<p>i know these threads are getting kinda annoying, but...
what do you think?</p>
<p>i'm thinking of studying something science related (pre-med, even?). which has stronger science departments?
i've heard that i'll probably get more attention from faculty at princeton, but others have also told me that it's pretty much the same at harvard and princeton (taught by TAs and such).<br>
also, i'm just curious about the social atmosphere, level of snootiness, and anything else that makes either harvard or princeton awesome. </p>
<p>any opinions would be greatly appreciated :)</p>
<p>I've heard that although princeton is wonderful...it's a tad isolated from major hospitals and other potential research facilities...a plus for Harvard
But I too have the same decision</p>
<p>What a great choice you have. For medicine Harvard and JHU are tops and being an undergrad there gives you exposure and potentially a leg up in their medical school admissions.</p>
<p>Princeton does indeed have grade deflation (an incredibly unpopular policy amongst premeds, by the way) and I have never found Professor interaction to be hard to come by at Harvard (I'm now in the awkward position of having to weed out which professors I want to write my 5-6 letters of rec for medical school). Harvard is NOT a snooty place, in fact it blows my mind that the perception of Harvard kids as 'rich' or 'trust-fund babies' or 'snooty preps' still lives, despite the fact that Harvard does more than any other university in the country to ensure that everyone can attend regardless of socioeconomic background.</p>
<p>Harvard's got 20,000 something students. Princeton's got 6,000. The fact that Princeton as an academic institution is just as superior or more superior than Harvard with a third as many people just shows how much better Princeton is.</p>
<p>"Harvard is NOT a snooty place, in fact it blows my mind that the perception of Harvard kids as 'rich' or 'trust-fund babies' or 'snooty preps' still lives, despite the fact that Harvard does more than any other university in the country to ensure that everyone can attend regardless of socioeconomic background."
Nontopical, Harvard has a systematic bias towards the type of education/lifestyle only afforded to the elite. PEA/AEA only have a hand-countable number of decrepit students who get by on scholarships. </p>
<p>But what I cannot understand is the type of person who would go to an Ivy League without even an clear interest in mind. Especially a "science-related" generality. Or the person who admits that student.</p>
<p>To the previous post, it's worth noting that most people are not quite sure what they want to be when they grow up. I, for instance, was accepted to both Harvard and Princeton and don't have a clear idea. In fact, that is the appeal of the Ivies to me; whatever I choose, I know I will be working with some of the world's best and brightest.</p>
<p>So, if you could tone down the judgment just a tad that would be super.</p>
<p>Logos-like jackassery is not something you see at Harvard (and hopefully not at Princeton!). The Final Club scene is a bit moneyed and exclusive, but I don't think it has a significant impact on the campus atmosphere (and the vast majority of final club guys aren't snooty, and a significant minority aren't wealthy). Not sure how eating clubs compare...</p>
<p>Logos, not everyone has a definite plan in mind when they go to university, and that is the wonderful thing about the Ivies - they don't care! That is why the core curriculum is so brilliant...it forces you to broaden your interests and challenge your mind...it allows you to pursue subjects that you otherwise might disregard.</p>
<p>I'm from Canada, and our universities have a much less interesting format. When you apply you pick a faculty and a major. So, starting at first year you only take science courses or arts courses or engineering courses etc. And, you continue to specialize in that area as you advance each year. </p>
<p>Personally, I prefer the Harvard method. I think that anyone who applied there without a career in mind is at the right place to find their passion! Harvard is looking for academically curious individuals, not just students who have know what they want to do from 2 years old.</p>
<p>I have been accepted into 16 on the nations top schools (including 5 ivy leagues) and have chosen Princeton. Just the sheer undergraduate focus provides a massive advantage in graduate applications, which can easily be discovered by looking at their graduate admission statistics. Also, Princeton more money to spend per student because of the smaller student body. So although Harvard may have the “elite” graduate programs for students to draw resources from (which rarely happens anyways since they are there for the sole purpose of graduate use), Princeton provides outlets for students to attain those resources. They pay travel and living expenses for students who wish to intern at advanced medical clinics overseas. Just the other week, a student told explained that his entire class was sent to Rome to explore their professors findings… That’s a tad bit more than Harvard is willing to offer.</p>
<p>FHSgrad, let me welcome you to College Confidenital and tell you that you’ve just violated one of its cardinal rules: you’ve just chimed into a 5-year-old conversation.</p>
<p>Look the dates on all the other posts in this thread: April 2008. All the participants in this discussion have, by now, selected colleges, enrolled and probably graduated. Please do no resurrect old threads. Read them for information, sure, but please don’t revive them.</p>