lmanuelli

Luckily I was admitted to both of my top schools, Princeton and Stanford. After having visited both places I still cannot decide where to go. From my visits I see that the schools are very different, but each has something to offer.

I am thinking of pursuing math with a double major (or minor if I go to Princeton) in either econ or physics. I love academics and am a hard worker, however, I like to do participate in other activities as well. I am not really a partier, but I could see myself going out on some Saturday nights. I hate having to make a thread for this, but maybe getting some other opinions would be helpful.

Thanks!

Alumother

These are the two schools I am most familiar with. Actually, they are quite similar in many ways. They differ in that:

One is larger, one smaller.
One is in California, in Silicon Valley, one is on the East Coast, near NYC.
One has serious sports, one has Ivy League sports.

Academic and cultural issues differentiating the two, as I see it, can all be traced back to these three factors.

Stanford has parties. Princeton has parties. Stanford has good tech, Princeton has good tech. Stanford is a world-class university, Princeton is a world-class university. Stanford is in an affluent suburb, Princeton is in an affluent suburb.

So do you want big or smaller? Do you want East or West Coast? Do you want to go to Wall Street or Silicon Valley. If you want to stay in academia, even that last question doesn't matter....

siliconvalleymom

Does weather matter to you?

lmanuelli

I'm from WI so I can handle the weather. And yes, I am planning to stay in academia. I think my main problem is I don't know what I really want!

Qwertulen

Princeton has Wawa. Stanford doesn't. Case closed.

oblivion

what is Wawa

lmanuelli

I think it's a convenience store!

Alumother

It's a convenience store with a history.

It's open very late. It's essentially on campus. It had a unique cashier for a long time.

People who are out late at night usually wind up there. Whether it's editing at the Daily Princetonian (The Prince), coming back from late night problem set groups at the E-Quad, or wending one's intoxicated way back from the Street (eating clubs).

LOL.

TarHeel3007

stanford has the quarter system that allows u to take more classes but ive heard that it also makes u feel always stressed...but there are more sports
i think pton has an extra break in the fall...but im not completely sure about that. pton also has exams after break, so thats your preference
maybe you should compare dorms and food...

echang08

If you want to stay in academia, Princeton may be the better place because of its Junior Paper and Senior Thesis that will probably make it a easier for you to get into grad school if you do a good job... The close contact with faculty will also help your recs.

kenf1234

Stanford is kind of nerdy. Not in a bad way, in the best possible way. But it is kind of nerdy. If you like hanging out with people who are kind of nerdy (in the best possible way), Stanford is your place.

College Yahoo

No other school can match Stanford as the full package. Go to Stanford. You will not be disappointed.

TheGirlsLoveMe

I disagree with kenf1234. I think Princeton is much nerdier than Stanford.

Alumother

I would say that at Princeton the real nerds are nerdier, deep geeks as we who love them call them. But that at Princeton there are also more of the wouldn't-be-caught dead being called nerdy types.