Princeton vs Yale for International Relations/PoliSci/Pre-Law

College Search & Selection
1

Hey guys! I am having trouble deciding between Yale and Princeton. I am most likely going to major in something involving international relations/polisci etc with the hopes of going to law school eventually. I am drawn to Princeton’s world-renowned School of Public and International Affairs but I know Yale is known as a pre-law powerhouse that dominated the student bodies of top law schools. What do you guys think?

Intended major: International Relations/PoliSci, want to go to law school

Princeton
Pros:

  • Princeton has the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs—a world-renowned program for international relations. I love all the features of an SPIA concentration, such as the Junior Policy Task Forces. The professors there are top-notch—read many of their books and would love to talk to the specific professors about them.
  • Princeton is better ranked in international relations than Yale (although Yale is taking steps with the Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, which can be seen as a weaker equivalent to Princeton SPIA)
  • I prefer Princeton’s campus and surrounding area to Yale’s. I immediately fell in love with Princeton when I visited but didn’t feel the same connection to Yale (maybe bc I visited on a cloudy day, will visit again).
  • Princeton has a much more engaged alumni network than Yale (55% alumni donation rate compared to Yale’s 20%). I’m not sure what that means in terms of the undergraduate experience, but maybe Princeton grads enjoyed the experience more than Yale grads. Perhaps the more engaged alumni network will help later on in advancing my career.
  • More politically moderate culture.
  • Princeton has a better academic reputation than Yale from what I’ve heard, more rigorous.
  • Princeton is ranked #1 on US News, while Yale is #5, although I’m not that concerned about this.
  • Undergraduate focus, although Yale is also known as an undergrad-oriented institution, albeit to a lesser extent than Princeton.
    Cons:
  • I might want to become a lawyer in the future so I’ll need to apply to law schools, and your undergrad GPA is an important factor. I’m concerned about Princeton’s history of grade deflation, although I know that the policy ended 8 years ago there are still echoes.
  • Farther away from home (2h vs 1h to yale)

Yale
School 2 Pros:

  • I’m definitely drawn to Yale’s “collaborative and happy” culture which seems to be a defining aspect of the school. I love the residential college system. Love the fact that there’s less of a STEM-oriented culture which I think ties into the less-competitive nature of the school.
  • Yale will overall be a better school for pre-law due to many reasons.
    • Grade inflation: compared to Princeton, it is much easier to get a high GPA, which will be massively helpful when applying to law school.
      - Pre-law opportunities: Princeton does not have a law school, while Yale does. I’ve seen undergrads getting internships with the law school. This will help me with my law school applications.
      - Yale College to Yale Law pipeline - Yale Law is dominated by Yale college undergrads. Yale will boost my chances of getting into the top law school in the world.
  • Closer to home, but not by that much.
  • Yale has many more courses that I’m interested in in a niche field of political science. Princeton literally cut all the courses that I had initially listed in my why Princeton essay.
  • You can double major at Yale, but this isn’t that big of an issue since Princeton has a plethora of certificates.
  • More international prestige? Yale is known together with Harvard as the top rival universities in the U.S. I’ve heard that HYP has equal recognition in the U.S. but abroad, Yale is more recognizable than Princeton.
  • Like Yale’s merch more than Princeton’s.
    Cons:
    New Haven.
    I feel like the Cons of Yale are the pros of Princeton, will not repeat myself.
2

It’s obvious from your list you can’t go “wrong” with either. Either school will offer you opportunities and what you do with those opportunities is up to you! Since you are close by to both I would visit each one and whichever one makes you feel better and more of a fit is the one I would go. there is simply no “right” answer.

1 Like
3

Re read your third bullet about Princeton.

You are going to college. Being two hours from home is close and you are way over analyzing two names that will open doors forever.

Re read Princeton bullet #3 and go to where you clearly want to be.

4

Princeton.

1 Like
5

Thank you for your comment! Yes, I’ll attend both admit student days before making a decision.

6

Well, ok. I visited both campuses in the summer when they were both essentially empty, and did not get to go inside the actual buildings. I don’t think the architecture and layout of the campus should be a critical factor in my decision, right?

7

That’s up to you. To my kids it was.

Princeton is just as known worldwide as Harvard abs Yake and where are you going to law s hook ? I’m the US? If so, your lsat and work experience matter as much as the school name.

Pick what you want. Not based on societal things.

You are not going to stay here most likely. It’s clear to me you like Princeton.

Personally I would too

We cannot decide for u. Only you can.

Do you prefer the Beatles or Rolling Stones.

Either way you win.

8

The wildcard is law school. Everything that isn’t an A hurts. Also, you really don’t know how you would do at each school. The small variances can be more major/professor dependent than school.

9

I think L schools are 100% aware and adjust for kids going to Princeton, UChicago, etc…