Yale vs Princeton vs UChicago

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
1

Hello!

I am looking for any advice about choosing between these three schools. I have been accepted to all three and all are financially feasible. I live about an hour away from Chicago, obviously pretty far from the other two. I will most likely be majoring in biology with the hopes of getting into an MD/PhD program after undergrad and becoming medical scientist.

Any opinions on differences between these schools would be much appreciated! I would especially like to hear about the differences in attention paid to undergraduates, study abroad, internship/job opportunities, and social atmosphere.

Thank you in advance.

Similarities between schools would also be helpful. Also, any comparison of living conditions/surrounding area.

2

First of all congratulations! Those are three really great schools.

I know little about the inner workings of UChicago and only a bit more about Yale but I can tell you about Princeton.

The undergraduate focus is the priority at Princeton. I think this article touches on both this facet as well as coming from a student who studied at Princeton and now has moved into graduate studies in medicine. http://admission.princeton.edu/whatsdistinctive/alumni-profiles/alex-rosen-11-alumnus

There are lots of opportunities for study abroad http://www.princeton.edu/oip/sap//

Internship/job opportunities often come through making connections at the career fairs and postings through career services although you might well find opportunities through your profs. https://careerservices.princeton.edu/

Social atmosphere - lots of activity happens through the eating clubs but there is certainly a LOT to do apart from the party scene. Tickets to Broadway and other events in NYC are available through residential colleges (bus + ticket for only $25), live theatre, music and movies on campus, varsity sports events, house league teams, and literally hundreds of interest clubs that you can join (there is a fair early in the school year at Dillon gym I believe for the interest clubs).

Nearly all students live on campus in the residential colleges for the first two years (many move to upper class housing afterward). Nassau street is quaint and Princeton in the area of the university overall is generally upscale. Princeton bears the moniker “the orange bubble” because it’s easy to go for weeks on end without ever leaving campus.

3

I was also accepted to UChicago and Princeton, and decided between those two and Harvard, which I ultimately crossed off because I had several snobbish visits. I absolutely loved Chicago’s location and nerdy culture, but I felt like Princeton was able to give me that same academic rigor in a more liberal-arts college environment. (I was also drawn by the Creative Writing department, but that’s a personal thing.)

Ultimately, I think Princeton has lived up to that promise. Most of my classes have been small seminars, and I’ve had the opportunity to do really cool research one-on-one with professors.

While I initially found Chicago’s Core a draw, I also found I enjoyed the freedom to craft my own schedule after I found my academic footing freshman year. And while I wasn’t sure what “independent work” really meant before coming to Princeton, I found the opportunity to write two Junior Papers and a senior thesis really enriching–and this coming from someone whose thesis is due in T-minus 2 days.

In terms of study abroad, Princeton (and I think Yale too) have very few students student abroad during the school year. Independent work makes it difficult to be off campus junior year, and many are reluctant to give up one or two of their eight precious semesters here, so most opt to do abroad programs or internships during the summer instead. From what I can tell, Chicago’s quarter system makes it much, much easier to go abroad during the year, which I think is a perk.

Princeton’s social atmosphere is definitely limited to campus in a way that Chicago’s isn’t, which may or may not be a draw. It often feels like a bubble, which sometimes I think makes our community really special and sometimes makes me want to spend a weekend in New York feeling like a real person (which is very doable, since the city’s 70 minutes away by train). Our campus social life centers around the eating clubs, which are weird in theory, but I’ve really come to love the cozy home mine has become for me on campus.

I guess another difference might be the endowment. Princeton basically throws money at you to do research or unpaid internships during the summer, which is really lovely.

Happy to answer any other questions!

4

About study abroad - while it is true that most students don’t, the U is very encouraging and does have a couple of established programs with other universities. When my D was a student she went abroad and was glad she did but as with all things there are trade offs, though nothing major and definitely no regrets. She received financial aid and when she got the award letter for the semester abroad, I made an appointment with the finaid office because I was sure there was an error. I sat down with one of the reps and explained the award exceeded the cost of attendance. They assured me there was no error. She later received a statement and paid income tax on the excess.

I will add that she went off to P with the usual fears, formed deep friendships, accomplished some things academically that relate to her job and remains involved as an alumna. Someone must be dissatisfied with the P experience but I haven’t run across such a person. Graduating without loans has enabled her to do the kind of work she is excited about without worrying about paying off debt. Can you tell I’m a grateful parent?

5

My wife went to UChicago and hated it. Pre-med at U of C is very difficult. Most of the profs grade on a curve, so it is difficult to achieve a high GPA.

Many top U Chicago pre-meds end up with GPAs in the 3.1-3.3 range, essentially putting med school out of reach. Keep in mind you will be competing against grads from the Ivys with 3.8 - 4.0 GPAs who didn’t work nearly as hard as you, if you decide U of C.

I don’t know much about how hard pre-med is at Princeton, but keep the above in mind. You might try contacting the pre-med office at each of the schools and try to get an estimate of med school acceptance rate by GPA.

6

@sgopal2 when did your wife go to UC? It has changed a lot in the last 15 years.

7

Nope, my D is a premed at Uof C and what @sgopal2 says is still true–pre med is BRUTAL. My D is painfully and stressfully sticking with it but she has a number of very smart talented friends who have given up.

8

There is no pre med major at UChicgo. There are some basic common requirements for applying to med school but you can major in anything. For example, son met a philosphy major when he visited who was on his way to the University of Pennsylvania med school the following year. This would be the same at Yale or Princeton. Erlanger sorry your daughter is struggling. Wish her the best.

9

@neweducation she went in the 1990s. But things haven’t changed much at U of C. It’s a great place to study for grad school but not so good for undergrads.

10

@sgopal2 i have to say i disagree. I’m an undergrad here right now and the experience has been incredibly enriching and vibrant.