It’s becoming more obvious that we will not be able to visit the campus before decision date. I would appreciate any help in understanding the personality of students, campus, town, etc. Is there a comparable school or town in Texas?
University Park, TX might offer a similar atmosphere to Princeton, NJ.
Wow. I would have never imagined that comparison. I was thinking something closer to Southwestern University in Georgetown.
So are you comparing Princeton campus to SMU in a way? Multi-millon dollar homes in Princeton, NJ? Country clubs, high rollers, cheapest car is a Mercedes AMG?
I live near Princeton and have visited campus a million times. I can’t speak to a comparison to a town in Texas, but I don’t think what you’re envisioning is accurate. We’re a quiet, small town, and yes, there are plenty of rich people. However, you won’t see a ton of crazy houses right next to the campus. There’s a huge golf course right behind the campus, but that’s all I would say in terms of crazy rich. For the most part, it’s a very diverse and welcoming environment, although you will meet elitists as well - there will be Mercedes AMGs but also plenty of Hondas and Toyotas going through campus.
Central NJ in general is a calm, green place that is also easily connected to big cities nearby. If Princeton is a top choice, the one thing I would make sure you’re good with is going to a small town rather than a city. Hope this helps!
I’d say some of those characteristics overlap, in that Princeton, NJ furnishes suburban attributes in a way somewhat similar to that of the Park Cities in Texas. However, as noted above, Princeton can claim aspects of small-town ambience that distinguish it from denser suburban areas.
Regarding SMU and Princeton University, Princeton offers Collegiate Gothic architecture, in contrast to the predominately Georgian and Neoclassical style of SMU. Nonetheless, their campus plans have been similarly ambitious.
That’s more of what we imagined. A family member compared it to Furman University (South Carolina) where the kids are all on campus almost all the time. Most everything for the student revolves around the campus. Yes there’s a town with interaction, but each thrives without the other as well.
The biggest disappointment (and doubts) for us is not being able to feel comfortable without a visit. Schools feel different to each person.
Georgia Tech for example is fantastic when you look at the pictures, admire the educational rankings, and even the campus is wonderful. But then you open your eyes to the surroundings, and the city of Atlanta, and despite being accepted to GT, it is absolutely off the list.
In Texas it is very easy to identify a UT personality and an A&M personality. It is easy to understand the types of students that attend each and why they are there. We’re struggling to get the Princeton identity without a visit.
If you play around with Google Maps’ streetview feature, you can see what the area around campus looks like. I don’t think you’ll see anything that would scare you off.
We will do this
I appreciate the insight. Are you aware of the student personality comparison to any Texas school?
Rice is probably the most similar in student body
This might depend on the group of students associated with your child’s intended major. For fields such as engineering and computer science, for example, Rice would seem to represent Princeton’s closest Texas peer (by student characteristics).
That confirms our thoughts as well. The biggest negative for us about Rice was being inside the City of Houston. Once you leave campus, just like GT, you are in the business world of a global city.
This makes the most sense. Now to figure out the town equivalent.
Since it’s based on setting, this Newsweek article, which includes Princeton, may offer perspective:
Many thanks!
There was a Princeton student named Nicolas Chae who posted a bunch of videos on YouTube. That, along with google maps and the online campus tour, can give you a sense of the campus. Wonderful campus and setting in a nice little town in the NJ countryside/suburbs.
We will be watching Mr Chae. Thanks!
@101senioritis101 and others. I’m seeing a population of 31,000 for the town. Is this truly the population or is there more if you consider the “metroplex”?
Princeton is a quaint small town. People are not nearly as pretentious as they are in the SMU area. Dallas is a very big city and SMU is in a wealthy area. I have found that old money on the east coast is VERY different from oil money in Texas. Old money is much more humble and less showy. Being educated and interesting are far preferable near Princeton than being wealthy, superficial and showy. I hope this makes sense. I’ve spent a good deal of time in both areas. Rice probably has the closest vibe to Princeton, but still very different.
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Honestly, every school has its own vibe. I don’t think there is much point in visiting a college in Texas and hoping it will give you a feel for Princeton, or any another college, frankly.
Understand that there are still plenty of students, pandemic or not, who don’t visit before move in day. There are international kids and kids from far away states who trust they have made a good decision. There are so many resources available to help kids figure it out. Not that long ago, kids just turned up on move in day.
I suggest your child spend a lot of time reading Fiske Guide, student reviews on Uni Go or Niche (preferred), look at a colleges’ social media, look all over the school website, read student stories and ask the admissions office if they can connect you with students.
For many residential colleges, campus life revolves around being on campus. That means seeing what sorts of clubs and activities are on offer. Obviously COVID has put a damper on much of that stuff, so look at a calendar from 2019, for example. Don’t get too sidetracked by the rest of the town/city the college is in. What matters most is do kids like their school and do they like what they’ve read about it. Do they feel they will be happy and can succeed at that college. We are living in a time where we don’t have the luxury of being able to absorb the full experience of college with a day visit.
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