I’m lucky to be in this position, but I’m confused about which one to pick. So I’m an international student from Zimbabwe and I plan on majoring in Physics at both schools.
I’m looking for a warm welcoming campus that I would feel comfortable adjusting into and becoming a part of. The weather is not an issue, although I prefer sunny weather, I also want to experience snow and winters since we dont get those in Zimbabwe. So both schools have great Physics programs but Princeton is more undergraduate focused and Stanford is near the Silicon Valley which I view as a Con. Is the grade deflation still an issue at Princeton? and if yes, how much of a problem is it?
Please help.
Nice problem to have…
My D had the same choice last year (along with a few equally prestigious options (e.g., Harvard, Yale (her SCEA choice), and UChicago and some full-tuition top 20 schools). She chose Stanford and hasn’t regretted it for a millisecond.
The main differences between Princeton – you can substitute Harvard, Yale, or MIT (for some subjects) for that matter – and Stanford come down to an east coast/west coast sort of thing. You can’t go wrong with any of these schools. All will give you an amazing education; the question is, where do you want to spend the next four years? Stanford is a sprawling, suburban campus with palm trees, outdoor sculptures and beautiful Spanish-style architecture with glorious weather and a west coast vibe. It is a commuter train ride away from San Francisco. Princeton is a stately, beautiful, neo-gothic suburban campus with gorgeous buildings, eating clubs, and an east coast, ivy league vibe. It is a commuter train ride away from NYC or Philadelphia. Apples and Oranges. Both great fruits. Which one do you prefer?
It’s going to come down to which resonates more with you. (I moved to CA from the east coast a few decades ago and never looked back, so you know where I’d stand on this).
Princeton based on your desire to experience a variety of seasonal weather. Consider Stanford for graduate school.
Check to see if either school offers the option to spend a year at other schools. This type of option might make the choice easier.
@LoveTheBard hit the nail on the head. This is more of a lifestyle decision than an academic one. Four years is a long time. I love the outdoors and have spent some beautiful days visiting the Stanford campus and going to football games. For me, Princeton is 3000 miles away where it is sticky hot in the summer and frigid in the winter–not my cup of tea. Easy decision from my perspective, go Stanford. YMMV.
Summers should be free for the OP as the typical college academic year runs from late August to late May or early June.
Princeton ended its grade deflation policy in 2014, as shown here
http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/article/2014/10/breaking-after-faculty-vote-grade-deflation-policy-officially-dead/
If you want to experience snow and winters and you want a school that is predominantly undergraduate, then Princeton seems to make more sense.