Yale or Princeton

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Recently got off the Yale waitlist, and thus I have until Sunday to decide. Naturally I'm under a lot of stress (but that's a small price to pay of course), so I want to make sure my decision is an informed as possible. I've visited both colleges, noted the differences in the student body and the general feel of the schools, and still cannot make a decision. I've limited my choices down to these two schools (had previously sent confirmation to Princeton) and am at the point of splitting hairs. </p>

<p>Yale Pros
*Unbelievable campus
*General artsy feel to the campus, which is a plus</p>

<p>Yale Cons
*Neighborhood (not that bad tho)</p>

<p>Princeton Pros
*Beautiful neighborhood
*More heavily represented in IB</p>

<p>Princeton Cons
*Grade deflation ( ;__; )</p>

<p>So basically, what it comes down to is grade deflation and IB representation. I've come to understand that Princeton is notorious for harsh grade deflation, whereas Yale is perhaps the Ivy with the least grade deflation. At the moment, I do not know exactly what I wish to do, though having the strong IB representation of Princeton certainly helps, as it is a field I'm interested in.</p>

<p>Insight is much appreciated.</p>

2

<p>actually yale and princeton have similar levels of representation in bulge bracket banks and boutiques</p>

<p>banks also look closely at GPA when recruiting potential IB interns and hires, so that might be a thing to consider</p>

3

<p>Yale and Princeton both do very well in recruitment. Princeton has more people going into finance, but that’s only because more people there want to go, not because Yale get’s inferior recruiting. At either school, as long as you do well, you’ll be very well set for investment banking recruiting, so I wouldn’t let that be a factor. If you’re good enough to get into banking from Princeton, you’re good enough to get into banking at Yale. Grade deflation at Princeton is, of course, there. I have nothing to add to that. Just pick the one you like best. It seems that you like Yale a bit more, so if the only thing that’s holding you back from Yale is banking recruitment, then pick Yale and don’t look back.</p>

<p>You don’t get articles like this when there’s only a couple people from your school going into banking: [Another</a> View: The Science and Strategy of College Recruiting - NYTimes.com](<a href=“http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/another-view-the-science-and-strategy-of-college-recruiting/]Another”>Another View: The Science and Strategy of College Recruiting - The New York Times)</p>

4

<p>I would go with Yale because of no grade deflation already; however, I would also go with Yale because I think the undergraduate experience at Yale is better than at Princeton in the fact that there is less cutthroat competition as well as the residential college system experience (that’s my personal view though). Both do well in what you want to get into</p>

5

<p>People on CC have the best dilemmas ever.</p>

<p>I vote for Yale.</p>

6

<p>There is no such thing as “grade deflation”, only ego inflation and possible deflation when receive your grades.</p>

<p>Any college or university hat has average GPA over 3.0 has “grade inflation”.</p>

7

<p>Yale vs Princeton == Po-TAH-to, Po-ta-to.</p>

<p>Both are excellent schools and viewed as absolute top of the heap. Don’t worry about grade inflation, go to whichever you prefer.</p>

8

<p>Imo Princeton.</p>

9

<p>Go to whichever school you see yourself at more. Ignore the name and focus on which you like best.</p>

10

<p>firstgenn is a fraud. See other long list of college choices:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1484242-toughest-decision-my-life-please-assist.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1484242-toughest-decision-my-life-please-assist.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

11

<p>?</p>

<p>I chose Princeton over all of those, and an now conflicted about Yale. In what way am I a fraud? Because I got into good schools?</p>

12

<p>Can’t go wrong with either one. For Private Equity and IB, Princeton and Harvard have an edge over every other school. You come across many more P and H grads at private equity firms (private equity firms are harder to get into than IBs) than Y or any of the other top schools. And they all know which schools have grade inflation/deflation and take those into account.</p>

<p>Both are great choices, just go with your heart.</p>

13

<p>@LakeClouds</p>

<p>A bit uncalled for, don’t you think? If you took the time to look at that thread, Yale was never mentioned. Now, OP has been taken off the waitlist at Yale. That doesn’t make them a fraud.</p>

<p>@OP
Coming from NJ and growing up around Princeton, I never had much desire to go there Of the HYP schools, I’ve personally always preferred Yale. Additionally factors to consider are the location of both Princeton and Yale (i.e. in which cities/town they are located). Princeton is nice a nice, quite small, upper class town; OTOH, Yale is in New Haven. Princeton also focuses somewhat more on undergraduate education.</p>

14

<p>Maybe try searching the forum first instead of asking the same question again:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/yale-university/1495309-yale-princeton.html?highlight=yale+princeton[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/yale-university/1495309-yale-princeton.html?highlight=yale+princeton&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/yale-university/1328788-cross-admit-yale-vs-princeton.html?highlight=yale+princeton[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/yale-university/1328788-cross-admit-yale-vs-princeton.html?highlight=yale+princeton&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/princeton-university/1328791-cross-admit-princeton-vs-yale.html?highlight=yale+princeton[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/princeton-university/1328791-cross-admit-princeton-vs-yale.html?highlight=yale+princeton&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/yale-university/172263-yale-vs-princeton-vs-harvard.html?highlight=yale+princeton[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/yale-university/172263-yale-vs-princeton-vs-harvard.html?highlight=yale+princeton&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

15

<p>lol LakeClouds is a clown…it’s a forum…people post questions specific to them and others answer why waste your time being an @ss?</p>

<p>OP I would pick Yale - grades/grade inflation are srs business for grad school</p>

16

<p>Oohhh the struggles of a cross admit… :slight_smile: I had to make the same decision a month ago. Here is a letter I wrote to a guy who went through it with me:</p>

<hr>

<p>Why You Should Pick Yale:</p>

<p>I am a fellow cross admit who is going to choose Yale. I realized that I LIKED Princeton at Preview but LOVED Yale at Bulldog Days. What it came down to for me was the culture. I felt that Princeton lacked the community residential college system (newer at Pton) and truly vibrant extracurricular atmosphere that drew me into Yale. In the end, I think you should pick the type of lifestyle that you envision for your college experience! Talking to current students at both campuses really opened my eyes as well. I feel that Yallies were more inclined to pursue passions outside of their career paths (ex. Political union, a cappella, etc.) while most Princeton students were more driven towards finding success in their area of study (not to say that there isn’t an academic feel to Yale as well, i just feel that Yale had more involved students overall). Although students were friendly at both campuses, I feel that there were more students actually talking together and in groups at Yale. Princeton felt slightly more individualistic (more people eating and studying by themselves) even though there was a sense of community at both. Princeton also felt very low-key compared to Yale where I felt more passion and energy coming from the students.</p>

<p>Here is a quote i read from another admitted student on the Yale page comparing the two schools:</p>

<p>“I was just reading “This Side of Paradise,” and I think Fitzgerald was very familiar with the atmospheres of the two colleges: “Princeton is lazy, good-looking, and aristocratic. And Yale is crisp and energetic.” (And he went to Princeton- so he’s definitely not putting down Princeton in any way, just stating his observations.) So in terms of atmosphere, go with which one you would identify with more.”</p>

<p>I clicked with Yale and the people I met there more so than at Princeton. I would describe Princeton students as “motivated” versus Yallies, which I would describe as “inspiring.” It takes a certain spark in an individual, and I really saw this difference in my experience at Princeton, Yale, and all of the other schools I was able to visit.</p>

<p>Being inside the residential colleges for a couple days and nights gives you a TRUE sense of what Yale is like. There IS a bubble to be found. Yale is not the busy streets visitors see when they pass by; Yale is sitting around a fireplace in the common room late at night, talking about philosophy and life. Inside, Yale is home.</p>

<p>Talking to alumni from both places, I have realized that Princetonians like Princeton. They like it for the undergraduate focus and the things they have gotten out of their time there, but Yallies LOVE Yale. They are so passionate about the college and the people (the people really do matter!). I’m only an admitted student but I’m already in love with this idea of Yale.</p>

<p>I will leave you with one last article in hopes that you will feel what I feel. This article is actually what inspired me to apply to Yale in the fall. It is just a powerful message about what I noticed all of the students there felt. Enjoy!</p>

<p><a href=“http://yaledailynews.com/crosscampus/2012/05/27/keegan-the-opposite-of-loneliness/[/url]”>http://yaledailynews.com/crosscampus/2012/05/27/keegan-the-opposite-of-loneliness/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<hr>

<p>Honestly, you already know which one you belong at. I was confused for a really long time, but I realized that Yale was the place for me imagining what I want college to be like for me. Just flip a coin! If you’re unhappy with the outcome, you know it’s the other one. You really CAN’T go wrong though hahaha! If its Princeton for you, its PRINCETON for you. Not too shabby… ;)</p>

<p>Congrats again on all of your acceptances and good luck in your decision process, and I really hope I will see you on campus in the fall! If you have any questions, feel free to message me!</p>

<p>Ps. That guy eventually picked Yale, and so did every other pton/yale cross admit I met (I didnt meet everyone though)! Good luck with your choices! </p>

<p>Btw. How are you a fraud? LOL! Smh…</p>

17

<p>To the OP</p>

<p>You have two wonderful choices and you really can’t go wrong. As a Princeton alumna and the mother of two children who have attended Princeton, I can only give you my impressions.</p>

<p>Princeton is a place where you can do anything you want academically and the school will support you fully. The undergraduate teaching is extraordinary and professors are available, caring and go the extra mile for their students. In terms of extracurricular activities, pretty much all the students I know, including my own, have been passionately involved in numerous activities, whether it’s the arts, politics, sports or community service. You mentioned that you enjoyed Yale’s artsy feel. I am extremely familiar with Princeton’s arts scene, and what I love about it is that it’s wide open to everyone. There are so many opportunities for even someone who never acted before college to be in a show or to join an improv group and the administration has put a special focus on improving the arts facilities.</p>

<p>The Princeton students I have known are intelligent, collaborative, fun-loving and generally kind. In addition, when you look under what appears to be a fairly typical surface, you’ll find that that Princeton students are surprising - the varsity athlete is a first-rate mechanical engineer who plays the trombone, the kid who is in all the theater productions is also a physics major whose groundbreaking thesis is being published in a journal.</p>

<p>And I do want to take issue with sqhs2013 a little here. Princeton students absolutely love their school and are incredibly happy to be there (my daughter used to say that she would periodically stop in the middle of her day and just look around and think that she couldn’t believe how much she loved the school and how lucky she was to be there). Princeton alumni are among the most fervent in the country, both in terms of annual giving rates and in terms of going back for Reunions and other events, and the vast majority of them would say that they loved their time at the school.</p>