MIT or Princeton?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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<p>I know I can't go wrong with MIT, but maybe I could right somehow going to Princeton?</p>

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<p>Those are this year's US News rankings of graduate programs. Sorry. Should definitely have cited that in the post itself.</p>

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<p>would the rankings for the graduate programs accurately reflect the quality of the undergraduate programs?</p>

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<p>I'm having a similar dilemma. I personally love the culture of MIT as well as the wide array of classes it offers in all fields of engineering. I looked through both MIT and Princeton catalogs and was like "zomg I gotta go to MIT!"</p>

<p>Except my financial aid package from MIT is loans only... whereas Princeton is giving me a nice chunk of money in the form of grants. :| Gah I hope my appeal will change my package so I can go to MIT!</p>

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<p>In many ways, undergrads are even more spoiled than grad students at MIT. There are only 4,000 undergrads for 6,000 grad students. Undergrads have access to the same resources, can conduct research alongside grad students and post-docs, take advanced classes if they wish and have a definite advantage if they want to continue with grad school at MIT. Plus it is very easy, even encouraged, to take classes outside of your major. It's often hard to convince MIT students to take a semester abroad as they don't want to leave. My D. was intially set on spending a year abroad at Cambridge University. Now she does not think she will want to leave. It's like kids in a candy store!</p>

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<p>
[quote]
and have a definite advantage if they want to continue with grad school at MIT.

[/quote]
I'm not sure that's true, or at least true in all departments. I've heard that they like to accept kids from other schools.</p>

<p>Anyone else weigh in on this?</p>

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<p>Same problem here with S deciding among MIT, Princeton, Harvard, Stanford. It was no question, MIT had it, till he got fin. aid packages. It sounds like everyone is appealing. So will we get more via an appeal? What if everyone else is also appealing?</p>

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<p>@andi: It's an advantage for grad school in engineering. I know EECS and chemE, all you need is a 4.3/5.0 and you automatically get into the master's program. After that, it's not that tough to get into the PhD program because you are typically getting a rec from the guy you are going to work for--again a big advantage to be an MIT undergrad.</p>

<p>It isn't an advantage in math & science (but you still can get in.)</p>

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<p>

I'm not sure that's true, or at least true in all departments. I've heard that they like to accept kids from other schools.

[/quote]

Well, kids from other schools are definitely accepted. But about 20% of each graduating class continues to MIT for grad school, and presumably about 10-15% more get in but choose to go elsewhere -- MIT is the most common grad school destination of MIT undergraduates.</p>

<p>The engineering grad programs are gleeful, inveterate inbreeders. (For example, in my husband's year, all but two of the course 16 seniors who applied to the course 16 master's program got in.) And even though the science programs are more wary of inbreeding, I certainly felt that having gone to MIT helped me get into the biology PhD program.</p>

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<p>Thanks. I believe I heard from s, and I may have gotten this wrong, but only one physics major was admitted from this year's grads. Maybe it was an overdramatization.</p>

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<p>PumpkinPi I would definitely appeal. We have found the fin aid at MIT to be very helpful.</p>

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<p>The science programs at MIT (and most other places) generally prefer to see their undergraduates go elsewhere for graduate school -- it's considered better for your career in the sciences if you have more than one school on your curriculum vitae.</p>

<p>Engineering programs are not so picky. :)</p>

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<p>
[quote]
The science programs at MIT (and most other places) generally prefer to see their undergraduates go elsewhere for graduate school...

[/quote]
</p>

<p>FYI, course 9 is the big exception here. It preferentially takes its own undergrads.</p>

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<p>Well, in that vein, I should note also that 7 had approximately a 100% acceptance rate for MIT undergrads my year, although after they accepted us, they encouraged us to think about going elsewhere.</p>

<p>And of course, now that I think about it, two course 12 friends of mine were accepted to course 12 graduate programs.</p>

<p>So maybe it's just physics, math, and chemistry that don't inbreed.</p>

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<p>Definitely appeal the fin aid package if you feel it is warranted. If you are going to do so, do it early. Schools usually have weekly meetings to discuss fin aid packages and appeals. If you have extenuating circumstances document it and send to the school(s) in question. Medical issues and expenses are not reflected on FAFSA, Profile, and PFAA. We did that a few years and it did increase the grant aid at both Princeton and MIT. The documentation that we sent clearly reflected the medical issues that we faced and the expenses involved. Contact the fin. aid office and ask what information /documentation is required.</p>

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<p>Thanks andi and hsmom for the advice on appealing... Can i take the offers from Princeton (and Harvard and Stanford) for comparison? I will be at CPW. Is that appointment an appropriate time to appeal? We have no new extenuating circumstances, but the offers from these other schools are so much greater that it is hard to turn them down.</p>

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<p>PumpkinPi,
I am quite certain that there were financial aid people on hand to meet with parents when we went to CPW-in fact I believe there was a room at the student center set up for that purpose.
So yes, I believe it is an appropriate place to talk.</p>

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<p>PumpkinPi --</p>

<p>Daniel Barkowitz has a couple entries on his blog about details going into financial aid awards. This</a> one in particular has lots of information, and is targeted to those who were disappointed at their FA awards. An appointment at CPW is an appropriate time and place to talk, and bring copies of documents that you want a FA officer to see, but be aware of some of the things Daniel says in his blog post:

[quote]
First, remember that the EFC is supposed to be a measure of what cost your family can absorb in an entire year. It is not a measure of how much can be paid out of pocket today . . . Remember also that an MIT education is an investment for your family; just as a car isn't paid back within a year of purchase, repaying the parent contribution to your MIT education may take your family some time.

[/quote]

[quote]
Recognize that we are unable to “negotiate“ aid offers, although we may ask you to send us a copy of another institution's award letter. We are interested in seeing other institutions' EFCs for you (if you are willing to share them) and may be able to tell you why our contribution is different than theirs.

[/quote]

[quote]
Know that even if we say “no“ to your appeal, we will work with you to help you find a way to make the dream of an MIT education a reality. It is very helpful if you know upfront how much of a monthly expense your current budget can handle. With this information, we can help you construct a loan and payment plan combination which will fit within your budget and will help you manage the cost of your EFC.

[/quote]

Best wishes for a successful appeal!</p>

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<p>andi and mootmom,
Thanks for the info and link. I looked it over and I will take those documents with me to CPW. I truly believe MIT is the place to go. But the comments about "helping to make a budget" etc. miss the boat. I know my S will want to save us money, and so he'll go with the "best deal"... We probably could make it work on the limited aid from MIT, but is it worth it? The advice on all the varying threads only makes it confusing! I appreciate your help.</p>