Northwestern HPME vs. Princeton vs. Vanderbilt

midatlmom
Thu, 10 Apr 2008 20:48:03 +0000

Okay, so Princeton will cost approximately $20,000 a year for a total of $80,000 and Northwestern will cost approximately $120,000 for 3 years, is that right?

I can’t answer the financial issue ($40,000 different is not tragic, but you will also potentially have medical school costs on top of that). I can however speak to the questions about the Princeton atmosphere. Princeton is a very different school from the time that I went there (or your father/grandfather). I think that generally it is a close-knit campus, with extremely happy students. The school is quite diverse these days and the kids are very kind and not at all competitive (my daughter studies in groups and says that no one discusses grades). While there are doubtless preppy kids at Princeton, there are no more there than at many other schools, including, no doubt, Northwestern. Princeton’s president is committed to making the school even more open and the school is currently in the process of building an “arts neighborhood” to bring even more cultural events to campus. Socially, while eating clubs clearly provide many of the parties, there are numerous other things going on at all times–musical groups and tons of dance and theater. And of course NYC is about 1 hour away.

As for eating clubs, I would ignore 08seniors08 (who has posted a number of semi-negative reviews of Princeton and who is I believe also a poster named holas999 who also has posted a number of negative Princeton reviews). On most nights, there are at least one or two eating club parties open to all Princeton students, including freshman. Half the clubs are sign-in, half are “bicker” and I believe that everyone who wants to join a club has been able to do so. In addition, the school is in the process of opening 4-year residential colleges to provide another social option.

Your Northwestern PLME option is very tempting (and Northwestern is a great school) and all I can suggest is to visit both schools and your answer might become clearer.