<p>btw christopher-Im just as glad as you are that the hargadon era is over. Rapelye has devoted herself to stopping the strategic admissions, which definately did take place under hargadon. But remember, rapelye has only been in for a year. USnews bases its rankings on admissions data from two years prior to its publication-so the 05 rankings are based on 03 data.</p>
<p>You're right, the national publishers are wrong.<br>
Good night!</p>
<p>P.S. Make sure you try out for the debate team. You seem to have a unique style.</p>
<p>Pcessly, why do you consistently cite sources such as...
[quote]
The Atlantic Monthly, The Princeton Review, The largest nat'l College Survey Guide, The Fiske Guide
[/quote]
...when these sources are anything BUT objective? Princeton Review, for example, gives preference on its "Counselor-O-Matic" college search feature to colleges that pay to advertise; it also bases most (if not all) of its rankings on small survey samples. Fiske, while a good guide for gauging the feel of colleges, is not seen as an expert on ranking them - at least objectively. Not a good idea.</p>
<p>Honestly, what are you trying to prove? That Princeton, by virtue of the aforementioned subjective sources and a one-point advantage in the last US News college guide, is better than Yale? It really isn't worth it. Those of us who have just come through the college admissions process (christopher, prepster, and myself included) understand that when you are dealing with schools like these, rankings do not matter. Essentially, HYP have equal reputations, although Harvard has a more powerful name and media presence. I'm not putting down Princeton (I love the school) or promoting Yale (I love the school ;)), just noting that there is no way to truly measure things like this - things that depend on the individual.</p>
<p>ummm.....why do we always end up having these rank arguments? who cares about rank? go where ur gut feeling is. u should visit and attend a few classes if u are in such a situation (of having to choose)</p>
<p>pcessly, would u happen to be alphacdc? lol =P</p>
<p>Vivaldi, what is anyone trying to prove? The original post basically asks for an opinion of the 2 schools. Who better to answer than 5 different organizations who have researched the schools over a period of many years, are respected (despite what you say) and known for being unbiased. How can we ignore these 5 groups when millions in this country are fixated on what they say? They have been around for awhile for good reason. Fiske, PR and US News are quoted in the news quite often. They are also used by the professionals in the business. To dismiss them would be irresponsible.</p>
<p>The problem is that some people here absolutely refuse to accept the results. But yet they want you to accept their opinion which typically comes with far less knowledge.</p>
<p>Bottom line: I agree, we are talking about 2 premiere schools. Personally my #1 and 2 favorites. That said, there are differences.</p>
<p>If so many people use these guides, and they are so important to everyone and are the crux of why princeton is the best, then why does everyone choose harvard over princeton? I mean, you claim they are so important and widely used? How come? In all but one of your rankings, princeton spanks harvard. I guess people don't take them that seriously, and nor should you. In fact you should stop posting the same crap over and over and over again, and leave these threads which you have well destroyed. The OP asked for opinions of people. You don't have one. You just paste and copy the opinions of publications. </p>
<p>Unless you have something personal to add? I doubt it, you didn't go to princeton or yale.</p>
<p>This beast seems to have taken on a life of its own. I suppose I have no control over the matter, but I started this thread, and I daresay the intention was to have informed conversation on these two schools. This bickering won't solve anything, and ultimately the question of ratings is irrelevant (#1 vs. #2, come one!).</p>
<p>Please take this somewhere else!
Luukas</p>
<p>Let me talk a little about what I hopped to get out of starting this thread.</p>
<p>Disciplinarily, I'm a bit torn, but my prospective majors are Classics (Latin and Greek), Philosophy and Latin. Realistically, I doubt I will end up as physics major, but I do plan to take some courses. I'm hoping to get a strong liberal arts education in both the humanities and the sciences.
I may eventually pursue a career in politics/policy, but that can wait for grad school. In particular, I have concerns about how Princeton vs. Yale would play in European politics (if you really wanna know why, search for my posts on the old board) - but that is a topic this board might not be best placed to answer.</p>
<p>Socially - I'm not that worried about elitism at either school per se, but it seems eating clubs DO sponsor a certain cliquishness: certain groups end up in certain clubs. Also, upperclassmen men at Princeton supposedly take all the underclass girls, leaving none for the frosh and soph guys.
Are these claims true?... and is Yale any better?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>
[quote]
Make sure the school and your personality are a match. Harvard is individualistic and has Boston (one of the great college towns) and great public transportation. Yale is warm, fuzzy, community, and has Yale (Yale is its own town); it's a short train ride to Manhattan. Princeton is clubby, has Nassau Street and is pure suburbia. Love all three. Dislike none. Education at all three is top notch. Pick which one matches your personality and think of where you want to call home for four great years of your life.
[/quote]
This was Zuma, from a couple pages ago. </p>
<p>I think this is what I'm going to do, too. I already ruled out Princeton because I visited it (only for a tour) last fall, and the event was forgettable. Nothing really stood out for me. I'm going to do an overnight at Harvard next week and attend Bulldog Days the week after that. Since I know that both are really awesome schools, I'm not looking at rankings, or even academics, for that matter. I'll just visit the colleges and see how I feel when I'm there.</p>