FSI is an 8-week program that offers scholars the opportunity to take ownership over their transition to Princeton by giving them the resources they need to shape their educational journey while preparing to become future campus leaders and peer mentors.

During the program, our scholars immerse themselves in the intellectually vibrant culture at Princeton through seminar-style courses and laboratory research experiences, to engage with their fellow scholars in a variety of co-curricular, community-building activities, and to work closely with faculty members from a range of academic disciplines and fields. After the FSI summer program concludes, scholars have the chance to join the Scholars Institute Fellows Program (SIFP) during the academic year. SIFP provides students with mentorship, intellectual experiences, professional development opportunities, and social activities designed to enrich their Princeton journey.

In short, you were invited because we are very excited about the work that you have done throughout your high school career and, in particular, the exceptional scholarly inquisitiveness and leadership potential that you have demonstrated. As such, we believe that you would be a wonderful addition to this summer’s FSI community and that you would find the academic and social aspects of the program rewarding and meaningful.

We are particularly interested in providing this opportunity to students who have not yet had the chance to experience similar enrichment programs or mentorship experiences. In our holistic review of applications, we consider factors like intellectual curiosity, qualities of leadership and resiliency, the educational enrichment opportunities offered by the student’s high school, and familial educational background. While there is no simple formula for our process, Dean Gonzalez is happy to talk to you about whether and how the program might be a good fit. In the end, the decision to attend is yours to make—but we do hope that you join us!

FSI residential accommodates about 100 students on campus each year. 

This year, FSI runs from June 29th through August 16^th. At the conclusion of the program, students may choose to return home for the period between August 17^th-August 22nd prior to fall orientation, or to remain on campus for a final week of programming and fun with the broader Fli (first-generation, lower-income) community at Princeton. All scholars will need to be back on campus on August 23rd for first-year orientation with the Great Class of 2028!

Please refer back to our FSI academic experience page for more information on available courses and academic opportunities over the summer. 

By earning two credits over the summer, most FSI alums give themselves the option of taking a reduced course load in a future term, should this prove useful or necessary. Students in the B.S.E. program normally alternate four-course and five-course semesters over their four years at Princeton; students in the A.B. programs take at least one five-course semester in their first two years.  FSI credit can be used to reduce their course load from five to four, or (in the case of A.B. students) from four courses to three during a semester.

In addition to our academic curriculum, FSI provides robust co-curricular programming for our scholars. This provides many opportunities for students to explore the seemingly boundless number of resources and opportunities at Princeton. By engaging with the many offices and resources that Princeton has to offer, FSI scholars get a head start on defining their pathways through Princeton, both as scholars and future campus leaders. Throughout FSI, you will participate in meet and greets, office hours, and workshops with university staff, faculty, and fellow students that will connect you with the many opportunities available at Princeton and ensure that you take the best advantage of them.

No! (That would be a terrible use of a summer.) While academics are a definite priority, the social connections you will make as a student are just as critical. Upon joining FSI, you will be placed in "Zee groups'' led by our Graduate and Undergraduate student advisors (RGSes and RCAs, respectively). Your RGS and RCA are experienced guides to all things Princeton, and will plan social activities throughout the week. These activities include things like gaming nights, movie nights, and just time to get to know other FSI students. Additionally, there will be numerous all-community events so that you can get to know our expansive community of FSI scholars and staff, and arrive on campus in the fall with a solid network of friends and connections.

Our Scholars report that the friends they make in FSI remain good friends throughout their years at Princeton, regardless of the majors they choose, the residential colleges in which they live, or the clubs and teams to which they belong. Being part of a tightly-knit, diverse cohort by the end of the summer is a welcome relief from a worry that almost every new student faces-- and in fact, FSI students consistently report having a higher sense of connection and belonging compared to the average Princeton student! Again, between co-curricular and social activities, you can expect to spend about 8-10 hours/week.

Yes! The program is designed as a fellowship opportunity, so for students who receive any amount of Princeton grant aid, there is no charge to attend: the entire cost of the program is free, including tuition, course materials, and housing. In addition, you will receive a stipend to offset miscellaneous expenses during the summer. 

We know it can be a difficult decision to leave home a few weeks earlier than scheduled, but we hope that you will join us! Students who have attended FSI in previous summers believe that the program was instrumental in helping them thrive in their academic, co-curricular, and social lives at Princeton. If you would like to speak to a participant in last year’s program before making your decision, please let us know, and one of our Scholars will be glad to follow up with you by e-mail. We're also more than happy to answer any questions that you might have—or just to chat about the program or Princeton in general!

FSI is an invite-only program. Given the popularity of FSI, spaces fill quickly. Although we will make every effort to accommodate all invited students, we cannot guarantee admission: acceptance is on a first-come, first-served basis. The deadline for accepting the invitation is in May, so be sure to check your inbox for any emails or reminders from the FSI staff.

To reserve your space in FSI, please refer to the link you received in your personal invitation.

It depends. If you have a summer internship or job that you plan on participating in over the summer, you must communicate this immediately with FSI staff. It is possible that you can participate in both FSI and another summer opportunity. However, you must ensure that you are still able to meet all of the FSI hour requirements, attend class, and participate in extracurriculars.

FSI scholars are considered full University students and are able to access various academic advising, tutoring, and co-curricular resources over the summer. In order to facilitate student connection to these resources, our office hosts regular “meet and greets” with our campus partners such as the McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning, LGBTQ Center, and Residential College staff.

Yes! Many FSI students have attended the Bridge Year program—and really enjoyed the experience! In fact, we very much encourage you to check out and apply to the Bridge Year Program; the application will be open until May 5th.

If you are applying to Bridge Year and want to attend FSI, you should respond “yes” to our invitation. If you are accepted into the Bridge Year program, we will simply defer your place in FSI until next summer (Summer 2025).

For those of you who haven’t heard of Bridge Year, it is a wonderful, tuition-free opportunity that allows a select number of incoming freshmen to begin their Princeton experience by engaging in nine months of University-sponsored service at one of six international locations. In addition to supporting community-based initiatives at each program site, Bridge Year aims to provide participants with greater international perspective and intercultural skills, an opportunity for personal growth and reflection, and a deeper appreciation of service in both a local and international context.

The application deadline for Bridge Year is May 5—and here’s a link to information about how to apply. If international travel and service work is of interest to you, we encourage you to apply!