Princeton and UChicago both have phenomenal physics programs; however, I prefer the more close-knit and collaborative nature of Princeton's physics. I'm also a little more secure in my belief that at Princeton I will always have opportunities for research considering their funding.
cc2, haha! Thanks for the laugh. Maybe he is on the waitlist.
Silly Puddy: Your words are very comforting. Quirky was probably the perfect word to use to make me even more comfortable about choosing Princeton.
I have also considered a few more extremely significant factors to make myself more certain that Princeton is the right choice:
*Being in the eastern time zone will make one step ahead of Chicago, and three steps ahead of California! And Berkeley thinks they're progressive!
*My high school's colors are orange and black, and it is nice to know that I can work my high school shirts at college without anyone saying anything, assuming Princeton students are illiterate.
*I enjoyed riding the dinky from Newark to Princeton. It's such a pleasant-sounding word.
I'm just doing everything I can to try not to think "what if?" about Chicago.