<p>I suggest the OP draw up a list of items that s/he thinks are important. Off the top of my head, the ONLY items where Cal wins are D1 sports (Saturday afternoon in Strawberry Canyon), and costs. Urban/Suburban is a toss-up depending on preferences. Size is also a personal preference: does the OP care about attending class (can skip the large lectures at Cal) or being an active participant in discussions? </p>
<p>But, for EVERY other item, Princeton wins hands-down IMO.</p>
<p>^ Actually, I can think of 5 reasons why the OP must choose Cal over Princeton.</p>
<ol>
<li>Cal’s Chemistry is stronger then Princeton’s, albeit not substantially.</li>
<li>Cal has a much better weather.</li>
<li>Cal’s location is very student friendly. </li>
<li>Cal’ school spirit is next to none.</li>
<li>Cal’s Chemistry has a much better name internationally. (but i guess this is irrelevant to the OP.)</li>
</ol>
<p>But if it comes down to having the same cost, I would take Princeton’s offer. I’d go to Cal for postgrad. :)</p>
<p>If you were 100% set on chemistry, then I would go to Cal. Its like if you got into Harvard and Cal and you wanted to EECS… Nobody gets an EECS degree at Harvard, thats ridiculous.</p>
<p>I think if you go to a liberal arts college, you can get a more general degree, which probably isnt AS useful, but the experience and the prestige of the school will carry you places.</p>
<p>“I think if you go to a liberal arts college, you can get a more general degree, which probably isnt AS useful, but the experience and the prestige of the school will carry you places.”</p>
<p>Princeton isn’t a liberal arts college, it is a research university. It is just a university that has put a great amount of effort into providing a great undergraduate education.</p>
<p>1) For UNDERGRAD, it don’t much matter. And, actually, if planning on grad school, the smaller classes at P’ton means that it’s easier to get to know Profs WELL which in turn, means better recs.</p>
<p>2) That’s kinda like urban/suburban: four seasons can be a LOT of fun.</p>
<p>3) Not sure what this means? As opposed to student-unfriendly?</p>
<p>4) Umm, 'SC and Notre Dame are two that easily beat Cal for school spirit, not to mention the whole SEC or ACC or… Heck, I’d even say that UCLA has better overall spirit than Cal – yes, Cal is as intense as LA, but LA just has more participants. But, part of my D1 sports reference was meant to also cover school spirit.</p>
<p>5) Not sure if true, but again, for undergrad it doesn’t much matter. Moroever, it’s not like the Ivy Label and #1 school on USNews offers the same reputation as Cal State.</p>
<p>Bluebayou – they’re both terrific schools in terms of academic opportunity; some majors have overcrowding, and some don’t; the CoC is in general a wonderful experience for everyone who’s gone through it. Wonderful enough that we don’t need to bicker number 1’s or not – it’s just that it’s terrific, and that doesn’t mean one need directly compare it to Princeton, it says that we needn’t worry about the quality of education the OP will receive at Cal. I know enough people having a positive experience at CoC. </p>
<p>I think you (as you yourself said) and the rest of us need to wait for the OP to visit Princeton. I have immense respect for Princeton’s math department, and yet I wasn’t interested in their undergraduate school – I wanted to stay in CA for one thing, and I myself have never experienced troubles with Cal’s overcrowding (my classes have been extremely small). To each his own experience.</p>
<p>I think you’re trying to offer direct comparisons among a few factors, but we really need to wait and see what the OP cares about. If she’s simple in taste like me, for instance, she’d just want a school with awesome academics, good weather and friendly students. Who knows.</p>
<p>And here’s Exhibit B:</p>
<p>"I suggest the OP draw up a list of items that s/he thinks are important. Off the top of my head, the ONLY items where Cal wins are D1 sports (Saturday afternoon in Strawberry Canyon), and costs. Urban/Suburban is a toss-up depending on preferences. Size is also a personal preference: does the OP care about attending class (can skip the large lectures at Cal) or being an active participant in discussions?</p>
<p>But, for EVERY other item, Princeton wins hands-down IMO. "</p>
<p>So anything that might be construed as a negative of Princeton is a matter of personal preference, and without elaborating on anything further (is it assumed that everyone just inherently knows and accepts…?), EVERYTHING else is categorically better-- “wins hands-down”-- than Cal. This aura of invincibility around THAT ONE SCHOOL and its peer institutions drives me nuts!</p>
<p>Besides, all of this is now a moot point because the OP will be visiting Princeton. If she decides it’s the right fit FOR HER, then she’ll attend; if not, then she’ll probably come to Cal. If the point of some is to continue slobbering over a university they don’t attend (and conceivably did not get into, or would not have gotten into), there’s a very active Princeton forum dedicated entirely for that.</p>
<p>actually, its ALL personal preference! :D</p>
<p>Take a list, any list of college selection factors and it ALWAYS comes down to personal preference and the weighting therein. NYU is extremely popular, not so much for its academics but the fact that it exists in The Big Apple. For some, that fact alone outweighs everything else. Others may choose a Catholic college, any Catholic college, regardless of what else it has to offer.</p>
<p>There are many on cc who would slobber over P’ton bcos of its smaller class sizes. I do not since some students may prefer the large lecture hall. Some prefer Cal bcos its urban. Again, an important factor for some, but others may prefer rural or suburban. Big time D1 sports was a must for me, but not everyone. Close to home or far away is also subjective. </p>
<p>And, yes, I don’t need to elaborate since it’s MY opinion. For example, I think nearly every kid should go away to college (absent family situations requiring the student remain close to home). Again, my opinion.</p>
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<p>Chill!</p>
<p>Full disclosure: I do have bias for private colleges.</p>
<p>i<3YaoMing is a tool. That is all</p>