Stanford v. Princeton

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hey everybody,</p>

<p>I'm trying to decide between Stanford and Princeton. My family's middle/lower middle class but I got pretty good financial aid from both schools (Stanford will end up costing a bit more, but they're in the same ballpark). I'm planning to major in physics with an emphasis on theory as opposed to engineering. I know both of these schools are top ranked in that department, so I'm not too worried about the academic differences. </p>

<p>However, as I said, I certainly don't come from a privileged background and the city I've lived in (in California) all my life is extremely diverse. I myself am half Filipino and half Caucasian and my hometown is around 60% Asian, 20% white, 15% Latino etc. I'm also quite liberal. I'm worried that I won't fit in with the whole Ivy League/East Coast preppy/upper class/snobby stereotype that Princeton has (if that's true of course). However I'd like to get out of California, so Stanford doesn't seem far away from home enough. Also, I've heard bad things about how there's nothing to do in Palo Alto and that the eating clubs at Princeton are all about alcohol (I don't drink or "party" really).</p>

<p>Any advice? Thanks.</p>

2

<p>I'd choose stanford, i live next door and its an AWESOME place! Check out my question, just below your post...</p>

3

<p>I think you'll prefer Stanford, but if you want the east coast after graduation Pton will have the edge (in terms of your own social network + jobs, etc).</p>

4

<p>That's tough...in my opinion, those are the top 2 undergraduate instititutions in the land. Go with fit. Princeton is a little stuffier and more traditional. Stanford is more laid back and lively. Both are awesome.</p>

5

<p>I'd go with Stanford--but not because the schools are that different academically--with me it's just the location, climate, and atmosphere.</p>

6

<p>I'd choose Stanford too</p>

7

<p>I would choose Stanford as well for the reasons Muraski pointed out.</p>

8

<p>lol, I can't help but notice it's mainly the Stanford people posting here. :)</p>

9

<p>Stanford too?</p>

<p>lol, lots of stanford fans here</p>

10

<p>From the way you describe both colleges, I think that you seem more comfortable with going to Stanford, thus, I say go to Stanford.</p>

11

<p>Those were my top two choices and I ended up applying ED (and getting in) to Princeton. My decision came down to the fact that Princeton had better Bio, and the fact that I live in MA and did not want to go to college that far away, but here are few other things to consider...</p>

<p>1) Everyone who I've talked to who went to Princeton recently has said that it's not at all like the snobby/preppy stereotype you read about in F.Scott Fitzgerald, etc. It's changed a lot. </p>

<p>2) Princeton is focused on undergraduates. Stanford has a whole bunch of (excellent) grad schools, so its not as undergraduate-centric. Do you want to be a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pond? </p>

<p>3) Social network, as slipper said. If you want to be on the east coast after college, going to Princeton will get you "in" with the right people or whatnot. </p>

<p>These schools are both amazing and I don't envy your position. But I think it just comes down to what feels completely right for you. Good luck!</p>

12

<p>thanks for the replies guys.</p>

<p>And yeah, a lot of the bad things I hear about Princeton/Ivy League come from my sisters who go to MIT. They always say I should be "prepared" for the East Coast/Ivy attitude. But, if that's just a bunch of trash talk from people outside the Ivy League, then I think I'd really like Princeton. If it really has changed, and it's not really snobby or preppy, I think I'd really like to get out of California for a while, at least for college. </p>

<p>Then again, I haven't run across many Stanford detractors. Everyone I know who has gone there has been happy (I don't know anyone who went to Princeton). I guess I'll have to wait until I see the Princeton campus (I'm going to their April Hosting Program). Hopefully that will shed some light on what things are like there.</p>

13

<p>The East Coast is a bit "ruder" than the South or West Coast...people tend to be more in your face (but also more anonymous, especially on the streets and such). I got used to it after a while, and now that I'm on the West Coast (where everyone is friendly), I find myself missing the East Coast a lot. I guess that's what motivated me to apply mostly to colleges in the Northeast.</p>

14

<p>Stanford students tend to be happier.</p>

15

<p>and theres not much to do in Princeton, NJ but drink</p>

<p>Stanford has many more options</p>

<p>I'd go to Stanford if I were you, but I live on the east coast, and my parents won't let me go to Cali for college</p>

16

<p>actually, despite being on opposite coasts, palo alto and princeton are pretty similar in terms of college towns. they're both upscale, ultra-safe places, but without a whole lot of student-oriented establishments. they both also compensate with easy access to a great american city: palo alto to san francisco and princeton to new york city. so, i'm not sure either has a real advantage in its setting, unless you have a strong bias for one coast or the other.</p>

17

<p>I'd choose Stanford too :)</p>

18

<p>Princeton does not have that atmosphere, and there is a lot more to do in the area around it than just drinking. Plus it's really close to the city and there is a TON of stuff to do there!</p>

19

<p>The "East Coast attitude" thing is no joke. If you aren't from there, it can be quite a jolt. I went to 2 years of high school and 4 years of college in Massachusetts, and while I learned to tolerate it, I never really got to like it.</p>

20

<p>As a Princeton ED admittee with Stanford as my #2 choice (tough decision where to apply early), I'd agree with f.scottie in saying that there are quite a few similarities within the places. That said, let me address a few major misconceptions about Princeton:</p>

<p>
[quote]
Princeton is a little stuffier and more traditional.

[/quote]

Sure, perhaps 50 years ago. Today's day an age is very different. The arts are thriving, over 50% of people are under financial aid, and there is quite a bit of diversity on campus. There was actually a recent thread by Roger_Dooley about "Arts and Creativity at Princeton" with a few helpful links:</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=163944%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=163944&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>The stuffiness is a myth of the past.</p>

<p>
[quote]
The East Coast is a bit "ruder" than the South or West Coast...people tend to be more in your face (but also more anonymous, especially on the streets and such).

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Heh, funny. My uncle (from the east coast) says a lot of the same things about California. Having seen both places, I really don't believe much of either myth. The east and west coasts of America are far more alike than different, and are possibly the two parts of America that are the closest to each other in overall environment. And neither is really "bad" or "rude".</p>

<p>
[quote]
Stanford students tend to be happier.

[/quote]

Depends a lot on whom you talk to. I've never had a complaint from a single Princeton student. Princeton's also got some pretty crazy donation frequency (61% of all alum donate, the highest in the nation). It's obviously doing something right. And one of the reasons I like Princeton is because of the amazing school spirit (described multiple times on CC boards as "almost scary") and alumni network. Not to say that this is not be the same at Stanford, but don't discount Princeton based on this thing.</p>

<p>
[quote]
and theres not much to do in Princeton, NJ but drink

[/quote]

Sure there is. Take a train to NYC for the day, watch Brodway, eat lunch, visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and come back by evening. And thanks to special deals the university has, the whole thing will cost you $20. If you want to stay on campus, try out one of the 250 activities.</p>

<p>One final thing: for Physics, Princeton can't be beat. :)</p>

<p>The decision, ultimately, is yours. Visit both places. You really can't go wrong with either.</p>