<p>Hi, so I have the wonderful dilemma if having to choose between Harvard and Princeton for undergrad. I'm being recruited by both schools and I have to make a decision somewhat soon so that I can get a likely letter.<br>
I know both schools have phenomenal academics so I'm not worried about that so much, but rather, which school has better undergrad student life? By student life I mean quality of dorm life, students' in-class experiences, social scene, food, etc. For the most part I've heard that Harvard's student life isn't tooooo great at the undergrad level, and that people are typically happier at Princeton. It'd be great to hear from some Harvard students about this though, to get both sides of the story.</p>
<p>Harvard College
Academics
Those who are lucky enough to attend this legendarily “beautiful, fun, historic and academically alive place” in Cambridge, Massachusetts, find a “dynamic universe” that has the ability to both inspire and intimidate, and to open up a portal to an “amazing irresistible hell,” plus about a billion opportunities beyond that. Needless to say, it’s “very difficult, academically,” but the school “does a good job of watching over its freshmen through extensive advising programs.” Those that are not willing to go after what they want-classes, positions in extracurriculars, jobs, etc,-do not gain access to the vast resources of the university. With such a definitive grouping of intelligent people, there does tend to be “latent competition.” Nobody is cut-throat in classes, but “people find ways to make everything (especially clubs and even partying) competitive.” Still, this is a good thing, and one student claims his experience to be “rewarding beyond anything else I’ve ever done.” “It is impossible to ‘get the most out of Harvard’ because Harvard offers so much,” says another. As at any school, “some professors are better than others,” but for the most part, the “the brightest minds in the world” here are “incredible” and “every so often, fantastic,” and “the level of achievement is unbelievable.” says a student. Harvard employs a lot of Teaching Fellows (TFs) for the larger lecture classes, so “you do have to go to office hours to get to know your big lecture class professors on a personal level,” but “this is not a deterrent.” The administration can be “waaaaay out of touch with students” and “reticent to change,” and there are more than a few claims of bureaucracy, but many agree it has the students’ best interests at heart</p>
<p>Student Body
Everyone is here to achieve, and this makes for a very common, and broad mold of a typical student. As one junior computer science major succinctly puts it: “Works really hard. Doesn’t sleep. Involved in a million extracurriculars.” People here have nothing but the highest opinion of their fellow students, and when it comes to finding the lowest common denominator, it’s that “everyone is great for one reason or another.” However, all of these virtuosos are down-to-earth, and there are also a lot of well-rounded kids “who aren’t geniuses but are pretty good at most things.” Admitting the best of the best makes for quite a diverse campus, and “there is a lot of tolerance and acceptance at Harvard for individuals of all races, religions, socio-economic backgrounds, life styles, etc.”</p>
<p>Campus Life
Most students have resolved their study habits by the time they get to Harvard, so “studying becomes routine and there is a vibrant social atmosphere on campus, and between students and the local community.” In Cambridge and Boston, there’s always something to do, whether it’s “go see a play, a concert, hit up a party, go to the movies, or dine out.” The new pub on campus is an excellent place to hang out and see people, “especially if you want to play a game of pool or have a reasonably priced drink,” drinking also occurs on weekends at parties or at Harvard’s finals clubs, though it is by no means a prevalent part of social life here. In addition to school-sponsored events such as panels and film screenings, the number of student organizations is staggering. “Basically, if you want to do it, Harvard either has it or has the money to give to you so you can start it,” says a student. “Boredom does not exist here. There are endless opportunities and endless passionate people to do them with.” During freshman year, the school organizes a lot of holiday/special event parties for people to get to know one another, and conversations are rarely surface-level and "often incorporate some sort of debate or interesting/important topic.</p>
<p>-Princeton Review</p>
<p>Princeton University
Academics
An Ivy League institution with a singular focus on undergraduate study (and one of the best engineering schools in the Ivy League" to boot), Princeton University upholds every ounce of its reputation, according to students. With top-notch, “endless” resources at each student’s disposal, terrific financial aid packages (no student loans!), and a centuries-old reputation, the school provides the “academic and social opportunity of a lifetime,” all within the gothic walls of a beautiful, enclosed New Jersey campus. “Princeton is all about learning; every second is an educational experience,” one student says. Though the academics can be “grueling,” they’re also well worth the effort, and work is “never assigned without a reason. [There is] no busywork.” The administration’s ongoing effort to curb grade inflation means that competition does exist at Princeton, although it’s mainly competition with one’s self- “discovering the drive and focus to spend time for your academic classes and extracurriculars” is the one of the hardest parts of being a student here. “Princeton is full of opportunities to further your interests, but only if you actively take a role,” says a sophomore. Still, students are all supportive of continuing the Princeton tradition of excellence, and the “strong student body” allows for “better class discussions and more meaningful projects.” There’s no question that the professors (who teach all of the classes) here are all-stars in their fields. “We’re using textbooks that they wrote and studying theories that they developed,” says a student. “In my biology for non-science majors class, my Nobel-prize winning professor personally taught me how to use a microscope! If that’s not passion for teaching, I don’t know what is!” says another. The administration has fans in most students; while there are “regular tiffs” with the administration over some aspects of school life (one suggests that “less administrative intervention could improve the school”), those in charge (especially within the school’s residential colleges) are “very friendly, accessible, and helpful in resolving student-life issues.”</p>
<p>Student Body
The typical Princetonian has a work-hard/play-hard mentality-working very, very hard on weeknights, but “willing to put down their books to party on the weekends.” Students tend to get “absorbed” in their work at crunch times. Though not even close to a majority, there is definitely a segment of the population that “holes up in their rooms” to study, in direct contrast to the “social” student that one typically meets around campus. This bunch of “competitive, brilliant” students has a mix of typical and atypical and no real problem reconciling the two, though students would like to see diversity increase even further than it has in recent years. “From star athletes to musical prodigies to academic powerhouses, everyone brings something different to the table,” says a student. This driven group "thinks about how to be successful in their lives after Princeton, and [they] plan accordingly.</p>
<p>Campus Life:
distance" from NYC, Philadelphia, and some beautiful beaches for those students who do choose to pop out for a bit. Everyone is constantly busy, not just with the large amounts of work but “with a range of extracurricular activities from athletics to dance groups.” Princeton’s unique “eating clubs”-10 social clubs that are housed in off-campus mansions and that upperclassmen can join and enjoy the right to eat, “hang out, relax, study, party, and everything in between” keep most partying (“once or twice a week”) in a safe setting amongst fellow students. There is, however, somewhat of a divide “between students who spend time at eating clubs (80% or so) and students who choose to abstain from partying and prefer to study.” Most of the clubs are “very accessible” to all students for events, and “it’s nice to have the social scene localized to one [place close to] campus, because everyone always knows where the parties will be.” One student refers to a popular saying on campus, "Academics, social life, and sleep: pick two.</p>
<p>Here’s a link to a Harvard Crimson artcle on undergrad dissatisfaction:</p>
<p>[The</a> Harvard Crimson :: Opinion :: Unhappy Harvard](<a href=“http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=506807]The”>http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=506807)</p>
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<p>Nice dilemma. Good luck.</p>
<p>My sense (from CC and elsewhere) is that many Harvard critics are holding forth on something with which they have no personal experience. Some of it may be that claiming Harvard’s shortcomings is newsworthy in a “Man Bites Dog” sort of way, some of it may be self-justification from others who feel that Harvard is inaccessible to them. But frankly, some extent of Harvard naysaying is perhaps a reaction to the tendency of Harvard students to be frank and self-critical.</p>
<p>I’ve seen a number of threads cite a survey that said students at other highly-selective schools rated their campus quality of life higher than Harvard students (whose ratings were high, just not as high as elsewhere). The question that’s raised is usually "Why aren’t Harvard’s student ratings higher?</p>
<p>I think the correct question is “Why are other schools’ ratings so improbably high?” Though I left Wake Forest over 30 years ago, I’ll still hype it as much as possible to someone who’s comparing it to UNC. I’ll overpraise the good points and minimize or ignore the bad to make you think that Wake’s a better choice than Chapel Hill - just as Chapel Hill students will do when compared to U.Va., just as U.Va. students will do when compared to Cornell, just as Cornell students will do when compared to HYP, and just as Y and P students will do when compared to H. I have a “Students’ Guide to Colleges” in which current students are asked to describe their campus in exactly five words. The response from the Yale students: “So much better than Harvard.”</p>
<p>Harvard students, unlike any others in America, have no peer institution whose reputation they hope to equal. And so, they tend to tell it like it is about their school - the good and the bad. In fact, I sense that many take a degree of pride from being so coolly rational that they can point out Harvard’s flaws. And accordingly, Harvard’s ratings probably aren’t deflated as much as their rivals’ are inflated. That may be behind a lot of any negative Harvard buzz that may be out there.</p>
<p>The H and P undergrad experiences are both extraordinary. For specifics on what is so extraordinary at each, the OP would get a lot of assistance on the CC boards for each.</p>
<p>I’m at Princeton and two of my quadmates are athletes. </p>
<p>Honestly, I have zero complaints about Princeton. None. I’m surprised, especially because I’m from the Pac. Northwest and I thought the culture clash would be bad. </p>
<p>In light of that, please PM me with any specific questions/general queries about Princeton. I have many friends who go to Harvard and may be able to answer technical questions about Harvard as well (nothing subjective though :P).</p>