Enjoy the Preview Day. It was a whole lot of fun. Take a good look at Richardson Auditorium inside Alexander Hall where parents and prospective students will gather. That’s where PUO’s concerts take place. I was in awe of the concert venue. If you can, stay overnight if you have signed up for it. You get to see first hand one of the residential colleges. When I visited on the Preview Day with my son, I was expecting to see some of that “Preppiness” that has historically been associated with Princeton. I was very surprised not only by its non-existence but also by how everyone looked and dressed “middle-class” like us and how diverse the crowd.
You have 3 terrific choices. Go with what feels right to you as the best fit.
Can you also fit Owl Days at Rice or one of the Rice admit days into your schedule? Are you going to Blue Devil Days or something similar? Being on campus at all 3 will highlight the differences. The difference in cost is not substantial. Being from Texas, you will have higher travel costs to Princeton and Duke than to Houston. Rice is located in the midst of a major city. Princeton is a lovely town, but is a train ride away from a large city. Durham is a decent sized town with an airport. You can get some good deals on Southwest flights.
The weather will be dramatically different, Houston will be blazing hot August through October But nice for the rest of the school year while Princeton will be the coldest (down jacket needed). Duke will be somewhere in the middle with a beautiful change of seasons. All have beautiful campuses. Duke and Princeton are Gothic while Rice is Mediterranean style. At Duke the Freshmen live on a East Campus, a part of campus separated from the rest of the campus. There is bus service between the two.
Princeton has the Ivy league prestige and centuries of tradition while Rice was founded in 1912. Rice has a happy nerd vibe. Duke has an old south traditional vibe. Duke has sororities and frats and a fanatic sports culture. Few students at Rice attend the sporting events. Princeton has the Ivy league rivalries in sports.
Rice has serious music majors but also has activities for non music majors such as the Campanile Orchestra.
CAMPANILE ORCHESTRA (MUSI 334), 1 credit
The Campanile Orchestra is a symphony orchestra made up of talented non-music majors and members of the greater Rice community who wish to continue their orchestral activities. The group plays works from the standard literature and meets on Saturday from 10:00 am-1:00 pm. The orchestra performs three concerts per academic year. Email Ben Manis at benmanis94@gmail.com for more information.
There are no exclusive groups at Rice like some of the eating clubs at Princeton or Greek life at Duke. Do you like the idea of writing a thesis your senior year as Princeton requires?
It’s nice that cost isn’t a factor. Tell us how you feel after the Princeton visit. Have you been to Duke?
Duke’s new housing model has colleges like Yale, Princeton, Rice etc.
The Greek scene is not as overwhelming as some people make it out to be.
I’m not sure that I would describe Duke as having an “old south traditional vibe”.
Princeton is often stereotyped as being an “elitist” institution. I’ve interacted with many Princeton undergraduates and alums over the past few years. Almost all of them have been perfectly pleasant people.
The real issue at Princeton will be grade deflation (not a deal breaker, but something to consider).
Also, they’re all great opportunities. People on this website will push you to go to Princeton, but it is perfectly reasonable to prefer Duke or Rice.
A happy, successful Duke graduate beats a miserable, underperforming Princeton one every day of the week.
A quick internet search tells me that Rice and Princeton both have very highly regarded orchestras. If you’re just looking to play recreationally, I’m sure all 3 schools will fit the bill.
Perhaps your mom is thinking that Princeton will have east coast elitism, a sort of looking down attitude on Southern and Mid-western folk.
I think that’s pretty common in the region honestly, but should not be enough to deter you from a really great opportunity. Be true to yourself, don’t let the uninformed opinions of cause self-doubt.
There are still 6 (I think) “private” eating clubs, whose members are chosen by the old ‘bicker’ system. All the rest are on a lottery system. For all of the eating clubs, finaid provides up to $2K/year to cover the difference in cost between the college dining options and an eating club.
There is absolutely a group of ‘elitist’ types at Princeton. This is true at all most of the ‘elite’ type schools (at Oxford they are referred to as ‘red pants’). But like the group of uber cool kids in school, they are a minority, tend to hang by themselves and mostly don’t bother with anybody else (as my socially adept collegekid recognized by grade 4, ‘the funny part is that they are the only ones who think they are cool’). The idea that they in some way dominate the university or the university experience for everybody else was probably never as true as movies would have made you think and certainly isn’t now.
Given that the costs are the same, and that they are all strong for engineering, I would go with what turns out to be an amazingly good metric: where you feel comfortable. Go to the visit weekends. Be aware that they are mostly a sales pitch, but mostly, just let yourself be there, with your potential future classmates, and see if it feels like a place you want to stay.
“The Greek scene is not as overwhelming as some people make it out to be.
I’m not sure that I would describe Duke as having an “old south traditional vibe”.
I agree. My oldest daughter is a junior at Duke. She is not involved in Greek life, and has received an incredible education as an engineering major. Since Duke is in NC, it’s understandable that some would think it has an “old south traditional vibe,” but in reality, the vibe is nothing like “old south.” (The student body is very liberal, for starters.) Having visited lots of colleges in various parts of the US, Durham is a perfect (foodie) college town, IMO.
Based on my daughter’s experience at Duke, I’m sure that all three schools are filled with valedictorians and other extremely talented, hardworking students. I know that my daughter and her friends are grateful to have the opportunity to attend Duke, (as I’m sure many others are as well).
To the OP, you can’t go wrong with any of your choices! Congratulations! Having visited all three, Princeton would be my choice. But I feel strongly given your options, you should visit and decide which one is the best fit for you. Best of luck!
Where do YOU want to go?
Not where your family wants you to go or not go.
Not where you family did go or didn’t go.
Which is appealing to YOU?
It is okay to say “I want to go to Rice…I would prefer being at a top notch school near home. I think the college system is great and am familiar with it so that will make the transition easier.”
It is okay to say “I want to go to Princeton. Its a top school and I think there would be many advantages.”
Go to the music website for each college and see what it says is offered for Non-majors.
Contact the music dept and ask if you cannot tell.
As far as average income for Princeton vs Rice vs Duke families, salaries are lower in low cost of living areas so practically all of them have similar average income. With two Rice alum parents and as a full pay student, you are pretty elite yourself. At all schools, a large majority gets some need based aid.
As far as Princeton being more elitist academically, it’s a wash. All of these schools admit students who are poor, URM, First Gen, athletes, artists,donors, rural residents, poor internationals, home schooled etc so no way more than few percent will be even in your academic league if you got in all three colleges on your own.
From your post, I think you should take Duke out and focus on Princeton vs Rice. Both are great academically but I would pick Princeton as it has more name recognition and Ivy tag and we live in a shallow world. If Rice is a comfortable fit and feels like home then that adds more value there and their mechanical engineering is as good as Princeton.
Don’t pay any attention to state school recommendations. You have enough resources and acceptances to even consider that route.
If money is not an issue. Then Princeton is a great choice. You’re going to find some level of poor behavior at virtually every college (elitist attitudes, privileged behaviors, misogyny, etc). Don’t let that deter you from a great experience and the potential to be “part of the solution”.
One of my kids went to Princeton; the other to Duke. I don’t know a lot about Rice.
Both of my kids received need based aid and both were comfortable with their peers; no elitism noted.
My son joined an eating club and viewed it as a positive thing. At Duke my daughter joined a “selective living group” (much more casual than a sorority, and co-ed) and she was happy with that too.
In my opinion Princeton is the best college in the US and I’d recommend that you not pass up the opportunity to attend.
Congratulations and good luck!
Factually wrong, not to mention grossly insulting to the students who are “poor, URM, First Gen…artists…rural residents, poor internationals, home schooled”.
As much as I hate to say it, this does sound like a Princeton vs Rice decision. Princeton = Head. Rice = Heart.
If you go to Duke and you absolutely love the place (it has a way of winning people over), come back and let us know. If it doesn’t do much for you, the decision boils down to prestige (Princeton) vs fit (Rice).
Also, I suspect that Duke has a wealthier clientele than does Princeton as 60% of Princeton students qualify for need based financial aid versus about 43% at Duke and, ironically, just 38% at Rice.
We toured with twins two years ago and thought no one was full pay at Princeton? One son teased me when they talked about eating clubs (it sounds like fun but of course if you are in one). The tour guide also spoke about a club bad movies/good cheese which I found amusing. We only walked around Duke and they ultimately didn’t get in Princeton but we were impressed, so much to offer! Also, we are NJ residents so biased. Great choices.
Am I the only one here? ME Major, not sure what you will getting out of paying 70K X 4 = 280K. UT Austin for 180K less. No guarantee you will get pay increase with P/D/R education as an Engineer. Unless you have some other plans, I said your $mart brain should rule…
Good Luck,
@collegemom3717 You have a point.
@3sonsmom no one was full pay?
@texaggie I disagree. It’s totally worth it for a family who has acceptances and resources. It’s just not the same.
@ejc000 You have three great choices from top tier colleges. Pick one where you’ll be most comfortable academically, logistically, financially and socially. You are not deciding between Princeton and UTSA. It’s not a clear choice.
@CupCakeMuffins Hence my ? Of course I may have heard wrong. Part of the reason my kids applied was the generous financial aid, the hurdle of course acceptance!