<p>Sorry, this is simply not the case. The folks who do well at the Putnam from Princeton have been doing competition-type problem solving for 10-15 years. Any prep they do is just a matter of warming up for the contest. That’s it. Princeton is no better than Michigan (or dozens of other schools out there) at helping students do well on the Putnam. This isn’t surprising, as ultimately getting good at problem solving is an independent activity.</p>
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<p>Indeed. However, you brought up the fact that Princeton has a very strong Putnam team and that this will somehow make the OP score better. The team is made up of three people though, and the OP is very, very unlikely to ever be one of them. So it’s not really relevant. What the OP really needs to know is how folks with his competition background starting improve throughout college. Princeton’s Putnam team doesn’t help with this at all though.</p>
<p>It’s quite different from the AIME, but very similar to the USAMO. It’s actually much, much easier than the USAMO. Also, the Putnam contest is not exactly a big commitment. It’s one event, takes up one Saturday. You show up to take it. So the OP can do it, even if he discovers all kinds of other stuff to do in college.</p>
<p>^Actually I really want to take the Putnam. The urge is especially strong since I didn’t make the cut for USAMO. </p>
<p>(Really by a long shot … light years away … far and desolate in a world that’s desolate and cold … I only put down the last part because it seriously is unusually cold in Michigan right now.)</p>
<p>OP, Princeton is famous for its mathematicians. My guess is that, if you were to ask any professor of mathematics where he would rather be, Princeton or UMich, he would choose Princeton. Without a second’s doubt. People on this forum may think that the two programs are equivalent, but they are not. Imagine studying with the prof who solved Fermat’s Last Theorem.</p>
<p>But that doesn’t mean that Princeton will be right for you. These two schools are very different, both in size and character. And you have the cost to consider. Has Princeton indicated that they will put together a FA package soon? Even if you are learning toward Princeton, don’t commit until you and your parents know the cost. Although Princeton is extremely generous when it comes to student aid, they don’t give merit aid, which may have played a part in your near-full-ride at UMich. </p>
<p>Is your near-full-ride at UMich guaranteed for four years? </p>
<p>Don’t go for the prestige. Go for the fit. Talk with your parents about finances. You have two wonderful opportunities to choose from. You want to choose the school where YOU will be the most comfortable, socially and intellectually, so you can excel. If you are unhappy, it’s unlikely that you’ll get the best grades you are capable of.</p>
<p>Momwaitingfornew. We’re talking undergraduate here. A free ride to Michigan compared to over 200K in debt to Princeton is a no brainer. Forget about fit, in this day and age you need to be realistic about costs. Go to Princeton for graduate school.</p>
<p>I think the second part of my post made that clear.</p>
<p>Edited to add: I think the undergraduate education at Princeton is better, but that’s my personal opinion. The OP has to form his own personal opinion. And yes, it does include FA. The problem is that he hasn’t heard anything from Princeton yet on this matter.</p>
<p>I agree with you Momwaitingfornew. Princeton is definitely a step above Michigan at the undergraduate level. It’s just not worth the huge difference in cost that the OP will have to incur.</p>
<p>I don’t see any possible way for there to be a 200k difference in costs between Princeton and Michigan unless the OP is a Shipman Scholar and her parents make more than $250,000 combined.</p>
<p>Princeton has arguably the best financial aid program and unless your parents are incredibly wealthy, you will definitely get some aid. However, if your parents are THAT wealthy where Princeton’s doesn’t offer you aid, is spending 200k on your undergrad for a far superior education really that inconceivable?</p>
<p>ring<em>of</em>fire, the OP said that Princeton hasn’t yet provided any aid. I know that Princeton provides good financial aid; however, despite being admitted off the wait list (we don’t know how recently this happened), it’s getting quite late in the game if notification of an aid package is indeed coming.</p>
<p>The OP should call and email Princeton directly to see if they are getting any aid. Otherwise, it’s just empty speculation.</p>
<p>Overall, Sudar, it’s a great choice to have to make. Visit, send emails, browse the course guides (look at the math 295-296-395-396 sequence at UM), and good luck.</p>
<p>I have enquired about financial aid at princeton and they still havent notified me about it. Frankly I never expected this : getting of the waitlist that I totally committed to UM’s math program. This was indeed an eyeopener. Their math program from what I ve seen is great and a close knit program with high calibre students especially after reading about the stats of honors. Still waiting for the aid decision, but then again like I said I have been so committed with UM that Princeton’s decision comes as a surprise.!!</p>
<p>^Like I said, I’ve been where you were before just 2 weeks ago when I got off Chicago’s waitlist (#1 econ prog in the country) and it totally changed everything, especially since I was SO committed to Michigan already. </p>
<p>Again, congrats on your Princeton admit. I can only imagine how happy you are right now (I can tell you that when I saw the thick huge envelope in my mail that had Chicago on it I nearly collapsed and died of happiness … my admit counselor apologized a few days later for not telling me before hand b/c she was on vacation :)), and I wish you good luck on making your decision. It’s a toughie, especially when $$$ is an unknown. (But don’t let that UMich money go to waste either!!! :D) Remember no one can tell you where to go … it’s up to you and where your heart and mind desire.</p>
<p>The OP is not going to be a professor of mathematics in 4 years. He hopes to be a graduate student in 4 years. The question isn’t whose math department is strongest in the sense of having the most famous mathematicians. It is which department will help an undergrad achieve his goals the best. There’s no evidence so far in this thread that indicates Princeton will be better for that.</p>
<p>As for studying with Wiles, he doesn’t appear to currently be around at Princeton. Of course, if he was, he wouldn’t have anything to do with undergrad students anway.</p>
<p>Princeton Undergraduate COA >= -$200,000, plus opportunity cost, (a difference impossible to recover based on any reasonable expectations of income differences).</p>
<p>Unless Einstein himself is coming back from the dead to be your personal tutor, there is only one correct answer.</p>
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