<p>On cc, it seems that these are the two most targeted schools (in a bad way). People make the snidest remarks about them. Ex: Princeton is full of affectatious rich people. Harvard sucks, don't pick it. Are they hated that much? Why? I cannot read through college admissions threads without a negative comment about Harvard, Princeton, when they are brought up.</p>
<p>Much of the criticism is merely the product of outdated stereotypes about the schools. Also, some of it is likely attributable to bitterness over rejection (or not even applying because of lack of predicted acceptance); people rationalize to make themselves more content with where they did end up, which is perfectly understandable.</p>
<p><em>begins sarcasm font</em>
Both schools are really bad, except at self-promotion. If you graduate from one of them, everyone hates you in this country. They are not even the best at innovation (MIT/Caltech/Stanford are), just at pretentiousness. Do you really want to turn out like Clinton or Bush, hated by everyone?</p>
<p>Why don’t Yale and Stanford, for instance, get “bagged on” as much?</p>
<p>Stanford is more “retro” and “modern.” Its in the same camp as Brown because it no longer gives as big a crap about test score and grades as it appears HYP does. They like “unique” people a little more than HYP. I think the public is beginning to catch on to this and, as a result, view both schools in a more positive light. Though, I think Yale is as negatively targeted about as much as HP.</p>
<p>Why would anyone target these schools? Pretty simple… they are good. Just as Im sure we have all dealt with the high school bullies who mocked the smartest kid in the class - its jealousy, pure and simple. Even if people have zero desire to go to these schools, they are held in the highest esteem of almost any college in the world.</p>
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<p>Here’s one piece of the puzzle:</p>
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<p>I especially love how the second part of the above statement unwittingly calls into question the first. And the poster who made the statement is none the wiser.</p>
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<p>Elaborate please.</p>
<p>I was correct. You are none the wiser.</p>
<p>Elaborate on how the second part of the statement contradicts the first part.</p>
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<p>Even after contemplating the statement, I do indeed fail to see the contradiction: each of those comments is completely reasonable and irrefutably correct. And my noting that some people are likely bitter does not affirm any stereotype that I was referring to, as you may be suggesting.</p>
<p>As someone who is reading CC for the first time, much of these threads really seem like a waste of time and effort. I really question whether posters with thousands of posts are doing anything productive on this message board.</p>
<p>BTW, I am a Princeton alum so I do have some interest in this topic.</p>
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<p>At a point, this does seem to be the case.</p>
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<p>This is the first such discussion I have participated in that comes to mind.</p>
<p>Nonetheless, I continue to challenge ggoos4me to support his or her claim.</p>
<p>Silverturtle, I think he means that you say that there are these outdated stereotypes about HYP being pretentious, etc etc, then you come off as a snob (<em>pinky in the air</em> “Everybody hates princeton because they didn’t get in”).</p>
<p>I don’t exactly agree with him, but I think that’s what he meant.</p>
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<p>Well, I don’t attend Princeton or one of its peers, so nothing I can say can affirm that stereotype. Moreover, the idea that some people are rationalizing over not being able to get in to Princeton or one of its peers is not pretentious; it’s only logical.</p>
<p>Like I said, I don’t agree with him. Lol</p>
<p>It was weird to me because when I was visiting schools, it seemed like Princeton had a far nastier rep than most of the other Ivies. When I was visiting Columbia, I told people I was choosing between Columbia, Yale, and Princeton. Overwhelmingly, people said “Come to Columbia, but Yale’s a pretty nice school too. I HATE EVERYONE FROM PRINCETON.”</p>
<p>Maybe that’s just a Columbia thing, but it was extremely noticeable. I honestly think its just because the name is easy to pick on. Its one thing to go to a school like “Harvard” or “Yale” or “Stanford” with sort of abstract names, but to go to “Prince”-ton just seems more pretentious. Its way easier to imagine a guy in a popped collar sailing his boat who goes to a school called “Princeton” than a school called “Stanford.” I didn’t perceive the people at Princeton to actually be significantly different from others at Ivies.</p>
<p>They accept a buttload of faculty children and legacies. Like it’s incredibly blatant.</p>
<p>Its way easier to imagine a guy in a popped collar sailing his boat who goes to a school called “Princeton” than a school called “Stanford.”</p>
<p>^ ahaha, nicely said (:</p>