<p>I thought this might be a useful link for those of you who are considering both schools, as I was, last year. I disagree with the professor's implication that Yale is too large / competitive to forge the "wonderful, tough friendships" that one finds at Princeton, but to each their own opinion. I never really feel like I'm competing against my peers, but maybe that's because I don't have to apply to law school yet? I will say that I think Yale's theses lack the same rigor as Princeton's thesis program. That being said, I think it is compensated for in areas like Directed Studies.</p>
<p>Anyhow, he ends up coming down on Princeton's side, which is good, given that he's a Princeton professor and all, but he certainly is kind enough to Yale that it's not just some polemic.</p>
<p>Aside from the comment about the impossibility to forge "wonderful, tough friendships" - which is untrue - Grafton tries to be fair. I think it is a love letter to Yale in disguise. Both institutions come out pretty well in this emotional assessment. Refreshing for CC members to read: you can love a college and yeat respect another.</p>
<p>As someone who went to Princeton and now has a daughter at Yale, I think Grafton's assessment is pretty accurate. My daughter absolutely loves the "pop and spark" of her classes (<em>and</em> seems to be making some wonderful, close friends.) Having just come back from Parents' Weekend I can say that Yale is truly an amazing place and the perfect choice for her, as Princeton was for me.</p>
<p>Nice post. Of course, the thesis and "independent research" thing is a poor argument, given that Yale alumni are much more likely to receive Ph.D.s in the humanities, and many Yale students write papers that are longer than Princeton theses.</p>
<p>The one and only drawback of Princeton is clearly identified in Prof. Grafton's article:</p>
<p>
[quote]
As an inveterate grump about the eating clubs, I prefer Yale's social system to ours. Yale boasts plenty of exclusive, snobbish social life the student body doesn't suffer, any more than ours does, from a privilege deficit, but it doesn't happen in public space, at the official core of the campus, as it does on Prospect Avenue.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>This will clearly change in 25-50 years, if not sooner, as the administration attempts to eliminate the eating clubs as the focus of undergraduate social life. When this happens, Princeton will enhance its position as the best, or at least, one of the very best, instituitions for undergraduate education.</p>