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Ooops: Princeton, Yale, Stanford, Cornell

CoolRunningCoolRunning Registered User Posts: 329 Member
edited April 2011 in Princeton University
What say you regarding a true scientist? We've read all that is online, and each offers its own opportunities. DD will visit, but I don't like what I don't know (a normal dad). Any students/alumni that have been there and done that . . . willing to give a bit of advice, please? Thanks in advance!
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Replies to: Ooops: Princeton, Yale, Stanford, Cornell

  • randombetchrandombetch Registered User Posts: 1,079 Senior Member
    For aspiring scientists, Princeton offers a truly exceptional program because we have our independent work system (every junior and senior are required to do independent work) which means every single Princeton student will have personal research experience with a Princeton faculty member that will mentor and develop the students into actual scientists.

    Furthermore, we are basically the only school with an "integrated science" program (I think it's 2-4 required classes) where we break down the barriers between biology, physics, and chemistry and combine them into just one interdisciplinary field that gives the students the tools the excel in any scientific endeavor. I personally know students who went through the integrated science programs and got into literally every graduate school they wanted because 1) they have a huge advantage since this program allows these students to do scientific research without the restrictions of one particular field (ie: imagine how much of an advantage you would have doing biology research if you could apply all tools of chemistry and physics to your research), and 2) the director of integrated science is an extremely well respected scientist who writes a letter of recommendation to every integrated science student who asks for one, and this letter carries huge weight at all graduate schools.
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  • PtonAlumnusPtonAlumnus Registered User Posts: 277 Junior Member
    Congrats to your DD. She must be an exceptional student to have the opportunity to attend so many great universities. One of the differences in the universities is the size of each university. Since Princeton is the smallest of the group each student is able to receive individual attention. The current president of the university, Shirley Tilghman, a nationally known scientist, has made an effort to ensure that women have the opportunity to excel in math and science at Princeton. Nationally women are about 18% of engineering students. For your DD Princeton's class 42% of the engineers are women. Princeton students have done exceptionally well in obtaining the most prestigious scientific graduate scholarships. See this current posting: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/princeton-university/1116216-hertz-fellows-announced-news-item.html Another indication of the strength of the science, math, and engineering departments is the number of Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships awarded to Princeton students. The Scholarship is widely considered the most prestigious award in the U.S. conferred upon undergraduates studying the science, math, and engineering. Through March 2006 Princeton University has had the most Goldwater Scholars followed by Harvard and Duke. Churchill scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate outstanding promise in science, engineering, computer science or mathematics to study at Cambridge University. Since 1964 Princeton students have won 39 Churchill scholarships; this total is more Churchill scholarships than students from MIT, Cal Tech, and Rice combined have won. While Princeton is much smaller than Yale, Stanford, or Cornell a good number of Princeton students have obtained scholarships to fund graduate school.

    You did not state your DD intended major so I will refer you to two articles on how Princeton is continuing to build the infrastructure to support a scientific education. Read this article concerning the new chemistry building: Princeton University - State-of-the-art Frick Chemistry Lab, now open, advances new frontier of research The new Lewis Science Library was designed by the world famous architect Frank Gehry: Princeton University - The science of architecture: Gehry building to provide distinctive home for Lewis library

    You DD is fortunate to be in the position to be able to choose among these great universities. Encourage her to attend the Princeton Preview and she will learn about what you “don't know”.
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  • CoolRunningCoolRunning Registered User Posts: 329 Member
    Thank you! DD plans on a B.S. in Chemistry and then pursue a PhD. in Pharmacology. She'll be visiting Princeton next week!
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  • japanokojapanoko . Posts: 610 Member
    CoolRunning, it is rumored that no aspiring Chemistry major walks through the halls of the fabulous Frick Chemistry Lab building and, if accepted to Princetion, fails to enroll at Princeton.
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  • CoolRunningCoolRunning Registered User Posts: 329 Member
    I like your style Japanoko!
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  • japanokojapanoko . Posts: 610 Member
    CoolRunning,

    Having not visited since the opening this year, a "scouting report" on the new Frick Chemistry lab building would be appreciated once your DD comes back from the visit - good or bad.

    thanks
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  • CoolRunningCoolRunning Registered User Posts: 329 Member
    You'll have it!
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  • AlumotherAlumother Registered User Posts: 6,233 Senior Member
    Princeton or Stanford. And choose Princeton if she likes a smaller environment. And hates to ride bikes:). My daughter did Neuroscience at Princeton. And for undergraduates, I don't think there's better/equal science anywhere, except Caltech. Which is tough on girls, I hear.
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  • CoolRunningCoolRunning Registered User Posts: 329 Member
    Because of the great information provided by you fine folks and others, DD is now questioning those little things that might have been missed on her tour. Thanks!
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  • CoolRunningCoolRunning Registered User Posts: 329 Member
    Lots of missing posts around here.
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