<p>I was prepared to apply to Princeton, but the more I read I'm unsure if that was the right choice or if Yale is better. I know both schools are strong. I want to study something in biology in order to go into medicine. How good is Princeton's biology department compared to Yale's? What do you think I should do? Stick with Princeton or change application to Yale instead?</p>
<p>Since without knowing the first thing about you, the odds of getting into either are extremely thin, do you really think you should choose on the basis of the biology department?</p>
<p>The more important question is what is your safety THAT YOU LOVE?</p>
<p>Mini's right...plus Yale and Princeton are such completely different places.</p>
<p>I chose to apply to Princeton early decision to get that extra boost in terms of numbers and I have very good credentials - won a national award, have solid test scores, rank very high in school to name a few. Yale's early action is not very helpful. Really I would just like to go to whichever one will accept me. So now what?</p>
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Really I would just like to go to whichever won will accept me
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<p>For starters, that's not exactly the best idea.</p>
<p>But anyway, they're both really good programs. If you want pre-med, Princeton's philosophy majors have the highest admit rate into med school out of all of its departments (not joking).</p>
<p>I really don't think there could be any distinguishing between yale and princeton unless you're talking about something like writing, in which case yale edges princeton</p>
<p>Can someone else (maybe someone who has gone to Princeton or Yale) vouch for what collegehereIcome says?</p>
<p>Biology is actually one of the relativly few science departments at Yale that is on par with Princeton's. </p>
<p>I would probably apply Pton ED. Then if deferred, go to whichever is accepted to in RD.</p>
<p>"I really don't think there could be any distinguishing between yale and princeton unless you're talking about something like writing, in which case yale edges princeton"</p>
<p>wow, bad example. princeton's creative writing program is arguably the best in the country, with professors toni morrison (nobel, pulitzer), joyce carol oates, paul muldoon (pulitzer), c.k. williams (pulitzer), chang-rae lee, and yusef komunyakaa (pulitzer). one of the program's recent graduates is jonathan safran foer, author of everything is illuminated (now in theaters, starring elijah woods), who's been called the best young literary novelist in the country.</p>
<p>In my family's and many people's minds, they think that Yale is better than Princeton, but I don't want to lose the edge in applying early to Princeton, but I think Yale is slightly better. Should I stick w/ Pton early decision?</p>
<p>If you think Yale is better, let your beleaguered mind choose Yale early. I assure you that Princeton is no in no way a lesser school than Yale. In fact, many departments at the School of New Jersey easily outpace Yale's. With regards to writing, it is a tossup but I'd give the edge to Princeton. However, if your ignorant family favors Yale please enjoy the bliss.</p>
<p>I wish the change could be that easy b/c I've already prepared the told my teachers and counselors to send to Pton and my essays are written for Pton.</p>
<p>Am I correct to say that Yale also seems to be more renowned that Pton maybe because of its professional schools?</p>
<p>to the extent that yale IS more renowned, which is debatable, yes. think how many times on the news you hear something like, "a new study by researchers at harvard/yale medical school..." note also that H has three times as many students as princeton; Y, two times.</p>
<p>as for your choice between princeton and yale, i wouldn't worry too much about minor differences in their biology departments' reputations. they're both great schools with great departments. believe it or not, too, there's a very good chance you will not major in bio once you've had a couple semesters under your belt - many, if not most, college kids change their majors. so, go with the school you like best. it's not like they're identical. their locations, in fact, are quite different. do you have any thoughts or preference between princeton, NJ and new haven?</p>
<p>There's a very good chance you aren't getting into either, so make sure you have another plan.</p>
<p>Forget Princeton and Yale and do SCEA to STANFORD...okay, I'll shut up, but really, I think the deciding factor for you is everything outside the classroom, you'd do well with the biology department at either school. But living at Princeton and Yale is contrasting. So many of the offering at Princeton are very exclusive, not just majors, but even small things such as where you eat, acapella groups, and thos damn gates (excuse my French).</p>
<p>Asthetically, Princeton conquers most schools, including Yale, I'd say second only to Stanford and Pepperdine. </p>
<p>But back to the focus, have you thought about what you want to do in college besides prepare for med school? Any interests you want to explore, other departments, passions, clubs, sports, hobbies? If you can comeback to us with what you want out of your 4 years, then this decision will be easy.</p>
<p>i don't think princeton is any more exclusive than yale - both have a selective major in the social sciences (princeton's woodrow wilson school, yale's directed studies), both have selective extracurriculars (a capella groups, e.g.), and both have selective social institutions (half of princeton's eating clubs, all (?) of yale's secret societies). yale, however, is much more "gated," on the whole. most of its courtyards are closed, whereas most of princeton's are open. one quickly feels the difference.</p>