The New York herald., 1921-12-25
QUESTIONABLE at
Princeton Proves
Men Are Earnest
Most Students There for Edu.
cation, but Few Make Flip
pant Replies.

Special Dispatch to THE New Yoax HERALD.
PRINCETON, Dec 24.-Education and
the love Of learning are no longer the
sole motives which bring men to college
in this day and age, II the average
Princeton freshman's views can be taken
as guide.
The queries: why did you come to
college?" and "Why did you come to
Princeton?" were put to members of the
class of 1925 in recent QUESTIONABLE,
and these have been supplemented by
the more effective personal questioning
Of many members of the class. ma
jority came to college for both study
and pleasure. quite number being seri-
ously convinced that an education was a
valuable acquisition for later life
The next largest division is composed
OF those who esteem most highly col
legiate associations, the friends a man
makes during his four years in academic
shades. Parental pressure does not seem
to have much weight in this day, as only
the smallest number admitted that they
had been compelled to continue their
studies
Fathers, friends and relatives who
had been to Princeton combined to make
large number choose Old Nassau. A
still larger number declared that the
advantages of Princeton decided for
them. Forty men pointed out the To-
cation of Princeton in the country,
squarely between New York and Phila-
delphia, as their main reason.
The frivolous gave replies which would
have scandalized scholar of the old
school or caused even Mr.. Edison to
blink, ranging from II read F'itzgerald's 8
This Side of Paradise" e" to I'm getting
out OF working FOR my living for four
more years"
Most of the replies in the 200 printed
questionnaires simply said ITO get an
education" Some of the entering men
varied this formula far enough to specify
that they included in the term "educa-
ton" all that, friends extra curriculum
activities and the social life here
A general broadening was another IA
vorite answer, with emphasis laid upon
the liberal courses for which Princeton
is especially noted
Some specimen replies are as follows
Il must make my way in the world
and l came to college for this reason.
An education is necessary. / also intend
to have good time and to make friends.
l chose Princeton because my father
knows all the trustees and / prefer it to
other colleges"
Il came to get out Of working. Dad
said l could go to college or seek a lob.
and l preferred college"
Il don't know for sure, but l sup
pose because all the other fellows in
my prep school were going to college.
| chose Princeton because all of my
friends were coming here"
Il came first of all for good edu-
cation. but l also intend to have a good
time. all four years. Princeton has all
the advantages of big college, and at
the same time those OF the smaller coll
leges"
II came to make mother proud of
me-
Il had to go to college to please my
parents and i chose Princeton because
of its reputation and the social side of
the campus life"
II had been out of prep school for
three years and / felt that I needed a
college education in business .I needed
some OF the dope on myself that vo,,
can't get anywhere but in a college. I
chose Princeton because 1t Is my ideal
Of an educational institution, and has a
reputation for turning out highly edu-
Gated gentlemen"