<p>I know I definitely want to ED because I'm a kinda lazy bastard and would REALLY like to only ever have to write one application and be done by December. I have the transcript to get a shot at both. Plus I figure I'm going to have to make the decision eventually, so might as well do it now.</p>
<p>My major criteria isn't so much the academics - I figure both are comparably stellar - as the social scene and surrounding atmosphere. On one hand, Columbia offers living in Manhattan, which is a lifestyle all by itself....and on the other hand, Princeton pretty much exemplifies the traditional closed-off campus experience (and has the nicest campus). </p>
<p>So what I'm wondering is, does that really make a big difference in your college life there? Does it turn out that Princeton (or campus schools in general) would be more tight-knit, while in Columbia (or urban schools in general) the campus empties, and students tend to band off into small groups to explore NYC and you sacrifice campus life? And if I don't shop and don't like partying all that much, does NYC really have that much to offer?</p>