icy9ff8

Re: Post #73's written claim that Princeton's allocated resources to its undergraduates is unmatched.... Maybe in the typical comparison, but not if you are an HPME student at Northwestern or receive a similiar honor or fellowship at another elite university.

hitmeandmyfriend

To be honest, a lot of what i know about princeton is through a man who went there 30 years ago (my dad graduated in 1980). I have been to a bunch of reunions, and my dad always tells me stories of his good times there. My dad is not elitist in the bit, and he puts absolutely NO pressure on me to go to princeton, despite the FA difference. However, I can't help feeling a sense that i would be apart of some family if i went to princeton--their alumni connections and support are pretty crazy...

this is one of the biggest draws to princeton, just being apart of it i guess--i just sometimes forget that i am looking at the school through an alumni (an older alumni at that) and not as a student that is thinking of going there as the first person in their family to go there. I am having a hard time letting go of this "family tradition" to see the school for what it is

but then again, part of the appeal of princeton is that it forms a family, and you totally get that sense when you first get your admissions letter

i just wonder, is it like that anymore? it seems to me that kids that go there now don't feel that way, i feel that the support for princeton is coming more for alumni of 10+ years than kids that are in college now

icy9ff8

The only way that you will truly be able to answer your question is to go to Princeton. It might help to imagine what you would feel like if the HPME acceptance was taken away because Northwestern made a mistake. Then try the same with Princeton and see how you feel. My impression is that you are getting caught up in the Princeton mystique, but I can assure you that there are unhappy students at all schools including Princeton. Not many though as Princeton retains 98% of its freshmen, while Northwestern retains 97%. That alone should be enough to make your decision clear--although HPME has a 100% retention rate. Good luck! To further complicate matters, I just reread your first post noting that you are from Pennsylvania, want a social life with attractive girls & don't want to study all the time. You are Vanderbilt material without a doubt.

IsabelB

go to princeton! My dad went there, my grandfather, both uncles, great uncle...etc and my big brother goes there. I can say with total conviction and authority that princetons alumni resources are parallel to none, any where in the world. Princetonians will break their neck for fellow grads and the university could not be more supportive of their students or alumni. Its the only place in the world that holds a 4day ruenion every yr for its alumni, regardless of reunion yr-just 2 give you an example. It also has more $ than it knows what 2 do w. If you want to take a yr off b4 freshamn year, it will pay for every expense of the year off- right now my brothers in patagonia backpacking kayaking and earning his wilderness 1st responder certification, and has deferred enrollment to be in the class of '12 instead of '11. It is literally looking for ways to spend $ on its students. you want to see a broadway play on the weekend? it'll pay for the grade-a ticket, the train fare, and your dinner. As for vandy, my brother was caught between accepting the chancellors scholarship at vandy vs princeton, and he chose princeton. even w. the scholarship-valued at 152000 plus programs etc- he would still have 2 $ more for vandy than princeton, where he got a 16300 aid package. and vandy is very very very southern- if someone issnt upperclass they dedicate all their time and resources to faking it. girls act stupid even though they obviously aren't. Trust me, Im from GA and most of my family is from nashville. Oh and expect wall to wall fundamentalists and conservatives-bush is very popular!

IsabelB

however i dont know anything about "hpme" so im just going off vandy vs. princeton.

btw ask ur dad about "parentnet"

hitmeandmyfriend

lolllll well thank you anyways...

HPME is a guaranteed admissions program into northwestern's medical school

princeton does beat vandy, but i'm trying to see if it beats HPME too

I am going on an overnight stay this friday, so I'll know after that..hopefully lol

hitmeandmyfriend

i'm going to HPME!!!

i found princeton to be absolutely gorgeous and beautiful, but socially the eating clubs exclusivity was bs and the pre-meds there work till like 4 am every night...no lie first hand stuff lol

i just love chicago too much more than the middle of new jersey

and people at NU were soooo much more friendly, like they really went out of their way to help you---i did not find that at princeton at all



thanks everyone, you've all helped soo much!!!

aworldapart

Congratulations on your decision! You will be very happy at Northwestern, I'm sure.

midmo

I'm pleased to read that you have made a good, firm decision. It sounds like a good decision, made for good reasons. You will do very well and have a great time, I'm sure.

Chicago is a great city.

IsabelB

good for you! I'm glad you made a decision your happy with! I just read my posts and had to laugh out loud-I really did sound like an infomercial! And knowing what hpme is now, I do think its a great incentive. Best of luck to you!