<p>do you guys think that there's a certain stereotype associated with each of hyp? i've always thought that there was, but now i feel like it's harder to craft a stereotype since there are diverse personalities at all 3 schools. there's people who are quiet and just do their work, there's active people that are into sports, and there's also preppy kids. do you think there's a certain distinctive personality that, even by coincidence, just seems to dominate each of the 3 schools?</p>
<p>To answer the question you asked, yes, there are stereotypes. However, to answer the implied question, yes, they really are overstated, as far as I can tell. First of all, where someone chooses to apply, or which school someone chooses to attend, if admited to more than one, has to do as much with factors like financial aid, location and geography than with the idea that he fits the personality stereotype. If I lived in Illinois, so all three were equally distant, I would probably have applied early to Yale based on its more laid back, humanities-heavy reputation. Living in New Jersey, I picked Princeton. You also have to consider that not everyone gets the luxury of choosing between the three - if you want to attend HYP, unless something about one really turns you off, you'll probably go where you get in.</p>
<p>My room alone is an example of this. As I said, though I loved Princeton in its own right, part of myy choice was motivated by geography. One roommate wanted to go to Yale (she does not, by the way, fit the stereotype), got into Harvard and Princeton, and chose Princeton partially because it is closer to her DC area home, although also partially for fit issues. Another, who does fit the Yale stereotype, chose Princeton over Yale and Swarthmore, her real first choice, because of financial aid. And that last, who applied ED, couldn't be further from the preppy, elitist image despite being, not only a Princetonian, but a graduate of a prestigious prep school as well.</p>
<p>yeah i agree with all of that.....but if you think there are stereotypes, what do you think they are?</p>