<p>At 4 or 5 in the afternoon classes are over. Student athletes are on the practice fields. Science students are still in a lab. Many students would be in their residential colleges squeezing in a hour of studying before dinner. </p>
<p>However, I am surprised that you did not see students throwing Frisbees, throwing a football around or walking back from a friend’s room. The difference may be the difference in the size of the Columbia vs. Princeton campus. A recent article in the NYT reported that Columbia has 194 sq ft per student. Princeton has over 1,000 sq ft per student. Princeton is spread out over 500 acres. If you want city life go to an urban school; if you would like to wonder through open spaces and walk along Lake Carnegie Princeton is your place. </p>
<p>Princeton emphasis is on undergraduate education. There is significant differences in the size of the universities. Columbia has 24,230 students. Princeton has only 7,592 students. Large vs. small. Big city vs. bucolic. Your choice.</p>