<p>Hey, I'm in the same situation as you guys - in my case I'm (hopefully) transferring from Princeton to Harvey Mudd. I'm a sophomore so I think I've been here long enough to know how much I dislike it. I made the decision with the help of my parents (who both went to Princeton but have heard the whole process of how wretched the experience has been) and my boyfriend (who graduated from college already). </p>
<p>Most of my Princeton friends understand (though I am going to miss them and they me), but when I told some acquaintances about it, they got into this whole discussion of how essentially it matters less what happens here, it's more that the alumni network, name recognition, prestige etc. is so strong that it's madness to transfer. That just sealed the deal for me; the unapologetic insistence upon judging by the most crass possible criteria sickens me. I want to be someplace where the efficient cause of people going there is that they want to learn something.</p>
<p>Personally, even though Princeton is #1 in US News and all that bull, I am transferring because I think I will be trading up academically. I am embarrassed by how much I paid so far for two years of courses which I think are worth essentially nothing.</p>