Princeton...Positives and Negatives

<p>Hey Guys,
I am junior and looking at Princeton. What do you think the best and worse things are at Princeton? Yes I know I copied the thread from the Yale board but I still think it would be valuable to prospective applicants.</p>

<p>rawr negatives?! You're on the wrong board.</p>

<p>I've done this so many times! But who needs an excuse to ramble about the wonderfulness that is princeton?</p>

<p>Positives:
--Lots of attention given to undergrads, being as they don't have law/med/business schools and all profs are required to teach.
--Safe
--Gorgeous campus
--Access to nyc and philly
--Balanced views (ie. not extremely liberal or conservative)
--Focus on independent work
--Woody Woo</p>

<p>There are many more, but that's all I feel like saying right now. </p>

<p>Negatives:
Hmm...get back to me, I can't think of any right now :p</p>

<p>Negative: we might not get in.</p>

<p>Especially if you guys don't get back to your homework!</p>

<p>agreed with kebree</p>

<p>honestly, for undergrad, princeton has nothing majorly wrong in terms of acadmics.. for other things, its more personal preference then negative...</p>

<p>geez cookiemom, this homework patrol thing is kinda scaring me.</p>

<p>haha, me too =)
I'm actually doing well so far, though...working later than ever, mainly because of a ridiculously time-consuming physics 211 lab...(and CC, cough) ...and that lab's only worth 1 credit hour! bah...</p>

<p>As for negatives.. how about a history of haughty eliteness? How about the rediculous "eating clubs?" How about the school's historical reputation for being reserved for only the rich and snooty? I haven't looked at recent numbers, but last I checked (few years back), the school was overwhelmingly white as well....</p>

<p>I dunno, Princeton's a great school, but it's not the sanctuary some of you make it out to be...</p>

<p>Well you sound like someone who knows their stereotypes well. That sounds exactly like what someone who knows nothing about the school would say.</p>

<p>And as for predominantly white, with the exception of maybe 10 school out of the top ranked colleges, what school isn't mostly white??</p>

<p>Princeton's not perfect. No one says that it is. If we do, it's jokingly. No school is perfect, but sometimes a school is just the best fit for someone, y'know? And yeah, I'm thinking you had to be airing out your sarcasm in that post, raven, because those are complete out-and-out stereotypes of Princeton. Besides, we're not at the stage where we're ready to look at negatives. That would be after we've a) been rejected and thus had to start liking another school, or b) been at the school long enough to take off the rose-colored glasses. 'til then, perfection rules!</p>

<p>The entire Ivy League has a "history" of eliteness. Princeton is currently doing its best to rid itself of the image. Reputation? I doubt it..."stereotype" might be the better word. Perhaps--and maybe even in the not-too-distant past---the school did foster that image, whether it meant to or not. But the school has just received extremely high ratings for interaction among ethnically diverse students and the eating clubs (according to most students) are not the "country clubs" people make them out to be...</p>

<p>raven's applying EA to Stanford, of course.</p>

<p>I'm not trying to bash Princeton-- it's obviously a great school. My point was to the original poster - there ARE cons, even if no one will mention them. And despite the fact that "...that sounds exactly like what someone who knows nothing about the school would say" - I've researched the school extensively and will most likely apply despite said cons (not 100% sure though). </p>

<p>Also, even by recent accounts, I've heard varying opinions on the eating clubs. Their existance in-and-of-itself says a great deal about the school (or, to your point, perhaps more about its history). </p>

<p>Admittedly, the school's historical reputation does bother me... Feel free to disagree, of course, but that does not disqualify my opinion (regardless of whether or not I applied to Stanford EA - but thanks for bringing it up ;))</p>

<p>I don't think it can really be judged by its history...I don't think this country is forever marred by its history of slavery..but that can actually be argued. </p>

<p>There is a lot of varying opinion on the eating clubs, but that's why they're still there. Some people actually do like them <em>gasp</em> I hope you've found enough to like about it to apply, but right now you seem a bit put off by all the things you see as "negative"</p>

<p>Perhaps, but on the other hand, perhaps I'm just emphasizing the negatives because the positives have already been flaunted to death? :) I'm not completely sold yet, but pretty damn close =)</p>