<p>There are clearly no bad choices here, but let me address some of your points.</p>
<p>Given your academic interests, I think that academically, Princeton is perfect for you. I truly believe that the Princeton creative writing department is unparalleled. The professors are extraordinary–Jeffrey Eugenides, Joyce Carol Oates, Paul Muldoon, Chang-rae Lee, recent Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy Smith–and they are completely dedicated to teaching and interacting with undergraduates. The Princeton physics department is top-notch (4th in the country according to the Gourman undergraduate rankings and 8th in terms of undergraduates who go on to earn a PhD in physics). And you know about the Woodrow Wilson school, which is now open to all undergraduates.</p>
<p>In terms of double majors vs. certificates, I’m not sure that the name is that important. Princeton doesn’t have double majors mainly because of the thesis requirement, but certificates will allow you to take numerous courses in a second or third area and receive recognition from the school and from employers/grad schools etc. that you have focused on more than one area.</p>
<p>In terms of eating clubs, the university has taken steps to make them financially accessible to all (financial aid now covers the increased costs of a meal plan at eating clubs), but has also developed alternative eating arrangements. Students can live and take their meals in four-year residential colleges, can live outside of residential colleges and take their meals in the residential colleges and can even live in a residential college and enjoy a shared meal plan with an eating club (here’s a link which describes some of the options available [Independent</a> Student Guide › Room Draw](<a href=“http://www.princeton.edu/~isg/colleges.html]Independent”>http://www.princeton.edu/~isg/colleges.html)). And I think that there are major differences between frats/sororities and eating clubs. Five of the eating clubs are sign-in clubs open to all, allowing anyone who is interested to join a club. Moreover, while frats/sororities are known for closed parties, on any given Thursday, Friday or Saturday, many Princeton eating clubs offer open parties (and even closed parties are pretty easy to get into).</p>
<p>I agree that Yale is an active lively campus, but I think that Princeton is equally vibrant. From the free movies every weekend at the Garden Theater, to the plethora of theater, dance and acapella groups, Princeton students are involved in and dedicated to their extracurriculars. And because of the high endowment per student, Princeton has enormous resources to dedicate to undergraduates, from research opportunities to the Bridge Year Program to sufficient space all over campus for dance, theater, meetings etc. I am not trying to bash Yale (and there would be no way to do so, because Yale is great), but take a look at this recent article in the Yale Daily News and the nearly unanimous comments indicating that while there are lots of activities at Yale, it has been hard for students to find the space to practice, rehearse or simply watch TV together [REVESZ:</a> Feudalism in the colleges | Yale Daily News](<a href=“http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2012/apr/10/revesz-feudalism-in-the-colleges/]REVESZ:”>http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2012/apr/10/revesz-feudalism-in-the-colleges/)</p>
<p>Good luck in making your choice–you really can’t go wrong.</p>