backtowork

LKS: The GC is definitely the best option if you put any premium on social life. Whatever social scene there is in your first year will typically revolve around the GC/dbar. Yes carrying a shower-caddy around a dorm feels foolish for someone in their mid-late twenties, but you get used to it. gov2school: your first plan is the typical route--boston to nypenn, Njtransit to Princeton JCT, then dinky. There's also a megabus from penn station to nassau st., which can be cheaper, but I've never taken it. gentle chaos: here's my 2 cents on princeton social life: yes, it's very suffocating. If you don't like spending most of your time with the same people, you'll want to escape to NYC or philly. Everyone walking around campus/nassau st. during the week will look familiar. That being said, I think it's generally easier to meet other grad students here than it is at other universities, partly because many live in the same place (GC) for the first year and partly because, being a small town, people get to know each other a little easier. Now, that being said, your core group of friends will most likely be the people in your own program, which means (if it's anything like my program) the topic of conversation will typically be work-related. Also, if you manage make some acquaintances outside your program, the grad school population isn't everyone's cup of tea--academic types are often very introverted and, let's face it, weird (although definitely not snobby, which is the vibe many get from the undergrads). The exception is the WWS, the only real professional school, which seems to be full of normal, friendly, fun people. As for dating, as a single guy I can say it's very difficult, at least in any math or science field. Some of the fields with more women (humanities, architecture, and, again, the WWS) find people to date, but almost always people within their own program. Long story short: Princeton can be pretty isolating and you might find your life revolves around your department. If you are outgoing you can meet people in other departments (perhaps more easily than at other schools), but those used to a more dispersed group of friends might find it suffocating, especially if you're a single man.