Cross admit, Yale vs Princeton

NicAlexia
Sun, 22 Apr 2012 19:18:34 +0000

Hello everyone, this is my first time in a CC forum. I’m facing the really difficult choice to committing to either Yale or Princeton (I just returned from their preview programs, and loved both). I’m somewhat undecided for a major, but am considering international relations, physics, or economics. I adore creative writing and am politically active.

What I love about Princeton is the safety of the campus, their well known science departments and the woodrow wilson school. However, I want to double in international relations and physics, and I know that princeton doesn’t offer a double major. I am considering concentrating in IR or econ and then getting two certificates-- creative writing and physics. I enjoy the suburban atmosphere, and the campus is beautiful, (I felt very at home on campus) but I dislike eating clubs. The whole concept just seems like a co-ed fraternity/sorority that you eat at, and is very expensive. I like the student body, they seem a little more introverted than Yale, which I also enjoyed.

What I love about Yale is their strength in humanities and the arts. I want to perform in poetry slams, and have a loud political voice. There are multitudes of clubs on campus, that seem (not more energetic) but in larger quantity at Yale than Princeton. The student body also seems more extroverted and fun. I would be able to double major at Yale, but they don’t offer minors. I, of course, love the residential college system, but the town of New Haven is not as safe as Princeton. I adore the campus, however, and feel like I would fit in there as at Princeton. I am also interested in joining an acapella group, and I feel like Yale is a little less intense than Princeton (Princeton’s tough grading policy, etc.) and I also like that finals are before break, so that break can be more stress free.

In other words, I think I’d feel more comfortable at Princeton but be happier/ have more fun at Yale. I have no idea what to do about my conundrum, and thank anyone in advance if they would voice their opinion. I also posted this to the Princeton forum page.