<p>I’m also curious about the answer to happydad’s dilemma. The answer would be a no-brainer for my happy Olin freshman. We attended graduation on Sunday since we needed to move him out, and it was really lovely, in so many ways. The senior speaker was great, and he spoke to what made these students choose Olin over many other wonderful options. He said that prestige doesn’t even enter the equation–that Olin is chosen because of the risk inherent in creating something new. This graduating class is the last one that will have attended school with the original Olin Partners, and because of that,he challenged future Olin-ers to keep pushing the envelope and keep taking risks. I told DS that they need to make new t-shirts that say “Keep Olin Risky”.</p>
<p>If to go to Princeton you would pay full price, then it would be a tough decision. But in any case, i would EASILY go to Princeton over Olin. Princeton over MIT would be a tougher choice.</p>
<p>She will get a MUCH more well-rounded education at Princeton and the name will open up MANY doors. She will be able to go anywhere – she can get a job at any engineering firms that Olin kids get a job at and MUCH more. You’ll find that at Princeton, few students choose to become regular engineers simply because they have much better options available to them. The ones that go into industry typically choose consulting/banking, and those with a technical bent typically go on to matriculate at the top grad schools in the US. </p>
<p>If money is a big issue, consider Olin (keep in mind that Princeton has a STELLAR fin. aid program), but the return on investment and network you get with a Princeton education is priceless.</p>
<p>Olin is for risk takers, people who are more comfortable outside of the box. </p>
<p>My daughter graduated in '07, and had a unique undergrad experience and education.</p>
<p>D is at Princeton. </p>
<p>One of the reasons D chose Princeton was in April of her senior year in high school D was unsure about the engineering. As it turns, out D seems to have really enjoyed her engineering classes and, on hindsight, that would not have been an issue for her. </p>
<p>D is confident that she has already picked her engineering major–time will tell. Taking a course called something like “Engineering Physics” helped D make this decision since the course requires the students to do lab projects in various types of engineering. </p>
<p>Continuing with her foreign language seemed to be somewhat more difficult at Olin given Olin’s normal 1st semester course schedule. D took a foreign language course each semester freshman year and this summer D is becoming more fluent by taking 2 language courses overseas (Princeton teaches these courses jointly with a foreign institute). The summer program kind of forces the students to speak the foreign language in their “off” time since they live with a foreign family rather than together with any other students, and D’s foreign university assigned “buddy” is supposed to not normally speak English with D. </p>
<p>In summary, D likes Princeton. My guess is, given that she is more certain about engineering now, if D had gone to Olin, she would have enjoyed her Olin education as well. Olin and Princeton are both great schools and we think D was fortunate to have this choice.</p>
<p>Best of luck.</p>
<p>Depends on happy your daughter is about spending 4 years with a social life dominated by a small community of engineers.</p>