PRINCETON or Yale

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
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<p>I got into both Yale and Princeton. These are my two top choices (although Stanford is a close third, so if anyone wants to comment on S, please).</p>

<p>I like Yale for its more tight-knit residential colleges communites (there are twelve of them, and they last 4 years). I also know a couple of profs, and a bunch of students, at Yale.</p>

<p>On the other hand, Princeton is smaller (and therefore has a clubbier atmosphere), places (in my mind) a slightly greater emphasis on undergrads, and is in a warmer climate.</p>

<p>(money situation is comparable for both so not a factor)</p>

<p>Please HELP...</p>

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<p>The schedule at Yale is a lot nicer than at Princeton. I forget the specifics for princeton, but my friend told them to me once, and they were not that great. I refer you to chasgoose's post on the Yale schedule: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showpost.php?p=633345&postcount=52%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showpost.php?p=633345&postcount=52&lt;/a> . It's really nice. I know it's only one thing, but Yale has H and P beat in that area.</p>

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<p>Congrats! It's really up to you. What do you want to major in?</p>

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<p>I'm also making this decision (with Harvard thrown in just to drive me insane double-guessing). At the moment I'm preferencing Yale. It's where I'd always dreamed of going, and the theatre program is phenomenal. I also have friends there, and I'm attracted by the slightly artsy feel compared to the other ivies. I've felt very comfortable whenever I've visited. Oh, and the residential college system is wonderful.<br>
The only things drawing me strongly to Princeton are its philosophy and creative writing programs and its aura of refinemen (sometimes read pretentiousness). But I've never had a chance to visit Princeton. I don't know whether those programs are significantly stronger than at Yale, whether there is any strong theatre presence, and how different the atmosphere is. If anyone could offer advice, I'd appreciate it.</p>

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<p>First of all, congratulations! And of course, here you'll get slanted opinions. Besides the fact that they didn't accept me, I wouldn't attend Princeton for the following reasons:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>My interviewer made Princeton sound kinda lame. Then again, I, and my friend who interviewed right after me, got the impression that he was the slightly socially awkward mathy nerd type (He was a physics major, and the interview was peppered with awkward silences.). Anyway, he told me he got into HYP and ultimately chose Princeton b/c of a girlfriend. I asked him about the social scene, and he talked about how he and his friends would meet in the library and pretend to study (insert awkward fake laugh on my part). </p></li>
<li><p>Less sex at Princeton. That shouldn't really be a deciding factor, but let's just get it out there. And the less sex thing isn't just a current phenomenon. The below article is from 1998, and I know earlier this year someone posted a thread about a more recent poll. I can't find it b/c "sex" is too short a word to search.
<a href="http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/Content/1998/04/15/news/chanda.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/Content/1998/04/15/news/chanda.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/li>
<li><p>Freshmen & sophomore dorms- I don't like schools that segregate freshmen from the rest of the school. You don't have experienced students close by to show you the ropes, and less contact with upperclassman means less contact with attractive upperclassman of the opposite sex.</p></li>
<li><p>Elitist reputation- My interviewer admitted that...I guess the best word would be cliques, are existant at Princeton. Though I'm sure they exist at all universities, Princeton does have the reputation for being preppier and WASPier than the other Ivies, and personally, I think certain eating clubs exacerbate that, as evidenced by the following article: <a href="http://www.yaledailynews.com/article.asp?AID=22523%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.yaledailynews.com/article.asp?AID=22523&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/li>
</ol>

<p>A disclaimer however: I showed that article to a Princeton alumni friend, and he said that Ivy is one of the more elitist eating clubs. </p>

<p>To be fair, Princeton does have non-academic redeeming traits. The campus is gorgeous, and the buildings are magnificent. I took lots of pictures when I visited: <a href="http://community.webshots.com/photo/126963672/126984690nnhdYi%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://community.webshots.com/photo/126963672/126984690nnhdYi&lt;/a>
My favorite building there was the cathedral, and of course, a Yale grad designed it. :)</p>

<p>According to Princeton Review's survey (which I doubt used proper sampling techiniques), Princeton ranks the following in various categories:</p>

<p>#2 The Toughest To Get Into Academics
#2 Great College Library Administration
#11 School Runs Like Butter Administration
#10 Students Happy With Financial Aid Administration
#18 Happy Students Quality of Life</p>

<p>Yale: #4 The Toughest To Get Into Academics
#7 Great College Library Administration
#6 Great College Newspaper Extracurriculars
#9 Great College Theatre Extracurriculars</p>

<p>Keep in mind that the Princeton Review also says that tuition for Princeton and Yale runs about $31k. They really need to update.</p>

<p>Finally, you should go to Yale because I will be there. :) Seriously though, you're going to get a top-notch education no matter where you go. Visit both if you can, and hopefully your gut will tell you where you want to spend the next four years.</p>

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<p>I almost forgot: The city is Princeton is way nicer than the city of New Haven.</p>

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<p>Yeah, its nicer if like a super-clean and small suburby feel- (which I actually do like). But it seems kinda like there might be more to do in New Haven just because it is much bigger. My brother is graduating from Princeton this year and echoes this sentiment- also Princeton is a bit smaller than Harvard or Yale, so if you want a smaller feel, then it may the school for you.</p>

<p>I am struggling with the same decision (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford) but am going to admit weekends and hope that that will help...</p>

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<p>BTW: almost forgot: Yale freshmen are also separated from upperclassmen- they all live in Old Campus and not in colleges (although as freshmen they are already part of a college and thus do have some ties :) )</p>

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<p>Not true senioritis. Only freshmen in 10 out of the 12 colleges live on Old Campus. Freshmen in Timothy Dwight College and Silliman live in the college all 4 years (although us Sillimanders have to move to Swing Space in 2 years, sophomore year for you '09ers).</p>

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<p>Thats true- you got me...
So how long will renovations take? (or do you have any idea when they will be finished)</p>

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<p>Well most colleges take only a year to finish. Silliman's size, however, has required renovations to be done in stages. The tower at one end of Silliman is going to be renovated this summer (good news for '09ers as the tower houses half of Silliman's freshmen). Then they will renovate the rest of the college your sophomore year.</p>

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<p>I was watching the slideshow of photos and after awhile started thinking that Princeton looks a lot like MIT.. but then realized that, well, you can guess what happened. Thanks for the photos! They're great.</p>

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<p>Ok, i should add that my academic interests are accross the board. My prospective majors are currently physics classics and philosophy...
and thanks for all your inciteful comments :)</p>

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<p>I was rejected by Yale so I wouldn't know but the tuition at Princeton is about 31k...</p>

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<p>Also, does anyone know of any books about Yale, beyond Chloe does Yale and the one about Dink written back in 1912?</p>

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<p>I think you should go to Princeton, just sayin'.</p>

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<p>Haha, Becky - what should I do? Harvard, Yale, or Princeton?</p>

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<p>I'd be more inclined to suggest Harvard or Princeton - I hear they're just divine this time of year. But if you must go to Yale, sobeit.</p>

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<p>what is it that you want to major in, lindsey?</p>

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<p>Christopher - all I know, is something in the Humanities or Social Sciences.</p>