<p>I assure you, adcoms at P'ton and Harvard don't draw a lottery to decide who's in and who's not.
There's no element of luck in US admissions, and who says that 60% of applicant are identical at P'ton and Harvard. Harvard used to follow the admission process which Cambridge does till now but stopped it, because it favors particular ethnic groups. At around 1920 half of Harvard's student body was made of jews. In order to make the student body more diverse, Harvard began to look at ECs and other things besides scores.</p>
<p>aw5k... sorry for dragging this thread off topic, but I do get somewhat infuriated with the constant stream of comments regarding how easy it is to get into oxbridge compared to the US, which people basing their arguments on completely unsubstantiated claims and misinterpretation of stats. </p>
<p>Back to the original topic then: you will undoubtedly get a fantastic education at Cambridge where you will constantly have 1:1 access to the top professors without you even having to lift a finger, something that would only be available in the US if you actively search out the professors. Secondly, in your chose major you will reach a higher level in your three years at cam than in 4 years a princeton, simply because you will be only studying one subject. This has upsides and downsides, but a lot rests on personal preference. I personally, would like to study a liberal arts curriculum because I enjoy science as well as economics.
there are other things to thing of too, you will get single accommodation for three years at cam, something you are unlikely to get in the US, this may bother you or it may not. And, of course you will be able to drink. This itself may not bother you but it does represent a trend in the UK of you being seen as a completely independent adult at 18, whilst at college in the US there appears to be a lot more 'nannying' throughout your first few years.</p>
<p>Sorry, I can't offer more specific compsci stuff, unfortunately it's not my field. Which college do you have an offer for? Where are you from?</p>
<p>So... here you are seriously trying to tell me that if the ad com were presented with exactly the same applications the year after they would pick EXACTLY the same candidates? What a ridiculous assumption to try and make. You are saying that when they have hundreds of applicants with 4.0 GPA, plenty of 'great' ECs, 2300+ on SATs and teacher recs that say they are amazing, they, by some miracle, see the special thing they want and pick them? You have remarkable faith in a system that has shown time and time again just how fallible it is. </p>
<p>Tests favour certain groups, so what do they do to pick their students? Go look at ECs. The bread and butter of the middle classes; the people who have been going to soccer clubs since they were 5, who have relatives who let them intern with their bank, contacts who let them assist in their labs and private guidance councellors that tell them how to set up a charity. </p>
<p>This is where there seems to be a contradiction, you say the top unis use things other than scores and academics to pick their students, and yet their students are far superior than those at cambridge who are chosen almost completely for their academic ability. How does this work? There is an obvious non sequitur flying around here somewhere.</p>
<p>"Tests favour certain groups, so what do they do to pick their students? Go look at ECs. The bread and butter of the middle classes; the people who have
been going to soccer clubs since they were 5, who have relatives who let
them intern with their bank, contacts who let them assist in their labs and private guidance councellors that tell them how to set up a charity."</p>
<p>If you don't have contacts in labs you can take part in ISEF, they'll arrange a lab where you could work.
If you don't have contacts to get you a internship, you can send you Resume/portfolio to different companies. If you are worth it, you'll get it.
Contacts can help you get a internship, that's it. After that you'll have to perform alone. Colleges will be more interested in what you did at a internship, rather then where you did it. Even if i went to Soccer club as soon as i was born, i would still suck at sports. Coaches can atmost develop natural talents not make them. </p>
<p>"You are saying that when they have hundreds of applicants with 4.0 GPA, plenty of 'great' ECs, 2300+ on SATs and teacher recs that say they are amazing, they, by some miracle, see the special thing they want and pick them?"</p>
<p>EC's and essay can't be compared nor can be recs. The definition of great differs from person to person.</p>
<p>you are really grabbing at loose ends here. Go tell a student in one of the poorest parts of the US that EC opportunities are equal for all regardless of background. He will laugh in your face. It doesnt take a genius to work out that a middle class family with plenty of disposible income will happily spend it on giving Jimmy every opportunity to find his niche to excel at that will coincidentally look great on his app.</p>
<p>Essays can be written by someone other than the applicant, or at the minimum help can be sought from those wiser or more experienced that the writer. Furthermore, a great writer a great college student doth not make. From the recs I have seen they are pretty futile too, a vast number of people get 'glowing' recs, and those who don't, don't form part of the homogenous applicant pool that the realistic applicants form.</p>
<p>"Go tell a student in one of the poorest parts of the US that EC opportunities are equal for all regardless of background."</p>
<p>American colleges take that into account. Obviously they understand that someone from Kyrgystan will not have the same EC opportunities as an American Kid. And as i always say: If your school doesn't offers EC opportunities you can invent some yourself. Your family doesn't needs to have large disposable income if you want to work at the store on the next street. Colleges will be highly impressed to see you working overtime in order to support your family rather than spending 1000$ on a stupid summer camp.</p>
<p>Essays can be written by someone else, but adcoms will catch that. If someone with a 3 on SAT essay has written a great essay, that'll raise suspicion.</p>
<p>"join a club or participate in college athletics" A poster mentioned that if one wants to do this they should go to anb American uni. There seems to be this view that uni's over here do not have these extracurricular activities. We also have sports teams and many clubs to join in most UK unis. Including Cambridge.</p>
<p>As a Computer Science major myself, I'd say: Go to Cambridge.</p>
<p>If it wasn't computer science I'd probably recommend choosing Princeton over Cambridge, but Princeton's CS department is not really well known. I would definitely chose Stanford or MIT over Cambridge though.</p>
<p>Of course, Princeton. Look at its number of nobel laureates, senators, and world leaders Princeton's produced(Albert Einstein, to name one...)</p>
<p>Ok to be more objective about this issue, I noticed something:</p>
<p>People who have actually experienced a certain type of education tend to favor that system. Kids enrolling in prestigious U.S. universities will most undeniably say that they receive the best education in the world.</p>
<p>Kids who enroll in Cambridge/Oxford will mostly likely say the opposite thing, that their's is the best. </p>
<p>All in all, people who are more accustomed to their respective country's system usually find their own system of education being more suitable to their needs. It's that simple.</p>
<p>Princeton and Cambridge are both great universities. and we don't have enough resources to compare them..i don't think we know much about them..</p>
<p>but, i preferred princeton but it was a personal choice basically...for computer science princeton is not that good..i have heard this from someone who studies in princeton..but for physics/math which i intend to study , princeton is one of the best with great professors and even noble laureates..
i also prefer the american style of education which gives a diverse education.. it allows us to explore subjects, so that we can make a good choice which we won't regret later..
i prefer american lifestyle as well...americans at least those in the college community are not racist..i am not sure but i have heard it is not the same in UK..similarly, americans are considered to have more college fun and parties( despite the age limit) ..at least that is what my brother at a study abroad course in Oxford from Williams College say...
Princeton is an IVY , but it does not have a big class size like harvard.. i don't know about cambridge though.
But the best part of princeton is its financial aid ...Princeton has the best financial aid policy in the world. Have no doubts about it.. i was in need of aid..and they have given me full-ride along with a lot of extra money for personal expense and air tickets..and i am not alone..admission is totally independent of your financial aid document ..and if you get accepted , they will fulfill your demonstrated need 100%. i don't think Cambridge does this..and to every student.</p>
<p>i second sailesh's opinion about Princeton's generous financial aid policies. I'm international and got a full ride to Princeton too. I may be wrong, but I highly doubt Cambridge could match Princeton at all in this aspect. </p>
<p>Having said that, it really depends on whether you prefer a liberal arts education or a specialized curriculum where you focus only on one academic area throughout your undergraduate studies.</p>
<p>If you're the kind who would like to try out things like sculpture, photography etc. and earn college credit for them, the former is THE choice. The great thing about a liberal arts education is that it allows you to explore other things that you never imagine would interest you. You may even end up changing your major, which many people have done so. Of course, it is difficult, if not impossible, to do the same thing in Cambridge.</p>
<p>If you're ready to do just Computer Science for the next few years, and you're already very, very convinced that it is the only one thing in the whole wide world that you want to do, then go for Cambridge. I'd say Cambridge would give you a greater focus on your major compared to Princeton.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, to each, his own.</p>
<p>Having spent my precious half hour (planned for study for tomorrow's tests) to read the three pages of this thread, I would like to tap the keys of my laptop to inscribe my opinion here on CC.</p>
<p>I am in a US college, not an acclaimed one but I would not regret graduating here if I don't get into the colleges I am applying as a transfer. US education, as people have already pointed out is diverse. Of course, it has both positive and negative aspects. I, personally have experienced both of them in my short stay here. Initially, I was so excited about the non science subjects--the philosophical studies and discussions and actually enjoyed it as well. I devoted more of my time to studying general education requirements than my major subjects physics and maths (we have the same choice Sailesh ;)) Going to the second semester, I have realized that I have virtually learned nothing more than what I had in my high school on my major subjects, and that sometimes frustrates me. I hope that would not be for too long. </p>
<p>I would prefer to go to a place where I can lessen my general education requirements or at least select them with greater freedom. Perhaps, you will get that with wider range of courses at Princeton.</p>
<p>With all that unproductive discussion, I would put my vote to Cambridge. The reason? Well, its more of an inclined suggestion than a reasoned suggestion. Trying a post-reason now: be sure to consider what your inclination are towards. If you are a party animal, or a social person, US college might be better as Sailesh pointed out. Rule of the thumb: if you don't wanna mess around with different subjects, go for Cambridge. </p>
<p>WOW! to choose between Cambridge and Princeton. I wouldn't mind the result of a toss either.</p>
<p>
[quote]
WOW! to choose between Cambridge and Princeton. I wouldn't mind the result of a toss either.
[/quote]
I second it provided I hav enough funds...:p..</p>
<p>Of course, Princeton. Look at its number of nobel laureates, senators, and world leaders Princeton's produced(Albert Einstein, to name one...)</p>
<p>^^</p>
<p>Cambridge has had more nobel laureates that any institution in.the.world.</p>
<p>Infact princeton's 29 looks quite poor compared to Cambridge's 83.</p>
<p>Everything about US being more party orientated is also very subjective. I have friends who go out and murder their livers 6 times a week, but sure, there are those who will never leave their rooms between 6pm and 6am to work.</p>
<p>"Cambridge has had more nobel laureates that any institution in.the.world."</p>
<p>Who most of the time teach Graduate coursed:rolleyes:</p>
<p>ya...Stephen Hawking to name one.....</p>
<p>Ok, ok, guys, thanks for all of your opinions.
I decided to go to Cambridge. My reasons:</p>
<p>1) Cambridge's computer science department is top-notch (I think). Its here where computer science was actually invented, it has strong connections with MIT, and it is known for the Silicon Fen, which comes right after the famous Silicon Valley. Considering that Cambridge's math department is arguably the best in the world, the academical aspect is very alluring.</p>
<p>2) I have choose for or against liberal arts. While I understand that many people do not know what to do at this point, I am <em>certain</em> that I want to major in computer science. I think that focusing on this subject for three years is perfect.</p>
<p>3) Another aspect is the drinking thing. Alright, I'm not an alcoholic, but I strongly dislike that I wouldn't even be able to enjoy a small beer in the states. From my experience (I've been to a summer camp in the states one year ago), undergraduates are treated as small childs. I am an adult, damn! I know what's good for me...</p>
<p>4) Last but not least, I think that Cambridge offers a great deal of sports and fun outside of the classroom. In fact, I've heard there are many cool parties going on. That is, I think I'll have fun there.</p>
<p>Thank you all.</p>
<p>PS: I'm going to King's College, LadyLou. What about you? Where are you currently studying?</p>
<p>Congratulations aw5k on your choice! :)</p>
<p>When does the term start in Cambridge?</p>
<p>aw5k: are you accepted at Princeton?</p>