<p>I am deciding between Swarthmore and Princeton. I was wondering if you could give me any information or advice that might help me in my decision. They both offered me enough financial aid, with Swarthmore offering the slightly better package. I visited Swarthmore and fell in love with it. I have made a brief trip to Princeton during winter break (when all the students were gone), so I did not get more than a quick impression of it. However, after reading more about it, I have become quite excited about it as well. I am planning on visiting both shortly, so I am sure this will be the deciding factor. However, I am trying to gather as much information as I can before I make my decision. Thank you.</p>
<p>You're kidding, right?</p>
<p>Go to Swathmore, If you have to think about the choice than Princeton is not for you.</p>
<p>El,</p>
<p>Swarthmore is different than Pton in a lot of ways. It is not that one is better or worse just different.</p>
<p>Swat never has a class over 70. Pton can have 300 in an intro course broken up with precepts. Swat eat basically out of one cafeteria. Pton have several choices. Swat has an unusual honors program that concentrates your junior and senior year studies very narrowly (this is a voluntary program). Pton has more typical college major with a major research project to graduate. Swat kids live in dorms with all 4 years student present in the building. Pton live in colleges largely only for 2 years then live in upper class housing. Pton has more sports and extracurriculars due to size. Swat has undergraduate research, perhaps not as diverse as Pton with graduate institutes. Swat is a $7 20 minute train ride to downtown Phil. Pton is more suburban and a longer trip to Phil. but closer to NYC. Swat has a very high ratio of graduates going on to PhDs. Pton has a lot of diversity in careers with its graduates.
I think there is a huge cultural difference between the two and if you visit in session perhaps you will capture that. Pton is a hair more selective. Both are pretty campuses but very different architecturally. You are a lucky applicant. My D picked P over S, great choice for her.</p>
<p>hey rumbean22, 22frets, why the attitude?</p>
<p>I hadn't heard about swat before when i read the post, so i checked their website out, and from what i found there, it really, really seems like an excellent school (for example the number of students that Phd later). </p>
<p>from what wsox said, it seems even more appropriate for elberth to put this question, so what's with the ironical posts? Is there something else except the idea (to which i adhere :D) that "Princeton is the best"? If so, please post, i'm sure elberth is very interested (and me too, out of curiosity)</p>
<p>I think it comes down to the feel of the school along with your academic interests. After visiting Swat, I felt that it was weaker in science and math than Pton. They were in the middle of construction on the new science buiding. The big plus is small class size for the limited course list offered. If a well rounded Liberal arts education is your goal than Swat is one of the best. If applied science is your goal than I think Pton has the upper hand. Larger faculty and more research opportunities as well as highly specialized courses available once you declare your major.</p>
<p>As others have said, these schools are different in many ways. Just a couple of things to add:</p>
<p>One parent on these boards has frequently pointed out that the LACs do not necessarily have smaller class sizes. Often their classes will have 40 students, which means that a large lecture broken up into sections or precepts of 15 or so can actually be an opportunity for more individual attention and that students have more opportunity to do written work and receive feedback. </p>
<p>Re the difference in financial aid, if you decide you prefer Princeton call their financial aid office and tell them what Swat is offering you. Often these schools will make up the difference, and Princeton is loaded. </p>
<p>Congratulations and good luck!</p>
<p>It is an excellent school, with an excellent rep. But if you are interested in life after college, esp. if you live in/intend to stay in the northeast, you've gotta take the blinders off and understand the Ivy network. Like it or not.</p>
<p>please say a bit more on that ivy network thingy, if you will, rumbean!
seems i still have serious blinder-problems :D.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Princeton and Swarthmore both have a total undergraduate focus. Princeton however has that, plus all the resources of a top rate university. The Best of Both Worlds. Princeton alone stands in that position.</p>
<p>Oh come on! Go for Princeton. It's one of the most prestigious universities in the whole world!! Besides its atmosphere is good and its located in a nice area. I was rejected from Princeton and reading your thread made me kinda angry. Don't waste the opportunity you've been given. Remember that students prepare for years in order to get into Princeton. You're the elite.</p>
<p>The choice between Swarthmore and Princeton shouldn't be that hard:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Location is pretty much a tie, with Princeton a bit better. Both are pretty much rural, though Princeton is technically suburban. Though Swarthmore is close to Philly, Princeton is still closer to both Philly and New York.</p></li>
<li><p>Reputation is no contest. Princeton undoubtedly has a better reputation than Swarthmore. Whether you are talking about with the general public or with people in the know, it's not that hard to tell that Princeton trumps. You can even look at brody.com.</p></li>
<li><p>Undergrad attention is similar in both. Princeton has tons of small classes and so does Swarthmore. While it may be true that certain 101 classes at Princeton will be up to 5 times as big as Swarthmore, these are going to be the minority of your total classes. Plus, the precepts break this down and most classes are WAY small.</p></li>
<li><p>Overall academic experience is an easy issue. Princeton simply has more resources overall and the same lack of a graduate school to provide an intimate undergrad educational experience. While teachers who just want to teach are abundant at Swarthmore, the name of Princeton attracts THE BEST teachers who want to teach undergraduates. Princeton has the perfect combination of research and undergrad attention, so its students get more resources and better opportunities at Princeton. </p></li>
<li><p>Swarthmore has an inferiority complex and gives its students inordinate amounts of work for no good reason. Ask any Swarthmore student. Most will tell you that there is little free time and that interaction between students is not that great. Swarthmore's environment is also a lot more competitive. While getting through Princeton is no walk in the park, (with the Junior Paper and the senior thesis and general rigor) it is a lot less stressful than Swarthmore.</p></li>
<li><p>Your future is safer at Princeton. The name sounds better to graduate schools and companies, and you will almost certainly get higher grades at Princeton than at the unnecessarily hard and competitive Swarthmore. So, your future is safer at Princeton.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>the alumni giving rate of 61% shows just how much the students at Princeton love it!! The undergraduate focus is wonderful. The students you meet at Princeton will mostly be there because thy want o be, not just because that is here they got into.</p>