See Princeton University reviews submitted by students. Find out what students have to say about various aspects of attending Princeton University. Read about academic experiences and campus life in these free Princeton University reviews, or contribute your own Princeton University review if you're a current student there.
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73 out of 74 people found this review useful.
Sara from Parkville, MD
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot I can say with absolute certainty that the best thing about Princeton is the people. This place is home to thousands of fascinating individuals with ridiculously diverse backgrounds, interests, and personalities. One of the things I love the most about my school is that you are constantly learning--not just in class, but outside of class, too. Make no mistake, you will learn a ton in the classroom, but just as important is what you will learn from your classmates and the stories they tell. In only one year here, I have become familiar with cultures that were all but unknown to me before, and I have developed new and unexpected interests.
Am enjoying being here Yep, it’s pretty much awesome. It’s worth all the work. The people are friendly; the town is safe and charming; the classes are well-taught and fascinating (but there are, of course, a few duds). And the campus is absolutely gorgeous, by the way. No college is perfect, but I think this is about as close as it gets.
Bang for the buck There is no way I would have been able to afford to come here if it hadn't been for Princeton's amazing financial aid program. It's one of the best--if not THE best--in the country, and features no-loan aid packages for everyone. Every penny you get from the University is grant, which means... NO DEBT!! If you get in, give Princeton serious consideration, and don't worry about the money! No matter what your situation is, the University will make sure you can afford it. (But don’t stop looking for outside scholarships: trust me, even with great financial aid, they are still a huge help.) And if you do decide to enroll, let me assure you that whatever you have to pay, Princeton is more than worth it. This place will blow you away.
Tips for prospective students Princeton rocks. If you are fortunate enough to get in, and are willing to work harder than you probably have ever worked before, go for it. If you’re used to high school being pretty easy, get over it. Princeton is VERY demanding of your time, intellect, and energy--but don’t worry, it is totally possible to succeed here. Just stay organized and budget your time (and try to sleep a little), and you’ll do just fine academically--and you’ll still have room for a great social life!
Great for these types of students Princeton is probably not for you if you are: 1) lazy, 2) closed-minded, or 3) convinced that you’re the smartest person on earth (you’re not) and want it to stay that way (it won’t). But other than that, this university has almost everything. I think most people can find their niche here and thoroughly enjoy the experience.
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21 out of 27 people found this review useful.
Rachel from Galva, IL
Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Tips for prospective students Be yourself, show how you are different from the thousands of other applicants who only study for hours on end to get accepted. Get involved in your school and community.
Great for these types of students All kinds of students with all kinds of interests!
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9 out of 9 people found this review useful.
Tiger '13
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot The classes are definitely extremely challenging, but after taking a summer class at Pace (a local Westchester private college), I am really missing the pace of Princeton classes and how intelligent my peers are.
Am enjoying being here The only serious struggle I have encountered is dealing with much lower grades than I am used to. However, I love it here. I love the people I have met. I love the activities I do. I love how generous this university is. I love the town of Princeton. I love my dorm room.
Bang for the buck We have free printing, free laundry, free gym...free anything. We get sponsored to go abroad for anything. Our dorms are humungous (several visiting Harvard students got very jealous). I could go on forever...
Tips for prospective students Don't let your senioritis carry over...mine did. Also I was never the grade grubbing type in high school - it was rigorous but I was smart enough to excel without caring too mucha bout my grades - but that is hurting me now.
Great for these types of students Self-motivated, able to buckle down and focus like no other, but also let loose and have fun. Basically, anyone who is good at work hard play hard...I don't work as hard as I probably need to. Have initiative to pursue things. If you can do those two things, you will love it here.
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7 out of 7 people found this review useful.
Carolyn from Portage, IN
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot Because Princeton doesn't have any professional schools, it really is the case that they focus a massive amount of resources on undergraduate education. The course load is very demanding. Actually, it's essentially impossible to complete all assigned readings for every class. But the small class sizes, precept system, and dedicated nature of the students around you make it a workable model. Also, the distribution requirements encourage students to explore in all areas. Everyone I know has had some experience where they took a class completely out of their comfort zone and had gained amazing new academic exposure, and because Princeton is so focused on undergraduates many introductory courses are taught by the best members of the faculty. For example, I am a politics major but I took an introduction to molecular biology that was taught by a Nobel Prize winner. With such a diverse student body, world-class professors, and endless opportunity for activities outside the classroom, a Princeton student is hard pressed to find a moment where he or she is not learning in some capacity.
Am enjoying being here After spending two years at Princeton I am personally convinced that it is the greatest university in the world. The academic pressure can be entirely overwhelming, but the benefits are very tangible and the amazing environment one gets to share with fellow Princetonians makes every ounce of stress worthwhile. I feel like every time I meet a new classmate I am blown away by their story. It has been an honor and a privilege to get to know so many of these people. Also, let it be known that for as hard as Princeton students work, they definitely know how to have a good time.
Bang for the buck One of the foremost reasons I decided to attend Princeton was the support I received from its financial aid office. Their generosity is unmatched, which is made possible by the ongoing support of alumni and active investments by the university. Hands down no other university of Princeton's caliber that I am aware of offers anything close to the level of affordability that Princeton does. They are very serious about their mission to allow all students to graduate without any debt from student loans, and they offer fantastic support to parents with Princeton Parent Loans - a program that allows families to loan money directly from the university instead of through the government or a bank.
Tips for prospective students Be prepared to work harder than you ever imagined, but also to have a true life-changing experience. My biggest piece of advice is to explore all of your options when you get to campus. Both in academics and extracurriculars, try things you haven't done before and don't feel too obligated to make binding decisions early on. The Princeton community is all about having new experiences and lots of them, so take advantage of that!
Great for these types of students Princeton is great for students who are self-motivated. It is a very demanding environment, but if you stay organized it doesn't have to be overly stressful. Other than that, the beauty of Princeton is that it's great for all types of students. The diversity of interests and backgrounds make Princeton the dynamic place that it is. If you are the kind of student that is very concerned about GPA, you should be warned about the grade deflation policy. Whatever level of academic achievement you're used to, which for most Princeton students is a minimum of 4.0, for many there will be a bit of a shock when grades are released. Don't let this deter you, though. Everyone adjusts quickly to Princeton's level of expectation and a letter explaining the grade deflation policy is included with every transcript.
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5 out of 6 people found this review useful.
Alexis from Reno, NV
Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Will learn a lot Princeton brags having the most renowned professors in the world, as do many of the Ivys. While they are strong all-around, they are especially strong in political science and other hard-sciences.
Will enjoy being here Although I only attended the Admitted Student Weekend, I chose not to go to Princeton, because of how the incoming Pre-Frosh acted. They seemed overly fueled by competition, and obsessed with how many schools they got into, while insisting to brag about them. The tendency of the incoming students to brag about their accomplishments and list of acceptances was a turn-off, in addition to how the student culture seemed to operate around the Dining Clubs.
Bang for the buck I was offered tremendous financial aid; attending Princeton would have been as cheap as attending a state-school.
Tips for prospective students Bring warm clothes and a hat.
Great for these types of students Competitive students, students desiring diversity, students who love to party, students interested in academically rigorous curricula
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3 out of 3 people found this review useful.
Tara from Lebanon, NJ
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot You will work harder than you have ever worked before but you will take away one of the best educations America has to offer. The environment is highly conducive to learning; your peers are motivated, every lounge and common room is a potential quiet study area, the professors are brilliant and care about their students. My computers' professor told me that he wished he didn't have to assign grades, since the important thing was learning something, not performing well on a test. That said, there is a LOT of pressure to get good grades. Widespread grade deflation doesn't help. Many students find their motivation to learn transformed into motivation to keep up their GPA. If this happens, you'll continue to take in an astonishing quantity of knowledge in an astonishingly short amount of time, but you will have a smaller soul. Resist the pressure.
Am enjoying being here You are certain to find some extracurricular, be it club, dance group, or volunteer service, to consume your extremely limited free time. You will probably end up a leading board member of said club or dance group while spearheading your own community service initiative. How Princeton students manage to juggle their exhausting rigorous academic schedules and their absurdly over-committed outside-the-classroom lives mystifies everyone, especially the Princeton students.
Campus is stunning. The facilities (gym, lounges, libraries) are great and well maintained. School pride is embraced to the point of cultishness. If you don't let your commitments eat you alive, you'll love it here.Bang for the buck Princeton has one of the best financial aid package of all the Ivies. If you don't qualify, however, then you are paying an obscene amount of money for a degree you could theoretically get somewhere else for half or even a third of the price. Is it worth it? I think so. My professors are the best in their field, I have 3 different academic advisers, and campus life is overflowing with free food/events/lectures/performances. This semester I'm going on a University-sponsored trip to Bermuda for coral reef research. There are universities as expensive as Princeton where that simply would not be a viable option. I'm not sure what these universities are spending their money on, but Princeton spends it on undergrads. You are the university's economic priority.
Tips for prospective students Know why you want to come; because it's Princeton is not a good enough reason. It won't convince admissions officers (they know it's Princeton) and it won't prepare you for your experience here. You should have some feel for the work load, the expectations, and the culture before you enroll. If you don't, you'll probably end up loving it anyway, but you will have a VERY difficult first semester.
Great for these types of students Highly self-motivated, initiative-taking, stress-resistant multi-taskers with leadership skills who aren't daunted by the prospect of not being the best at everything.
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2 out of 2 people found this review useful.
Aditya from Mount Calvary, WI
Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Will learn a lot Princeton definitely has an amazing undergraduate program in terms of academics. Being part of the most sought after group of universities in the world, the Ivy League, as well as their 6-7% acceptance rate is proof of that. Their summer programs are fantastic and are varied with students being able to take up an internship in a foreign country to actually continuing foreign language study in the country from which the language originated!
Will enjoy being here Princeton has a beautiful campus, a good meal plan, a bunch of activities, and multiple student centers. Not to mention more than 300 clubs and organisations! The campus is located just about an hour away from New York City and Philadelphia by train making it just the perfect distance from the city.
Bang for the buck Princeton's financial aid program is really one of it's best selling points with every single penny of need being met, irregardless of citizenship!
Tips for prospective students Study hard and go on a visit because the campus will sell you!
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3 out of 4 people found this review useful.
Christopher from Charlotte, NC
Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has not been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Will learn a lot This is a great school with many opportunities when you can learn.
Will enjoy being here The place is beautiful, and you are surrounded by your friends!! What more could you ask for?
Bang for the buck It is a bit expensive, so you should work hard for scholarships!!
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8 out of 14 people found this review useful.
Nancy from Orange, NJ
Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Great for these types of students Students with talents, who are high achievers, who will enjoy being surrounded by a diversity of students from different cultures with similar goals.
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1 out of 1 people found this review useful.
Anjali from Alameda, CA
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences Princeton is seriously the most amazing university, with an abundance of opportunities for absolutely anything you could possibly imagine. The faculty, students, and coaches are all phenomenal and knowledgeable. The education you receive here is unparalleled.
Tips for prospective students Be prepared for tough grading, but to learn a lot and to make amazing connections and meet great people. You will learn the most from the people who surround you as opposed to the textbooks you read.
Academic Rigor Difficult, but definitely worth it.
Dorm Life The dorms are really nice and campus is small, so everything feels very centered.
Food and Dining The dining halls are healthy and have a good variety of food. The eating clubs are famous and are a ton of fun. It's nice to have a space to hang out, eat, and go out at night as well.
What to do for fun There is an abundance of clubs, groups, and organizations for everyone. The sports teams are rigorous, the club sports are fun, the going out scene is great.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus The eating clubs are certainly unique.
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1 out of 1 people found this review useful.
Student :)
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences This past semester at college might be the best time of my entire life. My classes are interesting and the professors are very eager to share their knowledge. Also, dorm/social life is great.
Tips for prospective students If you have any doubts among your choices for schools, you can't go wrong with Princeton.
Academic Rigor Academics here are difficult, but it will be at any other Ivy institution. It's one of the attractive aspects about Princeton. The exams are hard and the grading is harsh, but the professors are some of the best experts in their fields. Everyone around you is also academically motivated and passionate about their interests.
Dorm Life I love my residential college and dorm life. The people in my hall are great, there are generally no problems with partying, and the rooms are very comfortable. This might depend on which residential college you are placed into though.
Food and Dining The food is generally very good.
What to do for fun There are so many things to do on campus that it isn't possible to do all the activities you want to do. Numerous clubs always have performances on weekends. There are plenty of opportunities to visit New York (it's a one hour train ride from a station on campus) and watch Broadway shows with subsidized tickets. You can also go to Prospect Ave. and party with your friends on the weekend at the Eating Clubs.
Bang for the buck Princeton definitely spends more money on their students than they receive from tuition.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus The Wail before Dean's Date during Finals week.
Clubs and Activities So many different opportunities to choose from. It took me a semester to find out which ones I had time in my schedule to stick with.
Greek Life There are frats and sororities, but they are not prominent. Eating clubs replace Greek life for the most part.
Campus Safety Super safe. You can walk around in the middle of the night and not have to worry at all. It's probably one of the safest campuses in the U.S.
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1 out of 1 people found this review useful.
Eunhae from Moorhead, MN
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot We go through so much material so quickly but because everyone I know is motivated to learn, it's easy to feel inspired to do my best to absorb all the information that's always flying at me.
Am enjoying being here The people are SO fantastic. I love it.
Bang for the buck Yes, definitely true. Princeton's education is definitely worth all the money.
Tips for prospective students It's not easy, especially the first year, but stick with it! Also, find a good study group and support network asap. :)
Great for these types of students really motivated to work till the wee hours, fast worker, talented in many areas (academic, arts, athletics, etc)
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1 out of 1 people found this review useful.
Remy from LA Canada, CA
Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Will enjoy being here Its an amazing campus, anyone would like it!
Tips for prospective students I suggest you get you're 4.0 on!
Great for these types of students This school is great for people looking to become doctors.
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2 out of 3 people found this review useful.
Katherine from Hollister, CA
Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has not been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Will learn a lot Love the look of the school and programs...going to be amazing!
Will enjoy being here Great diversity, extracurriculars, and friends.
Bang for the buck Financial aid is incredible here!
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2 out of 3 people found this review useful.
Sarah from Tulsa, OK
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Bang for the buck I applied to Princeton knowing that even if, by some miracle, I did get in, I probably wouldn't be able to afford it. Luckily for me and a great many of my friends, Princeton's financial aid is incredible and officers are really receptive to any financial problems a student might encounter. I was even able to get enough aid to pursue a five-week program in Paris this summer!
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2 out of 3 people found this review useful.
Madeline Overmoyer from New Oxford, PA
Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has not been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Bang for the buck Princeton is notorious for having one of the greatest financial aid programs. Since it belongs to the Ivy League, it receives a great endowment yearly, which allows them to give greater grants. The university's graduates are among the most debt-free in the nation.
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2 out of 4 people found this review useful.
Anon
Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Will enjoy being here I really hope I get in to this school! It has so much to offer!
Bang for the buck This school is beautiful! And it has the best financial aid program in the US so finance really shouldn't even be an issue if one is accepted into this school!
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9 out of 20 people found this review useful.
Megan from Laurel, MD
Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Will learn a lot It's an Ivy League School. Enough said. I am confident that I will learn so much here.
Will enjoy being here When I visited the campus, it was really cold and snowing, but very beautiful! Also my tour guide was really enthusiastic and nice.
Bang for the buck I haven't applied/been accepted, but I've heard that their financial aid is VERY good.
Tips for prospective students Visit the campus!
Great for these types of students Academically inclined looking for a beautiful campus.
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1 out of 26 people found this review useful. 5 people found it offensive. 5 people found this inaccurate.
Anonymous
Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has not been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Will learn a lot I thik if I get acceped in priceton university I will learn a lot about that school and become more responsible.
Will enjoy being here If the school gives me scholarships and gives me a less for that scool ten I will enjoy the school.
Bang for the buck I would do any community service to get a lower price for the uniersity.
Tips for prospective students The students be less lazy in priceton because all te work their is really hard u have to study a lot.
Great for these types of students The great types of students are hard working.
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Anonymous
Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Login to rate or flag the reviews
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Julio from Biscayne Park, FL
Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences This school is AMAZING! Their engineering department is wonderful and actively have many interesting research opportunities. It is located in a beautiful town and has many resources.
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Annika from Eugene, OR
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences Being at Princeton feels a lot like winning the lottery on a daily basis. The people are incredibly interesting and I'm being challenged like I've never been challenged before. It's a place for those who love to work hard and play hard.
Tips for prospective students -Keep an eye out for the people who aren't taking Princeton for granted - they're the people you're going to want to be friends with.
-Don't be afraid to try new things and join new groups - at the very least, you'll get to sample lots of different kinds of free foods.
-You were probably pretty outstanding in high school and that's going to be stripped away and you're going to feel humbled and it's going to be hard. Stay in touch with people back home to keep you grounded and don't let yourself get insecure - you're here for a reason.Academic Rigor This is a hard school. You're going to work a lot harder than you had to before - probably even harder than you had anticipated. Look for help - lots of people are offering it (if you're struggling in your writing seminar, visit the writing center; if science is causing you some problems, try McGraw.)
Dorm Life Princeton has six residential colleges. I live in Forbes, which is commonly considered the equivalent of Hufflepuff (it's out-of-the-way and not very glamorous.) While a lot of my dormmates love Forbes, I'm less convinced - as an arts student with a work-study job in the Lewis Center for the Arts, I have to walk about ten more minutes to get places than more centrally-located students. Forbes sponsors frequent events, from theme dinners and parties to trips into NYC for Broadway productions, which tend to be very well-attended.
Food and Dining I'm currently home for Spring Break and dreading heading back for another few months of dorm food. Luckily, I know Princeton will do its best to break up the monotony. One of the (few) good things about living in Forbes is the food - we have a fancy brunch every Sunday and a delicious monthly vegetarian night, and every Wednesday night tends to be pretty special food.
What to do for fun Princeton isn't known as the orange bubble for nothing. The campus is very self-contained and most of your entertainment will be found here. Some suggestions:
-The USG sponsors free movies every weekend at the Garden Theater. Free popcorn and soda are included.
-We have a lot of fantastic performing arts groups on campus. Find a few groups you like and follow the work they're doing - everybody stays busy throughout the year. I would highly recommend checking out Quipfire, one of our great improv troupes.Bang for the buck This is Princeton - the buildings are covered in ivy, there are gargoyles over the door to the gym, and the campus is flat-out beautiful.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus Make sure to check out Murray-Dodge, a cafe under the center for religious life that serves tea and fresh-baked cookies every night from 10 to 12:30.
Clubs and Activities There's a venue for almost everything I can think of here, but if you're lacking something, feel free to start a group - at the activities fair this year, I saw everything from big glossy signs for groups that have been part of the Princeton extracurricular scene for a century to a posterboard advertising a bug-eating club.
Greek Life I'm not involved with Greek life, but I have several friends who are - the three sororities tend to be fairly popular and I know a lot of girls who really love what Greek life is adding to their college experience. The frats are less popular and, from what I hear about them, less fun.
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Tiger '15
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences I wasn't sure I would be accepted at Princeton, but I knew if I was accepted there was no question in my mind this was where I wanted to be. The campus is beautiful, the professor are unbelievably helpful and the diversity of the student population is very stimulating. That being said, it's not for everyone.
Tips for prospective students Bring something to the table. It's not just about the academics or community service. Over half the student population at Princeton is involved in a sport. There are also many cultural activities available to join. The University is looking for individuals who have more to offer than just their 4.0's and perfect SAT's. Of course, that doesn't hurt either.
Academic Rigor The courses are demanding, but there is a plethora of resources available to ensure academic success.
Dorm Life Princeton does an amazing job of matching up roommates. I currently room with 7 other girls. We started out perfect strangers and now we are the best of friends. I love my roomies!
Food and Dining Dining hall food isn't the greatest, but there are other options on and off campus that make up for it.
What to do for fun The Street! I love it, but that's not the only thing going on. Princeton is bursting with activities, all year long.
Bang for the buck You have the opportunity to get the best education money can buy, and with their no loan financial aid it is made affordable for anyone who is accepted.
Clubs and Activities The eating clubs are where it's at. Even if you are not a member, there are plenty of events that are open to outsiders. You just have to know a member to be invited.
Greek Life Pretty much nonexistent.
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Deborah from Brownsville, TX
Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences the campus is beautiful. you will learn from and with the best from around the world. diversity is seen both intellectually and ethnically.
Tips for prospective students visit the campus and talk to current students there. try to get the overall atmosphere so you can reflect on how you would feel being a student there.
Academic Rigor grade inflation.
Dorm Life some are good. some are bad. depends on which one you get.
Food and Dining frist, dining halls, and eating clubs make dining a wonderful experience!
What to do for fun nassau street: shopping and food galore.
Bang for the buck princeton is very pricey, but offers great financial aid! no loans.
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