Hi everyone,
I’m from NYC and I’m currently a high school senior. About two weeks ago I received my college decisions, and I’m extremely grateful to have been offered admission to Princeton, Brown, and Columbia (as you can guess from the title). As of right now, I’m kind of at a crossroads between Brown and Princeton and I would really appreciate any insight + pros/cons. Obviously finances are something I’m taking into account but I really just would like to hear your experiences as well as which school might be a better fit for me (since I can’t visit because of COVID). I’m a really community-driven person who’s planning on majoring in either Psych or Neuro and following a Pre-Med Track. Obviously Princeton has more of a ‘prestigious’ reputation but my main goal is having a truly enriching education and meeting incredible people (teachers, students, etc.). Please share your thoughts/opinions. Thank you!
OP, both schools will give you the kind of experience you want in terms of relationships and enrichment. If you’re eliminating Columbia, focus on the kind of vibe you want. In general, Brown is regarded as being a little more relaxed with creative, intelligent people. Princeton is seen as being a little more conservative, preppy, and competitive. But there are definitely curious and lively students at both schools.
As far as the campus, Princeton is beautiful and has a classic collegiate feel. I love Brown’s campus too, but it isn’t as classic as Princeton’s. I prefer Brown’s location. And Brown has no core curriculum so you can study what you like. A quick google search places Brown’s neuroscience program eleven notches higher than Princeton’s, fwiw.
Both schools will be excellent for premed, but you might want to consider grade deflation. I’m not sure if one is worse than the other for that. Grades will be extremely important when you apply to med school. So perhaps choose based on where you see yourself being able to preform to the best of your ability. Good luck, no bad choices for you.