<p>Hello everyone, this is my first time in a CC forum. I'm facing the really difficult choice to committing to either Yale or Princeton (I just returned from their preview programs, and loved both). I'm somewhat undecided for a major, but am considering international relations, physics, or economics. I adore creative writing and am politically active.</p>
<p>What I love about Princeton is the safety of the campus, their well known science departments and the woodrow wilson school. However, I want to double in international relations and physics, and I know that princeton doesn't offer a double major. I am considering concentrating in IR or econ and then getting two certificates-- creative writing and physics. I enjoy the suburban atmosphere, and the campus is beautiful, (I felt very at home on campus) but I dislike eating clubs. The whole concept just seems like a co-ed fraternity/sorority that you eat at, and is very expensive. I like the student body, they seem a little more introverted than Yale, which I also enjoyed.</p>
<p>What I love about Yale is their strength in humanities and the arts. I want to perform in poetry slams, and have a loud political voice. There are multitudes of clubs on campus, that seem (not more energetic) but in larger quantity at Yale than Princeton. The student body also seems more extroverted and fun. I would be able to double major at Yale, but they don't offer minors. I, of course, love the residential college system, but the town of New Haven is not as safe as Princeton. I adore the campus, however, and feel like I would fit in there as at Princeton. I am also interested in joining an acapella group, and I feel like Yale is a little less intense than Princeton (Princeton's tough grading policy, etc.) and I also like that finals are before break, so that break can be more stress free.</p>
<p>In other words, I think I'd feel more comfortable at Princeton but be happier/ have more fun at Yale. I have no idea what to do about my conundrum, and thank anyone in advance if they would voice their opinion. I also posted this to the Princeton forum page.</p>
<p>I think you have very good reasons to pick either school. I don’t think safety is really a good reason, unless you tend to wander around alone late at night, or do other unwise things. There are lots of old threads about safety at Yale–if you look at them, you’ll mostly find people with experience of Yale saying the same thing.</p>
<p>Bottom line: you should go with your strongest gut feeling.</p>
<p>My son is a freshman at Yale and, like you, he had many reservations about the safety of New Haven. Even though he was raised in New York City and started riding the subways by himself at the beginning of 6th grade, he had read many stories about the rough and tumble nature of the city. This year, he has been pleasantly surprised by how much he likes New Haven – at least the area surrounding campus. See: [UP</a> CLOSE | Building the ?new? New Haven | Yale Daily News](<a href=“http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2012/apr/17/building-the-new-new-haven/]UP”>http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2012/apr/17/building-the-new-new-haven/)</p>
<p>I agree with Hunt. Take the ‘safety issue’ out of the equation and what is your gut telling you?</p>
<p>Thank you for all of the helpful responses. Safety isn’t actually a deciding factor for me at all, I live by a city, so I wouldn’t wander by myself at night etc. (I just wanted to note that Princeton seems safer, just because of the area). I actually found the Yale campus easier to navigate and generally more interesting. It’s really hard to go with a gut feeling right now, because every time I think of committing to one, I feel sad about qualities about the other I love.</p>
<p>I’d have to agree with Hunt as well; He’s right on the money… Listen to your strongest gut feeling. The best thing about your situation is you really can’t go wrong with your choice. Both schools are absolutely amazing, and I’m sure you’ll be successful wherever you go…</p>
<p>I’m sure this must be a really hard decision. I’m in no position to tell you what to do, but I’ll give you my advice (as a high school senior) as well. I think you mentioned that you’d be happier at Yale and that you could possibly double major, and I know you would be more comfortable at Princeton. However, I think that your college years should be a time to grow and expand your horizions, so I would say go with Yale because it will enable you to be happy (which is really important–this is not to say you won’t be happy at P) and Yale would also allow you to explore you distinct interests. </p>
<p>Again, it’s all up to you. This is only my 2 cents. But, I think P is great for undergrad ;P</p>
<p>I would warn against these kind of false dichotomies. College is hard. You will probably feel uncomfortable regardless of which institution you attend, because you’re in a completely new environment. Both Yale, with its tight-knit res college system, and Princeton with its multiple layers of peer advising/living communities, will do their best to make you feel at home. But you will also feel like a fish out of water for at least the first couple days, if not the first couple weeks or months. (For me, the uncomfortable-ness only began to wear off recently.) This, combined with interesting courses and a diverse array of people, will undoubtedly expand your horizons and push you to new limits. </p>
<p>As for the matter of fun, hardly anyone could argue that either school lacks in that regard. Yale’s social scene relies on Greek life, Princeton’s on eating clubs (though both have other options). Both schools are known for wildly happy student bodies. No one comes out on top.</p>
<p>It’s tempting to say Yale = this experience and Princeton = that one. But that’s just not the case. There are many good reasons to choose either school, but an oversimplified dichotomy just isn’t one of them.</p>
<p>I can’t speak to the social scene at Princeton, but Yale’s social scene does not rely on Greek life. Sororities and fraternities at Yale have a minor role in campus life.</p>
<p>^Agree. I think there are concentric social circles at Yale, with the RC at the center for the vast majority of students. Other circles include activities; frats and sororities are among those activities for a small percentage of students.</p>
<p>I’m really curious as to what OP ended up deciding. You really can’t go wrong with either choice. I faced the same decision back in my day (and I was prospective applied math/ep&e or ORFE/woody woo). Princeton had been my dream school since i was 5, but somewhere between Dec 15 and April 30, Yale won me over. </p>
<p>I chose Yale because it “felt” right when I visited. I had a lot of reservations about the decision: the departments weren’t as “good”, the campus wasn’t as “safe”, the campus felt foreign (I grew up in the suburbs), and it was farther from home. I ended up thinking about which decision I would regret more, and knew that I would hate myself if I didn’t give Yale the chance. Glassesarechic is right, college is tough. I definitely had a lot of “whatif” moments during my freshman year. It takes time to adjust to college life, but I can honestly say that I have never honestly thought that I made the wrong decision. </p>
<p>You’re right in considering all of the information available to you about different groups on campus and different academic program, but don’t forget to consider the people you meet. There is definitely a different “feel” to the two schools, and while you can definitely be happy at both schools (think about what would have happened if you were only admitted to one and not the other), most people naturally feel more at home at one school than another. That’s where you belong. </p>
<p>In terms of the social scene, I would say that Yale’s scene is probably more integrated than Princeton’s (based on my observation alone). At Yale, freshmen tend to hang out in their colleges, and many do stay best friends with those in their residential college, but as time goes on, people get to know others who are in the same classes or activities. As with any other campus, there are activities that are more socially insular, but people generally have pretty diverse network ties. The greek scene isn’t dominant in that something like 15% of the student population is involved and many of those involved wouldn’t consider their greek affiliation their main “identification” on campus, but the greek scene is alive and definitely a presence on the weekends.</p>
<p>If your gut says Yale=happy, go to Yale. This is, in part, a romantic decision you must make. As for me, I remember literally falling in love when I entered the front gates as a prospective visiting Princeton, and felt Nassau Hall pulling me in. Through the morning mist that day, I could imagine the cannon fire hitting that building during the American Revolution. I felt I had stepped back in time and that I was standing on sacred ground. The feeling continued for four years on that beautiful, pristine campus. I even ended up incorporating the campus and its history into my senior thesis. I don’t remember anything in particular about the social scene, other than it being lots of fun, but I do remember the academics being VERY challenging. If you’re a valedictorian, be prepared to head directly to the middle of the pack at either school. Good luck!</p>