<p>hey there! these are two engineering programs i was accepted into, and i was wondering if anyone could provide advice regarding advantages/disadvantages of both programs (academics, research, social life, etc.) any info is greatly appreciated!
btw i'm slightly leaning towards chemical engineering, but it's pretty tentative right now. the main concern i have is weighing harvey mudd's focus on engineering, smaller size, and potential better fit against princeton's great undergraduate focus.</p>
<p>Harvey Mudd and Princeton are two very different institutions.</p>
<p>HMC is a liberal arts college with a specialization in math, science, and engineering. Princeton is a internationally known research institution. I do not believe that there are currently any Nobel Prize winners on the HMC faculty. [If I am wrong somebody please correct me.] Princeton has perhaps one dozen Nobel Prize winners on the faculty or faculty emeritus. The number may vary because of sabbaticals and visiting professors.</p>
<p>HMC endowment is $194 million. Princeton endowment is $14.4 billion. Princeton has more resources to provide an outstanding education.</p>
<p>HMC has 763 students and 83 on the academic staff. Princeton has 7,567 students and 1,172 academic staff. While both universities have a focus on undergraduate education Princeton’s PhD programs and research facilities provide an opportunity for advanced research. Princeton has a lower student/faculty ratio. 6 to 1 vs. 8 to 1.</p>
<p>Princeton was founded in 1746. Yes, George Washington walked the halls of Princeton. HMC was founded in 1955 – over 200 years after Princeton was founded.</p>
<p>At Princeton you will have the opportunity to take liberal arts courses in economics, literature, history, sociology, etc from some of the best professors in the nation. HMC strength is limited to the technical subjects. The other Claremont Colleges are fine institutions but also do not have the depth in liberal arts subjects as found at Princeton.</p>
<p>Princeton’s engineering 130 faculty members exceed the total number of academic staff at HMC. You will have more choices of courses and research at Princeton. The National Academy of Engineering selects for membership the best engineers in the country. Princeton has 21 faculty members selected for membership. HMC has 0.</p>
<p>For a social life review the calendar of events at Princeton. [Princeton</a> University – Public Events Calendar](<a href=“http://www.princeton.edu/events/]Princeton”>Events | Princeton University)</p>
<p>Benny,</p>
<p>I think you have two excellent options. When I was at Princeton Preview with my son this last week this question was posed to one of the engineering professors. He spoke glowingly of Harvey Mudd and stated that one could get a very strong education there. My son also got into HM but never strongly considered it because the cost was higher than his other options. From what I have heard, the core at HM seems to be more intense than the equivalent at Princeton. Both will prepare you well for graduate school. More colleges recruit at Princeton if you choose not to go straight to graduate school. Research opportunities would seem to be more varied at Princeton. If you think you may want to pursue Physics, Chemistry or Math, then Princeton is hard to beat.</p>
<p>I think that for engineering they are close enough academically that you should make the decision based on other aspects, such as cost and fit. They are so different fit wise, it should not be that hard to decide based on that criteria.</p>
<p>Good luck with your decision.</p>
<p>If you think you always want to be an engineer, HMC would probably be fun. But if you want some day, maybe, to run your own company, I highly, highly advise going to Princeton. The other disciplines, and the social setup, help even very single-minded people develop leadership capabilities, if they want to.</p>
<p>You’re forgetting the most important factor: the wow factor.</p>
<p>Imagine going to a girl at a party and saying “I go to Harvey Mudd” - she’d be like “what is that?”
And now imagine saying “I go to Princeton” - guaranteed “wow” going through her mind.</p>