Stanford v Princeton - STEM

EnVinoVeritas
Sun, 15 Apr 2012 20:05:56 +0000

D last week narrowed her choices to Yale, Stanford and Princeton.

D could not do the official admitted students events, but just completed a week-long, spring break tour of all three. Although she really likes all three institutions, she has now decided to eliminate Yale based on its relatively smaller STEM opportunities, courses, etc. That leaves Stanford and Princeton.

She is not absolutely sure what she wants to study, but likely applied math, computer science, and/or engineering. We understand that S’s engineering and CS programs are rated more highly, but P’s math program seems to have the edge and its engineering and CS programs are rated highly enough. So rankings/prestige is not a decision maker.

For Princeton, she really likes the intimate campus, chance to live on the East Coast, the social aspects such as the eating clubs, LAC atmosphere, and the whole ancient Ivy feel. She is concerned about grade deflation. To a lesser extent, she’s concerned about its weaker connections to Silicon Valley in case she decides to go CS.

For Stanford, she likes the relaxed, open nature of campus and student body. She also likes the proximity to Silicon Valley (both physically and in terms of alumni networks, internship opportunities, etc). And even though she has lived in California all her life, the sunny weather remains a perpetual attraction too. A lurking concern for her is that she loves intellectual challenge and feels that perhaps the median intellectual capacity of the student body may be somewhat higher at P (not looking for a flame war on this, just sharing her observations, which may be colored by the lobbying of her college counselor, who is a big P fan).

In short, she has now toured both campuses and sees herself as very happy at either one. The father in me wants to push her toward S for easy visits and increased likelihood she will remain in California afterward, but I really just want her to be happy.

For an extroverted, happy female with a gift for math, what are other factors she might consider in making this decision? Any experiences anyone in the CC community can share about S v. P, particularly from STEM students who were cross-admitted and chose one over the other?