The Hun School of Princeton, located just two miles from Princeton University, produces graduates with keen global awareness and attention to academic excellence. Princeton University and Hun School graduate Bryan Suchenski shares his view on this private school of Mercer County that “effectively prepares [students] for college” and provides “a meaningful sense of community.”
Suchenski graduated from Princeton University in 2008 with a degree in philosophy, a choice made in his first undergraduate class in the department, which encouraged students to “read material slowly and thoroughly, picking out the subtle implications of each word choice.” Realizing that he “think[s] like a philosopher,” Suchenski was able to develop such useful analytical skills as a philosophy major at Princeton and apply these to his present role as an attorney. As an undergraduate, Suchenski participated in the gaming union and anime club, as well as varsity fencing and club kendo.
Suchenski entered the Hun School of Princeton as a middle school student and progressed to the high school.
Academic Challenge and Preparation
Classes are intimate and rigorous at the Hun School of Princeton, which places a premium on “a creative and rigorous traditional college preparatory curriculum in a structured environment.” With a graduating class of one hundred students, Suchenski enrolled in courses with a very low faculty-to-student ratio. “Most of the classes I took had about a dozen students, which allowed for a lot of open discussion and an opportunity to get to know everyone in the class,” he stated.
For Suchenski, the strongest aspect of the Hun School’s academics, however, is the teachers. “Hun attracts unusually smart and passionate teachers,” he enthused. “I was challenged, and able to take high-level classes that effectively prepared me for college.”
The Hun Climate: Professional, Personal, and Global
With a dress code and high expectations for punctuality and presence, the Hun School maintains a distinct “professional atmosphere.” Boarding students, who compose about a third of the student body, are subject to even more restrictions than day students, such as curfews and needing permission to leave campus.
Nonetheless, this atmosphere still “manages not to feel overly strict.” Suchenski emphasized that “most students have free periods built into their schedule and access to some nice amenities and relaxing spaces on campus.” The presence of a boarding population additionally “allows the school to have a robust representation of non-American students, predominantly from Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, which contributes to diversity on campus.”
Extracurriculars and Facilities
Although all students at Hun are required to participate in athletics for two of the three seasons that school is in session, they can also participate in school plays or contribute to the high school yearbook. During his time at the Hun School, Suchenski was part of the fencing team, serving as the men’s team captain his senior year. Suchesnki additionally competed in spring track and field and acted in a production of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie with the Janus Players.
“The athletics requirement does make a potentially busy academic schedule even more intense,” Suchenski admitted. “But it also encourages student interaction, and my extracurricular experiences were uniformly positive.”
The Hun graduate confirmed the school’s immense support for the wide variety of student groups on campus. President of the film and gaming societies at Hun, Suchenski “found the school…made it easy for me to get access to the resources needed for both of my clubs.”
Although most of the Hun campus was under construction when Suchenski was a student there, the Hun graduate notes that the current generation of students “have access to an even nicer campus than I did” and is looking forward to seeing the new Wilf Global Commons.
For Those Looking Ahead
Suchenski encourages ambitious prospective students to carefully assess all schools in the New Jersey area and not to overlook the Hun School of Princeton. “The Hun School was the best choice for me because it strikes a strong balance, and is able to create a niche that students feel they have some ownership of,” he affirmed. “Students at Hun get to experience a meaningful sense of community while also having access to first-rate academics.”
Additional Reading
Please check out other posts in this series:
You may also be interested in our related series of in-depth high school profiles:
- In-depth profile: The Lawrenceville School
- In-depth profile: The Hun School
- In-depth profile: The Peddie School
About the Author: Kathleen McGunagle is a 2014 graduate of Princeton University currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Boston University. During her undergraduate career, she provided tutoring services through Princeton Tutoring, participated in on-campus theatre, and enjoyed a year abroad studying English at Oxford University.