<p>Any thoughts on this? </p>
<p>I want to study engineering, and Princeton is higher ranked for that (besides having an overall better-known name)</p>
<p>On the other hand, I really like Brown. So I guess my question comes down to, How important is the name recognition and ranking?</p>
<p>I would choose Princeton...Much better resources, global recognition and top-level prestige....Since you said that you really like Brown, i don't know...In my opinion you would love Princeton as well...Since you didn't study at any of those yet...=)) Congrats!!!</p>
<p>You want Princeton for the name. But you really like Brown? There, your decision is made!</p>
<p>i think there was a parent who posted here who has children at both schools and broke the comparison down in a fair way some years ago. you should do a search. good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. To clarify a little, I like the idea of Brown's open curriculum, and it's more liberal nature. Princeton seemed like a great place as well (from my 2 hours on campus), so this really isn't easy. I'm wondering about the prestige difference mainly as one other factor to consider. Is it significantly easier to get into grad school or get a job after Princeton than Brown?</p>
<p>Also, does anyone know what either school's engineering program is like (how hands-on it is, what year you really get started, how the professors are, etc)?</p>
<p>i wouldn't choose either school based on the strength of the engineering departments--it's not like you are comparing to a school like MIT. it is worth noting though that the engineering department at princeton has a slightly more theoretical (as opposed to applied) focus.</p>
<p>both will probably yield comparable grad and job prospects as well--what will matter most for this is your grades.</p>
<p>the overall experience while you are in college is likely to be substantially different. you should visit both!</p>
<p>Normally people rank engineering depts of Ivies like : Cornell>Princeton>Columbia>Penn=Brown .....But since Cornell(having some state funded schools and weird things like Hotel Management and Agriculture) is not as prestigious as those others, Princeton seems to be the winner...I would definitely choose Princeton as I have told before...The best you can do is visiting schools (ADOCH at Brown and probably Princeton has a program as well) and emailing Engineering professors about for ur questions..</p>
<p>princeton is sort of SNOB ISLAND... if you are one...most welcome.. but i would choose pricktown cuz of the cocky 'prestige' issue</p>
<p>scarsta: Almost everything I've read says that the stereotype of Princeton as a snob, elitist, preppy etc school is mostly false. They say there are some people like that, but most are 'normal'. I don't know though, so if you've spent time there and you think the stereotype is true, let me know...</p>
<p>there are some 'snobby' aspects of princeton that are institutional but the engineering side of campus is almost a whole different world from the rest of the school (as you will see when you visit)--a little geekier, a little less concerned with networking.
still, eating clubs, groups like whigclio, and other forms of exclusiveness still exist.</p>
<p>no puns to all princeton peeps out there but you know it takes a lot of good things to build up a reputation but one small dark stain can ruin everything...thing is, in places like princeton most people tend to have that snooby aura... although i have not been there but would definitely like to check that out...im sure there a lot of good people everywhere but the problem is that it is these snobs who make the news ,innit ma brathaz from other mothers?</p>
<p>I'm not sure why people feel capable of judging a college's student body without even visiting the school. Everyone who visits the school that I've ever spoken with has said that Princeton's "snobbiness" was just a myth, perhaps an remnant of the school's student body (or even perceived student body) of the past. But you know, when a school initiates one of the most aggressive financial aid programs in the country and provides a world-class education to people of incredible geographical and intellectual diversity (the admissions process is by no means solely a comparison of SAT scores and GPAs, as many people find out), it's hard to argue that Princeton's snobby reputation even has a logical basis for existing.</p>
<p>I have to admit, that was a concern of mine before I visited Princeton, but I did not want to reject my offer of admission without being sure it wasn't the school for me. And guess what? I absolutely loved it. I come from a poorer hispanic background, first-generation college and my parents immigrated here a year before I was born, and I felt incredibly comfortable in this school. I spoke with some of the warmest, friendliest, brightest, most down-to-earth students I've ever met--students at my low-achieving high school are more arrogant and condescending than the students I met at Princeton! And some of these kids would've had every right to brag with their unbelievable achievements, yet like the professors of Princeton, you would never know what they have done without asking them about it. I spoke with students of all racial backgrounds (except maybe hispanic, come to think of it) and of different income levels, and if I hadn't been asking questions about financial aid I wouldn't even have known who was in what bracket.</p>
<p>In short, simply ignore any notion of Princeton's snobbiness until you meet the students yourself. I will admit that I did not have the whole picture of students at Princeton: because I am a prospective physics major, a vast majority of the kids I hung out with were in math, science, and engineering fields (though the A.B. requirements are by no means simple at Princeton, so these kids had fantastic backgrounds and bases for discussion in the humanities and social sciences). They were serious about their academics yet laid back in nature. I think I saw two girls from afar that seemed pretty snobby, but seriously, you can find that a community college.</p>
<p>Anyway, don't take my or anyone else's word for it: you simply don't know a campus until you experience it firsthand for at least a full day. If that's not an option, then I believe my opinion is quite valid, as I was worried of that myself and after my two full days on campus I completely reevaluated my opinion: this distant second school is now tied firmly for first place in my decisions process.</p>
<p>Well, I speak of Princeton as someone who has spent a brief period of time (living) on the campus and as a Brown senior. This is certainly a biased post fwiw</p>
<p>The historical fact is that Princeton has been probably the most conservative school in the league. It had the smallest proportion of African-Americans even into the mid-sixties, It went co-ed pretty late in the game and, I think an eating club (Ivy) did not go co-ed until 1990 in large part due to a lawsuit (!). Controversy has been raised about whether Jews were given short shrift under a recent admissions director. </p>
<p>The exclusivity vibe is heightened by the rich, suburban qualities of Princeton N.J. which is not anything resembling a student-centric town. This is a point that sounds trivial now but, totally is not.</p>
<p>The atmosphere is very different than at Brown. I must say I did not see any of the eating clubs. Still, whether it is the architectural layout (Princeton:Gothic, Brown: Eclectic) or, the general presumption that one will join an eating club at P or, the necessity of distribution requirements or, the mandatory Junior Paper and thesis. </p>
<p>The students I met at Princeton in my (short) period there acted much more preppy than the ones at Brown. For example, it is rare that girls at Brown wear lipstick, at Princeton it was pretty common. The dress certainly was more formal and conventional [No funky thrift storeish things in sight]. The discussions I heard tended to be about being in the world whereas at Brown they were about being of the world. That sounds pretentious but, really, it is not. I think that (on average, certainly exceptions exist) Brown students operate on a more idealistic plane than the average Princeton student. </p>
<pre><code>Brown errs on the side of choice in its Baptist tradition. This is not just superficial there is a real edginess to Brown and, I wish I could find it but there is a quote from an admissions dean or the president herself about P seeking more theaterish and artsy people with green and purple hair to dilute the culture there a bit in the recent past.
</code></pre>
<p>There are many valid reasons to proudly pick Princeton. Even still, you should know that this is not one of them. You should visit both of them and decide. But, for me, the culture point plus the town of Princeton was a deal-breaker from further consideration.</p>
<p>I've visted Princeton and I felt as though many people there were snobs with money up their arses. Just my own observation.</p>
<p>Go with your gut feeling and definitely don't choose Princeton just for its name (its not like Brown much less well known)...both schools have great engineering programs...good luck with your decision!</p>
<p>Considering the stark differences in experiences, I'll just conclude that all sorts of students exist at Princeton, like at any other school of its size. I did not encounter any snobbiness whatsoever, and I thought the students were some of the warmest and friendliest I have seen. Obviously, some people here have observed differently. I do not believe you would have any difficulty finding a group of students not like that at Princeton, considering I didn't even run into any during the overnight Thursday-Saturday, and I also do not believe that Brown does not have those students. I have spoken with many people who had to decide between Princeton and other schools (some between Princeton and Chicago, like me) who were set on their other schools until they were completely surprised by how fantastic the student body was at Princeton. I honestly am surprised, judging from my experience and from my friends who did not expect to choose Princeton but did, that people get this feeling from Princeton moreso than any other school. When you look at statistics, the schools seem to have roughly the same socioeconomic diversity anyway, so I'm not sure where the comments about the kids being anymore wealthy than Brown come from; in fact, if I'm not mistaken, doesn't Princeton have a very slight advantage in this regard because their financial aid is stronger? I have a friend of lower income than me who is going to Brown and has to pay $5000 a year (some/most of it which will be loans), whereas I have to pay nothing at Princeton--at our income levels, a notable difference.</p>
<p>I'm not saying Brown is anymore snobby, of course: I just mean to say Princeton definitely has a strong presence of nonsnobby students. worse. And this is from someone who was leaning very strongly away from Princeton, partly because I never thought I would fit in with the social atmosphere. I thought I would fit in at Chicago (a school known for its highly academic, intellectual, alternative, and quirky atmosphere).</p>
<p>Let us know what you end up deciding! :)</p>
<p>Thanks so much everyone! I've heard many completely contrasting opinions, but my overall impression both from this forum and from friends at the two schools is that either place would be great. In the end I chose Princeton, but I'm definitely sad to have to turn down Brown.</p>
<p>Anyway, thanks again! Your responses were really helpful. Good luck to anyone else making a decision (I think the deadline's past by now, though)</p>
<p>Congratulations on your decision! I can definitely share in the sadness of having to turn down another fantastic school, but it seems to go away rather quickly as the excitement becomes overwhelming! Maybe I will see you in the fall :)</p>