<p>Tetrisman777:
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You're clearly in love with Princeton. I don't want the OP's concerns about his education to be manipulated and convoluted by your own blind allegiance to Princeton.
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As I have said, Princeton is hot. I believe it is the best thing going when it comes to undergraduate education. (Yale is exemplary too, nodding to my dear friend rrosen ;)). That conclusion came from a lot of research of things that I think matter the most. I simply gave my 2 cents about it, just as you gave yours. That is what this place is for.</p>
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I get the feeling that no matter what the OP said, you'd bang out posts of every shape, color and variety explaining why Princeton is such a great match.
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Now how in the world could you get this? The OP came right out and said she already KNOWS that the academics/ec's offered/professors/experience/etc...would likely be amazing. On paper, it all looks very good, and perhaps a very good match to my interests. This is what she already KNOWS about Princeton. Now what I am saying is that if you KNOW this without having it all come from some mushy emotion and air electricity, you are doing really well. It is my belief that at this phase the mind, more than anything else, needs to be fully engaged. WHY? Because feelings change. They were never designed to think with. But you go into a decision cerebrally, seeing the potential problems up front, then I think the chances are youll be satisfied way down the road even if your feelings change. You obviously like electricity in the air. That is a complete waste of electricity to me. But we can still have a beer and shoot the stuff. No problem.</p>
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You used one of you're posts to explain that Princeton is a great match becuase it potentially doesn't have anything that interests a prospective student and therefore will allow them to start their own clubs.
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Oh now you know I didnt do this. I told the OP how I would approach Princeton if, like her, I KNEW it was amazing but did not have air electricity. I would put it in the likely column and then investigate other stuff. I would not allow a lack of a certain EC to push me away because to me that is a great opportunity to start something of my own. I would approach any school like this. But since the OP already KNOWS Princeton is amazing, I am saying she should approach it cerebrally right to the point where she commits.</p>
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Not only does that apply to EVERY school, but that is not how matches work, and you know that.
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I sincerely dont know how matches work. I didnt think there was a formula to them. I am just telling how I would do the thing. And, you know, I am not saying my way is best. I am saying it makes sense to me at the moment, based on everything I can see. I think if you get too emotional, looking at the big grand library, you are likely to overlook facts that mean you cant conveniently access that library when you most need it. I am saying emotion really isnt that important at this phase of the thing. Keep your head about you right on down the line. If the emotion comes, great. But if everything is there in spades (as is the case with the OP), emotion ought not be a deal breaker. We are talking a school here.</p>
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I'm trying to seriously advise this prospective student, and you're saying "It's okay if you don't connect with Princeton, you can do you're own thing that no one else is doing. Isn't Princeton great!?"
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Cmon guy. You should really try to deal with what I am really saying.</p>
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If my child was the OP getting this advice I would very, very upset. This is the OP's future. This is someone's future, and you're telling them to go to a school because you like it, even though they are emotionally underwhelmed by it.
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No, I am saying that the I would approach a school that I KNOW is amazing in a certain cerebral way, rather than relying on emotion to make the decision. That sounds reasonable to me. It sounds better to me than the alternative that you are offering. But, you know, it is just my opinion. If your kid came here and read my opinion, dont be upset at me. Be upset at you.</p>
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And don't start railing about how biased I am against Princeton. I really am not. The OP knows themself better than anyone else, and they know deep down which school is the real match, not us.
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I dont care how biased you are against Princeton (and you are biased against the school. Everybody sees it.). I think it is just fine to develop biases against things. Its crazy how people have biases all over the place about EVERYTHING, and yet we wont allow each other to talk clearly about being biased.</p>
<p>You know what? I was walking around a little town at night, trying to blow some time when a female jogger went by. She was obviously plum worn out, and appeared to be lost. Yet here I am now behind hera big guy dark area at night. I saw the whole thing unfolding and knew exactly what this woman was feeling. She had a bias against me. Why? Because I am a guy. She knew that 99% of rapes are committed by guys against gals. Her bias was justified. I knew it was justified. So I just yelled Dont worry! Youre safe. Ill just stay here until you get your breath. Sure enough, she was lost. And she came straight to me asking for directions. Once I gave her good enough reason, she was willing to let go of her biases. So I have no problem with your biases, as long as you have a really good reason to have them, and as long as you are willing to let them go if presented reasons for it.</p>
<p>I dont know why you are biased against Princeton. I dont really care at the moment. I assume you have good reasons for it. If so, then it is quite alright to have them in my opinion. No one should force you to say only good things about a school when you really believe the school has serious problems.</p>