Princeton vs Yale

Boondocks
Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:54:21 +0000

I hate to agree with a Yale grad (JHS), but he’s right. Trying to compare whether a degree from Princeton or Yale will give you better job/career/grad school prospects is silly. The prospects for graduates out of either school are about the same - tremendous. Both school have incredibly long lists of prominent graduates, as well as countless well-to-do working joes making $500K a year or so.

Don’t choose between Yale and Princeton, or any other top flight school, based on perceived career prospects. Choose based on the school atmosphere, setting and climate, and how it fits you personally.

Princeton is in a very safe richy town. Some would consider it boring.

Yale is in a gritty urban setting. Some would say it’s more exciting, while others would say it’s dangerous. It’s easier to do volunteer work with the poor in New Haven, if that’s your bend (although Trenton is only 13 miles from Princeton). It’s easier to go for a bike ride in the country in Princeton (although the area towards Lambertville is becoming more built up).

There are a host of other differences. The least of your concerns should be whether your chances are better at getting into law school or getting a job at Goldman - those chances are probably about the same, as long as you apply yourself at the school and like it while you’re there. If you’re miserable at a great school, you’ll probably fare poorly.

Your biggest concern should be positioning yourself so you actually have a choice of the two schools - most kids don’t get a choice. I’d recommend applying to both schools plus a number of others, and if/when you get in, make the choice based on which school feels best to you.