You can book a meeting with her using the Stellic appointment scheduler or you can e-mail BSEprogram@princeton.edu to make an appointment. You can also stop by her office. If she’s not busy, she’ll be happy to chat with you, but if she’s busy with other deanly duties or away, then Ms. Miller can book an appointment at the next available time.

It’s room C207 in the Engineering Quad, next to the E-Quad Cafe. Here’s a map on which you should select “Engineering Quad-C wing.”

Most B.S.E. students take physics, calculus, chemistry, and one other course in the fall, and physics, calculus, and three other courses in the spring. One of those “other” courses will be a freshman writing seminar, depending on the term you’re assigned to take it. Many B.S.E. students also try to complete the computing requirement (COS 126 or ECE 115) in their first year.

B.S.E. students take physics, chemistry, and math in the first year for several reasons: (1) the concepts you learn in these courses will probably appear in courses you take in your sophomore, junior, and senior years where it will be assumed that you know about them; (2) you will have a busy schedule in your sophomore year even if the math and science are not direct prerequisites for the sophomore courses in your major; (3) these subjects are essential elements of the general education of an engineering student.

For physics, the standard courses are Physics 103 (fall) and Physics 104 (spring) but some B.S.E. students might substitute Physics 105-106 followed by PHY 104. In chemistry, the main course is Chem 207, although Chem 201 is also OK. Calc depends on where you get placed. Math 103 and 104 deal with single-variable calculus, Math 201 with multivariable calc, and Math 202 with linear algebra. Math 203 is also multivariable calc from a bit more theoretical perspective (more proofs), and Math 204 is a similar treatment of linear algebra. There’s no advantage from an engineering perspective to taking 203 instead of 201. It’s more a matter of taste. Some students are comfortable with the more theoretical approach, some aren’t. You can figure this out in the first two weeks. For the real math fans, there’s also Math 216, 217, and 218, very theoretical.

The School of Engineering and Applied Science offers a series of courses that are alternatives to traditional first-year math and physics courses. EGR 151 is entitled “Foundations of Engineering: Mechanics, Energy, and Waves” and is an alternative to Physics 103. EGR 152, “Foundations of Engineering, the Mathematics of Shape and Motion” can be substituted for Math 104. The goal of these courses is to teach fundamental principles in physics and calculus within the framework of developing engineering solutions to modern technological challenges. These courses are appropriate for students without advanced placement in physics and with placement in math at the level of Math 104. Students with AP in Physics or placement into multivariable calc should take Physics 103 and Math 201.

To satisfy the general B.S.E. math requirement, you need to take as much math as gets you through linear algebra. So if you’re placed into Math 104, then you take 104 or EGR 152 in the fall, then 201 or 203 in the spring, and 202 or 204 next fall. If you’re placed into multivariable calc, you take 201 or 203 this fall, then 202 or 204 in the spring and you have it covered. Please note that most SEAS departments have a departmental math requirement beyond linear algebra of one or more 300-level courses (often involving differential equations, MAE 305, or discrete math, COS 340).

That’s a bad idea, so we will do everything possible to make sure you’re taking math from the very start. It’s in your greatest interest as a B.S.E. student to get through the math sequence as soon as possible. It gives you more flexibility in sophomore year and lets you understand what’s going on in your sophomore courses. And you won’t forget what you learned in high school. Don’t break your math sequence!

We encourage B.S.E. students to take four courses in the fall of their first year and five in the spring for a total of nine. The reason for this is to get one of the five-course semesters done early so B.S.E. students don’t fall behind and find themselves with a heavy load in the junior or senior years.

So long as you finish the year with eight, it’s not a big problem. All you’ve done is pushed off one of the five-course terms to the future. If you finish your first year with seven or fewer courses, then you have to switch to the A.B. degree until you make up the deficiency.

That is the right advice. Study for the Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree involves a lot of math and a working understanding of science. The B.S.E. first year program that includes physics, chemistry, math, and computing is common among all six engineering departments, including ORFE.

Students seeking to place out of Physics 103-104, thereby fulfilling the B.S.E. physics requirement,  must take the departmental requirement fulfillment (placement) test during Orientation. You cannot place out of Physics 103-104 without taking the departmental requirement fulfillment test, no matter how what score you got on the AP/IB/A-levels or any other preparation. 

There is a separate exam for students who want to try to place into Physics 207, which is not a BSE requirement but which might be of interest to some students who are very interested in physics. Most BSE students will take the 103-104 requirement fulfillment test if they want to try to place out of the BSE physics requirement.

Please note that the Physics requirement fulfillment test and Physics 207 placement tests are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. 

Students with a significant background in computer science may choose to take the Computer Science Placement test, offered during Orientation, to determine if they may place into COS 217 or COS 226, fulfilling the computing requirement through one of these two courses. Students may not place out of the computing requirement, which must be fulfilled through COS 126, ECE 115, COS 217, or COS 226.

A score of 5 on the Chemistry AP exam, a 7 on the International Baccalaureate Higher Level exam, or an A or A* on the British A-levels fulfills one semester of general chemistry (equivalent to CHM 201 or CHM 207), thereby fulfilling the B.S.E. chemistry requirement. Make sure the score has been reported to Princeton.

Why should you take the Chemistry Placement test? A few possibilities:

1. If you studied chemistry at a high level but didn’t take an AP exam, or if you took the AP exam and got a 4 or equivalent (e.g. IB-H 6, A-level B), but you think you know more than that score shows. If you think you know a lot more chemistry and want to try to place into Organic Chemistry (thereby fulfilling the two semesters of general chemistry required to major in CBE), then you need to take the departmental placement test.
2. If you have any other preparation in chemistry other than that mentioned above, or if you scored less than a 5 on the AP exam and still think you know more chemistry than the score shows, then you need to take the placement test.

Please note that the Chemistry placement test is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you have a 5 on the Chem AP exam but you take the test to try to place into Organic Chemistry and fall short, we will still honor the 5 for the BSE requirement.

If you have taken any other exams (e.g. national school-leaving exams), or if you have taken college-level courses in physics or chemistry, but don’t have an AP/IB/A-level score, you must also take the departmental placement tests to fulfill B.S.E. requirements.

Students who wish to satisfy the B.S.E. chemistry or molecular biology requirement through molecular biology should enroll in MOL 214. MOL 214 cannot be placed out of through testing or AP scores. 

Since all B.S.E. students will continue to study math, we can use your scores to make tentative placements which can be confirmed by Math Placement Workshops during Orientation. There is no placement test in Math. A 5 on the AP BC Calculus (or equivalent; seeAP table) demonstrates fulfillment of MAT 103, but you may well be ready for placement directly into MAT 201 or 203. Successful completion of MAT 201/203 demonstrates fulfillment of the prerequisite courses (MAT 103 and MAT 104).

No. With the exception of students admitted through Princeton’s transfer program, those requirements can only be satisfied through the mechanisms described on this page (eligible test scores and placement tests)..

You should have a conversation with the Math Placement Officer. Bring examples of graded work such as exams and a syllabus showing the topics you covered. If he or she agrees in writing (with a confirmation email sent to Dean Swanson) that you have mastered the subjects of multivariable calculus or linear algebra, you may be permitted to satisfy the B.S.E. requirement in this subject and begin studying math at the next appropriate course.

No. B.S.E. students still have to take 36 courses over four years. A program called “Advanced Standing” has been discontinued for the Class of 2029 and beyond. Effective for all incoming students in fall 2025 and beyond, eligible standardized test scores and placement test scores may be used for course placement and requirement fulfillment if permitted but will not confer units of credit towards eligibility for advanced standing

The E-Quad and the Computer Science building are located on the eastern side of the campus, along Olden Street. Sherrerd Hall is along Shapiro Walk nearby, while the Andlinger Center is on the corner of Olden and Prospect. Please see the interactive campus map and search for the Engineering Quad or Computer Science Building or Sherrerd Hall. Note that the E-Quad has various wings designated by letters. This will give you an idea of where a room is. For example, A224 is in the A-wing.

The Friend Center for Engineering Education is the location of classrooms and computing clusters used by both B.S.E. and A.B. students. It is located on the corner of Olden and Williams Streets. Please note that it is the Friend Center, no “s” on the end of Friend.

See Summer Courses for a list of options and a description of the approval process. 

Note that except for students participating in special programs (such as study abroad), a B.S.E. student may take no more than four of their required 36 courses at another school. A student may not earn more than two units of transfer credit in a given summer or term of leave, and may not enroll in such courses while simultaneously taking courses at Princeton.

 Online courses are not permitted. 

Don’t panic, stay calm. No matter how good a physics course you took in high school, making the transition to Princeton physics can be really hard and has rattled the confidence of B.S.E. students for decades. Most of them made the adjustment – some faster, some slower – and are now successful in all walks of life. A few tips for dealing with physics: work lots of practice problems (don’t look at the answers in the book!) from start to finish; if you finish working problems, work some more problems; take the problems on which you get stuck to your instructor’s office hours; work some more problems; take the problems on which you get stuck to the McGraw study halls in Frist.

Every Princeton instructor is required to set aside some time each week to meet with students. Take advantage of this opportunity! If you have a class at the same time as your instructor’s listed office hours, then usually it is possible to make arrangements to meet at a different time. If you’re having problems mastering the material, the instructor will have great respect for your interest in improving your understanding if you come to office hours. Successful students take advantage of office hours!

“Study hall” is a term used at Princeton for group, drop-in tutoring in math, physics, chemistry, and economics. Free tutoring in introductory-level courses in mathematics, chemistry, physics, and economics is offered through the McGraw Study Halls at Frist, located directly outside of the McGraw Center on the 300-level of the Frist Campus Center. Experienced, trained undergraduate tutors are available to guide students through learning course material, thinking through problem sets, and preparing for exams.

The Study Halls are open Sunday through Wednesday evenings from 7:30-10:30. No appointments are necessary.

The McGraw Center offers individual tutoring in introductory courses in Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, Math, Molecular Biology, Operations Research and Financial Engineering, and Physics. The tutors are sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have done well in introductory courses. Note that this is the only tutoring allowed at Princeton; no outside tutors are permitted.

Check out the SEAS website and follow the links to departments and programs. Talk with Dean Swanson and departmental faculty. Attend the Explore Engineering majors fair. Come to the SEAS departmental open houses in the spring (watch your e-mail). Attend the advising fairs in the residential colleges. Get involved in engineering student organizations.

Many B.S.E. students are involved in athletics, theater, writing, student government, service activities, and many other things. As with all serious undertakings, it requires careful time management. Pick a few things that give you the greatest satisfaction and reward. Make a weekly schedule so you know where you need to be and what you need to do. Academics always come first, but you’ll also find that all other students are balancing similar competing demands on their time. They will understand if you have to miss a meeting because you have a test the next day. Coaches are also understanding of academic obligations.

You can do anything you want. B.S.E. graduates from all departments go into fields like investment banking, management consulting, law, medicine, teaching, professional sports, military service, and just about any other career they would like to pursue. Knowing about technology and having a liberal arts education is an unbeatable combination.

Yes. You’ll want to talk with the Health Professions Advising office to make sure you’re on track, but there are premeds in each of the six engineering departments. The only problem might be some unavoidable scheduling conflicts between required departmental courses and organic chem, so you might need to take Orgo over the summer.

Not necessarily. We often find that once students get their feet on the ground academically and get used to the workload, their performance improves. Hang in there!

Yes. The requirements and arrangements vary from department to department, but every B.S.E. student does some form of independent work. It can be a full-year senior thesis, or one or more semester-long projects, depending on department requirements. A senior thesis is an individual undertaking, while sometimes groups of students get together to work on projects. The SEAS record is six terms of independent work, which seems a little excessive, but two or even three terms of independent work is closer to the norm.