lepetite1989

I'm an international student from India (never lived in the US) and I got admitted to both Princeton and Yale for the class of 2011. I got a full financial aid package at both places, so that really isn't a factor in deciding where I should go... I'd appreciate any help in deciding. I'm not certain about what I'd like to pursue as a major, so even that isn't a factor. I just want to know which College will be a more fulfilling experience for the next four years. I know it's a personal choice, but any insights would be helpful. Thanks.

tokyorevelation9

It would be important if we knew some of your personal preferences about the college where you think you would flourish most.

Think about things like:

Situation and location of the campus: Rural, Urban, Suburban?
Distance to Major Cities
Size of the student body
Residential Life and Student Activities
Campus Culture/ Political Activism etc.
Social Scene/ Party Culture? Alcohol Culture?
Academic structure/ Academic Requirements - How much variety/ flexibility?
School Spirit, Alumni Loyalty - How important is school spirit?
Facilities and Housing

There are a lot of things you could think about when looking at Princeton and Yale. For one, Yale's location is quite urban, while Princeton's is decidedly suburban, and thats only a start.

I'm currently a student at Princeton, and if you have any questions, please feel free to PM me and ask away. I would be glad to answer them.

Congratulations on your acceptances!

tokyorevelation9

lepetite1989

Thanks a lot. I was thinking that if I could manage a visa, I could visit the campus to decide. I don't suppose Vanderbilt comes into the picture, does it? I got through there as well...

tokyorevelation9

I'm not exactly sure what you mean regarding Vanderbilt; are you saying you also got in there?

You could technically visit both Princeton and Yale pretty easily because they are both accessible by the Acela Corridor line of Amtrak, our national train service here in the US. I'm guessing they would be about a 4 hour ride from each other.

Vanderbilt is much farther away I'm afraid to say. It is located in Nashville, Tennessee, which is in the southeastern part of the country. You could also take a train there, but it would take a very long time. You would probably need to fly there on a separate excursion, which could be pricey.

Again, if you have any questions about Princeton or anything else, please PM me.

tokyo

Yevgeniya

I would like to repeat lepetite1989's question conserning Princeton vs. Yale.
I am an international student from Russia and was accepted to both '2011. My main criteria are: 1) people - professors 2) people - student body 3) my major (cultural anthropology + humanities (e.g. european cultural studies)).
I am inclined towards Princeton. I cannot visit, but am seduced by its quality as a special place for undergraduates, student-prof's intimacy, the quiet suburban campus, but still full of extracurricular life.
What makes me worry the most is 2 things:
1) Princeton considered to be more elitist, 'preppy', wealthy, cutthroat, even 'snobby' (this stereotype is probably based on something)
I would like to ask current students or those who know, whether Yale is really more liberal, 'free-spirit', diverse, especialy socio-economically (generally)?

2) Princeton is known to be best in physics, and I am fully in
liberal arts, humanities, soft sciences.
Yale's anthropology department seems bigger with more courses, although I liked Princeton's too. If you know anyone at Princeton majoring Anthropology, Cultural Studies, Humanistic Studies, Film, I would immensely appreciate any comments, advice, and any opinions you can give me. Thank you.

tokyorevelation9

Yevgenyia,

Your inclinations about Princeton are very true indeed. You seem to like Princeton for all the right reasons, and thats great. However, the stereotypes about which you think are a cause of concern are not really true at all. Yes, Princeton is very competitive, no doubt, but it is never "cutthroat". Social and academic life here is actually surprisingly laid back, and students are very open to one another.

As for the elitist/wealthy/preppy/ snobby thing, this is just and unfounded stereotype from years and years ago that is very much no longer true. Princeton is an extremely open, accepting, and supportive community. Although most students are expected to succeed under mostly their own steam, Princeton is never reluctant (often very willing in fact) to lend you a helping hand. The McGraw Center, which offers academic support for all students, is an excellent institution that really does succeed at helping students succeed, and if you need other kinds of support, there is the LGBT center for the LGBT community on campus, there is a women's center, an organization that helps deal with sexually-motivated violence on campus called SHARE, and a variety of other groups, mainly run by students with staff help.

Of course, there are wealthy kids at Princeton, but no doubt you will find wealthy kids at Yale as well. Yale is not more liberal, 'free-spirit', and more diverse than Princeton in terms of social acceptance on campus. In fact, Yale has run into some serious problems with the treatment of its African-American students on campus which is causing a lot of negative sentiment among the Black and Hispanic communities there. Princeton is a diverse place as well, and whoever told you this stereotype give you misinformation.

Take a look at this article in the Yale Daily News to see what I'm talking about:

http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/20071

Princeton also has much more socio-economic diversity today than in years past because Princeton offers an amazing financial aid and grant program. The majority of Princeton students are on some kind of financial aid, and this allows the entire socio-economic spectrum to attend Princeton.

As for your second question, Princeton is known to be good in physics and math yes, but Princeton is also very good in English, Sociology, History, Western Languages like German, French, and Spanish and Portuguese. The African-American Studies program here is also very well known. The Creative Writing Program here at Princeton is top-knotch, and such authors as Joyce Carol Oates and until this year Toni Morisson taught in the English department. Peter Singer, a famous bioethicist, also teaches here at Princeton. Princeton is very strong in the humanities, and you I would encourage you to call some of our departments in the humanities to ask about their programs. I promise you that you will be genuinely surprised.

I hope this was helpful, and please, don't buy into the stereotypes about Princeton, it only hurts you because it gives you a negative impression for a reason that is not true.

tokyorevelation9

Lord Asquith

Also, Yevgeniya, I'd like to add that Princeton has a very active International Center as well.

smathur

Is any one of you a premed student? My son is trying to decide between Princeton and Yale. While he is inclined towards Princeton for many other reasons, we don't know enough to compare the two for premed. Any input will be welcome. Thanks.

Cibbir H.

I'm not a premed student (nor do I plan on becoming one), but I do know that the science majors in Princeton produce a lot of medical students who then go on to the top medical schools in the country.

With respect to being a premed, I can't compare it to Yale, but I will say that Princeton is one of the best colleges to go to as a premed.

But...Princeton has Yale beat in terms of focus on undergraduates and financial aid packages. Not only are they more generous than Yale in terms of how much they give you, but they have eliminated loans so all students graduate debt free. The student-teacher ratio at Princeton is better than Yale, and Princeton has less TAs teaching than Yale or Harvard.

So I would pick Princeton...but Yale is not the end of the world either!

ec1234

When you are looking at the top colleges, the differences in the strengths of the premed programs are insignificant. Tons of people get into great med schools from both princeton and yale

smathur

That's reassuring and thank you Cibbir H. for summing it up so well. We had missed the argument for graduating debt free which will really make a difference four years down the road.

Lord Asquith

Princeton's natural and physical sciences departments are one of the best (if not the best) of the Ivies. So Princeton prepares premeds very well - and along with strong science programs are also top-notch humanities and social sciences for balance.

I have always considered Yale a particularly strong humanities school, so I can't comment on Yale's premed program.

Erik Satie

Depends what you mean by "diverse." If you want exposure to some conservative ideas--and not only all liberal 24/7--then Princeton is better than the other Ivies. But it is still pretty stinkin' liberal!

Ernie H.

^^ha (10)

cottonass

Princeton! check the usnews ranking, Princeton ranked higher than Harvard.. so yeah.. definately Princeton!