@Boobyhatch - you make a great point. Ironically, since MIT would be a lot cheaper for us, I think DS would feel somewhat more pressure to do a STEM career if he goes to Princeton.
I myself ended up changing what I thought I wanted to do at MIT (though there was never any risk of me majoring in the Humanities, because of my distinct lack of talent).
We have had a very angst-ridden set of conversations since DS came back from MIT’s CPW, which was 99% excellent in nearly every dimension for him. The two big drawbacks were the small Jewish community (relative to Princeton) and our sense that MIT might not stretch DS to grow as a person in the same ways that Princeton would. MIT kind of matches him already, if that makes sense.
One of DS’s favorite aspects of MIT (and please tell me it also exists at Princeton…?!?) - was the really productive options that kids have to have fun, not just an alcohol scene, but e.g. exploring tunnels, or building stuff out of bubble wrap, having long conversations over board games, etc. DS felt like he was making potential friends at every turn, and that made a big impression.
(I should reassure any stereotype-holders about MIT that my DS is the type who plunges in and talks to new people and has a great time in almost any situation - exceptions being heavy drinking or heavy athletics.) So for instance, I was thinking that the new Princeton thing with the week of community service in small groups, will probably lead to lifelong friendships for him…are there other things like that?