<p>smiley-</p>
<p>This year my ultimate choice came down to Princeton and Yale and ultiimately chose Yale. I visited both a couple times and did preview at each.</p>
<p>With regard to Princeton, I got the same impression you did. It just always felt more dead and deserted than Yale. I just didn’t feel the same kind of energy that blew me away at Yale. I completely understand, though, why many people would much prefer the space, beauty and quiet of Princeton as a place to spend four years.</p>
<p>I would say definitely be awfully careful about turning down an environment which really grabs you for four years for some theoretical and marginal gain in “prestige”.</p>