to space limitations, most events are open to the campus community only.
Princeton's new enrollment figures for 2004-05 are:
Class of 2008
• Number of students = 1,175
• Percent on financial aid = 51
• Number of applications = 13,695
• Percent admitted = 12.7
• Percent admitted through early decision = 49
• Percent men = 53.4
• Percent women = 46.6
• Number of states represented = 48 plus Washington, D.C.
• Number of countries represented = 50
• Percent students of color = 27.3
• Percent international students = 9.2
• Percent sons/daughter of alumni = 14
Total undergraduate enrollment = 4,683
Fall 2004 entering graduate students:
• Number pursuing doctoral degrees = 400
• Number seeking master's degrees = 141
• Number of visiting and exchange students = 28
• Percent men = 61
• Percent women = 39
• Percent international students = 36
• Percent underrepresented minorities = 15
• Percent in humanities and social sciences = 48.6
• Percent in sciences and engineering = 46.4
• Percent in architecture = 5
Total graduate enrollment = 2,066
Figures are accurate for the pre-registration period -- official opening enrollment numbers will be issued by the Office of the Registrar in early October.