Reply to Multi-generation Princeton double-legacy. DC doesn't want to go there...help

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote]some bright students don't apply [to Princeton] because of its reputation for social exclusivity, as most obviously perpetuated by the "bicker" tradition at a half-dozen selective eating clubs (if all the clubs operated on a sign-in or lottery system, this would be a non-issue). Students who apply to Ivies obviously aren't put off by their academic selectivity or exclusivity; in fact they covet it. But the selective eating clubs send a message that, no matter how smart you are, you can be excluded based on a comparative lack of social connections or skills, and that's not the message some high-achieving kids want to hear. Even if the short-term impact of doing away with the selective clubs would only be to increase the number of applications every year by a few thousand, and drop the admissions rate to below 6%, it's not something the administration should ignore.[/quote]

Can someone explain what exactly an eating club is? What % of the class ends up getting a [i]bid[/i] to an eating club? Is the process super humiliating or something? Thanks.[/quote]

Eating clubs are basically coed fraternities/sororities, although most people don't live in the building.  You join midway through your sophomore year.  More than half of the clubs there is no "rush", you simply sign up.  The only reason you wouldn't get in is if there isn't enough space and you get a bad lottery number.  You will get into one of the sign in clubs if you want to do 100% of people who want to join a club can.

The other group of clubs requires a rush process called "bicker."  The process varies by club.  Some the process is quite tame and in no way humiliating.  In others there is a bit more of hijinks associated with frats, but still nothing like the hazing you see at some places.

All the clubs, including the sign in clubs to a lesser degree, tend to have a slightly different feel and membership base.  One club has a lot of the artsy/theater folks, a couple others tend to have athletes, etc.  but none of the clubs are monolithic.

I believe around 85% of people join a club and, again, no one who wants to join will get shut out completely.  Some people use their club mostly just for meals, for other people, it is the center of their social life.  Even people not in clubs (either underclassmen or folks who choose not to join) can go to most parties held at the clubs and can eat there with a friend in the club through a meal exchange program.

To the extent people choose not to apply to Princeton because of an antiquated view of the eating clubs (and I question how prevelant this is), they are missing out.[/quote]

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