Princeton University

Welcome

Letter from the Princeton Quest Liaison

Hello!

My name is Shawon Jackson, and I’m a Class of 2015 Princeton Quest Scholar! Originally, I’m from the suburbs of Chicago, and now, I’m glad to call NJ my new home.

While you may know Princeton for its prominent alumni such as former President Woodrow Wilson and first lady Michelle Obama, I’ll add that there is another special group here: the Princeton Quest Scholars. Coming together to form the Princeton Quest Scholars Network, our goal is to promote leadership and service both among our group and the entire Princeton community. In short, we strive to embrace our school’s unofficial motto of, “In the nation’s service, and in the service of all nations.”

Beyond this commitment to service, what makes Princeton unique is its commitment to diversity. And diversity at Princeton is not just limited to an array of different races, but rather encompasses an array of different experiences. With our residential college system, in which all first- and second-year students live together in one of six college halls, Princeton guarantees that you are surrounded by people who aren’t like you. As such, you’re bound to broaden your perspectives and truly see the world in a different light. Being immersed in such a diverse community often encourages many of our students (about 50%) to study abroad, too, and Princeton guarantees that your financial aid remains the same while away from campus.

Just as it is committed to service and diversity, Princeton also has a vested interested in its undergraduate students. With 5,200 undergraduate and 2,500 graduate students, Princeton is first and foremost an undergraduate institution. Students, for example, have received funding to intern and study abroad (even as freshmen), had meals with prominent professors, and conducted research with scholars in the top of their field. This focus on undergraduate students has been especially useful for Quest Scholars; Princeton guarantees that not only are we able to afford attending the University, but that we can – more importantly – take full advantage of everything it offers.

Thanks for taking the time to learn a bit about life as a Princeton tiger! If you have any questions about Princeton and/or our Quest Scholars Network, don’t hesitate to e-mail me.

Tigerfully yours,
Shawon Jackson, Princeton '15