<p>I have sort of cross posted this on the MIT forum.</p>
<p>My son is interested in studying computer science and has been accepted to both Princeton and MIT. Is there any argument for choosing Princeton to do this? Everyone seems to think that MIT has a vastly superior CS program than the one at Princeton. Being a Princeton Alum, I have been trying to sell him on the merits of a Princeton education, but culturally he is definitely a good fit with MIT.</p>
<p>Is there any sort of nerdy subculture at Princeton these days (there definitely was in my day)?</p>
<p>Wow, two wonderful options for your son! Congratulations!</p>
<p>I taught at one for a number of years and twice seriously considered faculty positions at the other. My sense is that MIT is a fabulous place for a kid that is very science and engineering focused, but that Princeton is superior overall for the kid whose interests range beyond those fields. MIT is rated higher in CS in national rankings, but Princeton’s also way up there; I sort of doubt the slight academic differences are going to matter for undergrad education. Princeton, as you know as an alum, focuses great resources and attention on their undergrads, whereas MIT despite recent attempts to improve the undergrad experience still seems somewhat more grad focused.</p>
<p>Princeton has some of the giants of Comp Sci as professors. Not as focused as MIT, but if your son also likes math, his education could probably be pretty close technically at Princeton, with way better social skill development. See, CEO of Google, CEO of Amazon:).</p>