<p>What is wrong with this comparison???? Is there a comparison?? Please let me know since my senior has decided to 'think' about going to Wm& Mary instead of accepting the Princeton invitation!!!</p>
<p>D1’s college boyfriend chose W & M over Princeton for a couple of (characteristically) quirky reasons: Princeton was almost in his backyard, and he knew his parents wouldn’t let go without a bit more distance between them; and there was something about the exam schedule (did they have to come back for finals after a vacation break or something?). I love W & M, but if parents are willing to pay for Princeton, that would be a tough admit to turn down.</p>
<p>This same d’s roommate turned down Yale for W & M - but that was a financial decision. A decent number of W & M kids turn down Ivy and the equivalent admits every year.</p>
<p>Do finances have anything to do with this?</p>
<p>no, kid could go any where</p>
<p>In that case, I think there’s no comparison. W&M has a ton of strengths, but Princeton has almost all of the same positive qualities plus a lot more…and a better location, if you ask me. What does he want to study?</p>
<p>Strategically, it might be your best bet to let the senior think, and even visit. My guess is that if he visits W&M and tells the kids there that he’s also admitted to Princeton at no cost to himself, the majority will act like he has three heads.</p>
<p>Hey, out of all the guys in the world, Courtney Cox picked Dewey the stupid cop, so this isn’t the weirdest story of one’s heart taking an unexpected turn.</p>
<p>Friend of DS had both of these among his options too. Did not like the atmosphere at Princeton at all. Thought the kids were extremely stressed. All they talked about was studying and how little sleep they got. He much preferred W&M. (And Princeton would have cost them less than W&M.)</p>
<p>Family finances aren’t a problem but consider the institution’s…
Public college in a fiscally strapped Commonwealth vs. private well endowed college.</p>
<p>Princeton is truly an extraordinary place. But it does have a “child of privilege” vibe. For some, this is exactly what they want. For others, the exclusive, country club, “Skippy”, feel is a real turn-off. W&M has the most down to earth student body possible. Give your child a chance to decide and he will be fine. He truly cant lose either way.</p>
<p>I know plenty of Southern bluebloods with a country-club vibe who went to W&M. That’s not exclusive to Princeton.</p>
<p>You obviously have never been to Princeton then. Its UVa cubed.</p>
<p>The vibe that you’re describing only exists if you are actively searching for it.</p>
<p>Princeton can be intimidating, both academically and socially. </p>
<p>Some people don’t enjoy spending four years feeling intimidated.</p>
<p>It could be as simple as that.</p>
<p>I’m also not sure that the opportunities for a Princeton graduate are better than those of a William and Mary graduate in all instances. Graduate and professional schools, and some internships and jobs, require top grades. A student who is in the lower half of the Princeton student body might not be able to qualify. But that same student would almost certainly have much higher grades at W&M.</p>
<p>If this student feels underqualified for Princeton (perhaps in comparison to the admissions results of his/her classmates), that might be a legitimate reason not to go there. If the student got in to Princeton because of some special factor (URM status, legacy status, recruited athlete), that might be even more reason for the student to suspect that he/she is underqualified.</p>
<p>“I’m also not sure that the opportunities for a Princeton graduate are better than those of a William and Mary graduate in all instances.”</p>
<p>Of course not. The Princeton graduate’s opportunities aren’t better than a Chico State graduate’s in all instances. That doesn’t mean that Chico State, or W&M, is Princeton’s peer.</p>
<p>I didn’t mean that W&M was Princeton’s peer, Hanna. I’m sorry that I didn’t express myself clearly enough.</p>
<p>What I meant to say was that for someone who is likely to be among the least qualified students at Princeton and the most qualified at W&M, W&M might offer better opportunities. People at the bottom of the class don’t get perks – like research opportunities, internships, and fabulous recommendations from professors.</p>
<p>In some circumstances, it may be desirable to be one of the best students at a lesser school, rather than being one of the worst students at a better school. </p>
<p>I don’t know whether this situation applies to the OP’s son or daughter. But I thought it might be a possibility.</p>
<p>minimom2: I have one at both - feel free to im me!</p>
<p>Reply for Marian - regarding if student is qualified to be on Princeton campus. Student is highly qualified - SAT-2450, ACT 35, varsity sports co-captain, chorus, orchestra, musicals/plays, community service, etc. etc.</p>
<p>Don’t know what the reason is for student to dislike Princeton - that’s the reason it’s driving me crazy.</p>
<p>Perhaps W&M offers something that the student finds particularly attractive. </p>
<p>Or do you think that the problem is a negative reaction to the perceived “snobbishness” of Princeton?</p>
<p>I have also heard of people who ruled out Princeton because of its undergraduate thesis requirement or because of the strong role of the eating clubs on campus.</p>
<p>Not everyone likes Princeton (although it puzzles me that a student who doesn’t like it would have bothered to apply).</p>
<p>Edited to add: I’m sort of playing devil’s advocate here because I LOVED W&M when I visited it with my daughter. If I had known it existed thirtysomething years ago, I would have gone there. It seemed like nerd heaven, but unlike most of the nerd heaven-type schools, it was not exclusively science-focused. </p>
<p>Daughter did not share my enthusiasm for W&M, though. Different strokes for different folks. She didn’t apply to Princeton, either.</p>
<p>Student visited both campuses - visited Princeton in early Oct for seminar - stayed on campus with Princeton students, explored the area, hung out with students of all ages, went to classes, etc. Seemed to love it. Has only visited W&M during the regular tour and student interview period. Liked it. I think that my student just never thought Princeton would be available as a choice. Got into some great schools - UNC-Chapel Hill, W&M, W&L, Villanova</p>
<p>So what does your student at Princeton say about the area, kids, classes, studying vs what your W&M student says about the same?</p>