<p>I got into both Yale and Princeton. These are my two top choices (although Stanford is a close third, so if anyone wants to comment on S, please).</p>
<p>I like Yale for its more tight-knit residential colleges communites (there are twelve of them, and they last 4 years). I also know a couple of profs, and a bunch of students, at Yale.</p>
<p>On the other hand, Princeton is smaller (and therefore has a clubbier atmosphere), places (in my mind) a slightly greater emphasis on undergrads, and is in a warmer climate.</p>
<p>(money situation is comparable for both so not a factor)</p>
<p>princeton has a very tight-knit community too, the residential college system lasts for 2 years and for our year its supposed to open up the 4 year dorm. but most students are still very close and the eating clubs make students even closer.</p>
<p>heh. this is like choosing between the chantico at starbucks and the double chocolate chunk at bruesters. can't help you out buddy. either one and you are set for a FANTASTIC four years.
good luck with whatever happens.</p>
<p>ps- i would choose princeton, but that is just me. plus the chantico, just for the record.</p>
<p>Unsolicited advice: My interviewer for Yale admitted that the surrounding area is very unsafe. Therefore, if you attend Yale, 99% of your time will be spent on the campus, and not in the surrounding area (aka New Haven). So, one question that you could pose to yourself is, how much community interaction do you want from your college?
Then again, some people do really like the buildings on Yale's campus (b/c it's Harry Potter-esque or something?)...not me, though.</p>
<p>My Yale interviewer said that New Haven is as safe as any city in the East. She said that there was a lot students at Yale could do to contribute to NH community service wise and that many Yale students were heavily involved with organizations in NH. Not saying you're wrong qtip, simply another Yale alum's opinion. :)</p>
<p>I've heard that Princeton is a better place for social interaction and recreation, because although it's very close-knit and people have a lot to do on campus, people also find things to do in the surrounding area, which is very safe, for recreation. At Yale, my impression was that you're pretty much stuck on campus, because the surrounding area, as qtip mentioned, is very dangerous. Princeton has a good balance of on-campus activity (the bulk of your opportunity to socialize) and off-campus interaction, while I think that I'd get sick of being stuck in a little bubble at the center of New Haven. When I visited princeton, the kids all seemed to be very smart, fun-loving and down to earth, which surprised me a lot to see at such a prestigious school.</p>
<p>Ditto to what christopher said. There are so many social options at Princeton it's almost overwhelming. And yes, Princeton is tight-knit, fun (who told you serious?), and an amazing experience.</p>
<p>Yale is awesome too. I'd look specifically at what you want to do academically and extracurricularly and try and make your decision from there (as well as from location).</p>
<p>right on, phil! sometimes i wish princeton didn't have such a regal name... maybe they should rename it to mudsville so that kids will stop thinking it's so damned elitist. the one thing that i'll admit that seriously contributes to princeton's serious, austere image is the eating club system, but most of the eating clubs are totally normal and friendly. as long as you pick one that you're comfortable in, it doesn't really matter how snobby the Ivy club is.</p>
<p>Pton is not much "warmer" than Yale (first post).
New Haven is fine...I wouldn't be walking around most of Chicago at 3:30am, so why would I there?
This is the Pton board--slanted views?
It's still chill though, don't get me wrong.</p>
<p>Yeah, the eating clubs are basically what give Princeton it's reputation, which is kind of sad. I don't even know if I'm going to be that much into that scene anyway, which would be kind of sad because that (and the senior thesis ;)) is supposed to be "quintessentially Princeton."</p>
<p>Princeton is just like any other school, just with an entire student body of really smart, motivated, and ambitious students.</p>
<p>Oh, and if Princeton were called Mudsville University...I never would have fallen for it in the first place. The correlation between it and my middle name led to the first twinges of love between the two of us :D</p>
<p>living in LA, i'm definitely excited for the safer, more community oriented atmosphere at princeton. it was so nice when i was there. walking back to the dorms with just a group of college kids after being at an eating club, it was pretty late, but i felt safe and comfortable. it was pretty cool/</p>
<p>i definitely got the feeling from everything at p-ton that it was also a pretty close-knit and fun place. you could tell that the students knew when it was time to get serious, but that there was also time for fun. :)</p>
<p>Well I just capitalized Yale it to draw attention. I posted the same thread in the Yale board and capitalized princeton.
My concern about the eating houses is that they break 2 years' progress and start the process of community anew.
I DO get the feeling that Pton elitism is overblown, although the reputatino remains.</p>