<p>I was just looking through Harvard's and Princeton's websites, and generally found the Harvard's courses in maths and physics looked more interesting.
I was almost certain on applying ED to Princeton until I saw this.
I really don't wanna sound like I'm bragging here or arrogant or whatever, but I am an IMO medallist, so I'd like a really high-calibre undergraduate courses in these.
Harvard's renowned math 55 appeals too.
I mean, I don't know if I was using the Princeton website right, but as far as I could see, it only had 3 200-level physics courses, with no paper on electromagnetism!
What's with that?!
Is my worry just a stupid impression I got that I shouldn't worry about, or is Harvard's actually better?</p>
<p>Harvard is good and Princeton is good. Harvard gets a lot more of the persons admitted to both colleges who are interested in math or physics, but Princeton is not a bad place to apply to at all. Because you can only apply early to one of the two schools, by their admissions policies, decide for yourself which is your favorite, get your application together, and apply early to your favorite school. Then apply to the other school in the regular round. You won't be sorry to attend either school if you are admitted.</p>
<p>Both Harvard & Princeton are practically equals in math & physics...
make a decision based on which school is the best personal fit.
Believe me, you will NOT even come close to exhausting the math & physics resources at Princeton.</p>
<p>Just a clarification of tokenadult's post. Princeton is ED. If admitted, the applicant commits to attend, and is prohibited from applying elsewhere.
Harvard is SCEA. An applicant may apply only to Harvard early, but if accepted, the applicant is not committed to attend and may apply to other schools RD.</p>
<p>That said, both Harvard and Princeton are equal in math and physics. Although the numbering may be different, it is equally possible for advanced students to take higher level courses at both schools.</p>
<p>Yes, thanks to Marite for clarifying the current admissions rules at each school. If you decide to apply early to Princeton, that is an EARLY DECISION application, which would mean that if you got in you would be expected to withdraw any pending regular decision applications you sent to other schools. (This is enforced pretty strictly within the Ivy League, I think.) As Marite pointed out, applying early to Harvard leaves your options open if, perchance, you are later admitted regular action to Princeton and end up deciding you like Princeton better. </p>
<p>This, by the way, is one reason why I as a parent would advise any child of mine who is in equipoise about Harvard and Princeton to apply to Harvard early, and to Princeton regular action. Perhaps such considerations will eventually force Princeton to join Harvard, Yale, and Stanford in adopting a single-choice early action (SCEA) policy.</p>