Princeton or MIT

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS with high stats applied to Harvard and was deferred. He would like to pursue a math major, has math related awards and research. He is applying to the top places. If he gets into both, which one is better in math, Princeton or MIT?

If he was deferred from Harvard, why would you assume he'll be accepted by both MIT and Princeton? A Harvard deferral is basically a rejection. They defer over 70 percent of applicants andconly about 2 percent of those deferred are accepted RD.

[Anonymous]

Princeton.

[Anonymous]

These two schools are not usually up for comparison, OP. Both fine schools, obviously - but a little more research is needed on your part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS with high stats applied to Harvard and was deferred. He would like to pursue a math major, has math related awards and research. He is applying to the top places. If he gets into both, which one is better in math, Princeton or MIT?

LOL!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS with high stats applied to Harvard and was deferred. He would like to pursue a math major, has math related awards and research. He is applying to the top places. If he gets into both, which one is better in math, Princeton or MIT?

Come back and ask after he does.

+1. What is the point of this thread?

Humblebrag.

[Anonymous]

Princeton has the most LGBTXYZ but MIT has the most autistic individuals. You can't lose, really

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS with high stats applied to Harvard and was deferred. He would like to pursue a math major, has math related awards and research. He is applying to the top places. If he gets into both, which one is better in math, Princeton or MIT?

better in math-MIT. Better in life and avoiding booksmart ditz and respecting women-Princeton. He can learn math from MIT's free OCW, but if he wanted "Harvard" life over MIT, Princeton is more similar culturally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS with high stats applied to Harvard and was deferred. He would like to pursue a math major, has math related awards and research. He is applying to the top places. If he gets into both, which one is better in math, Princeton or MIT?

Come back and ask after he does.

+1. What is the point of this thread?

Humblebrag.

There is nothing to humblebrag until OP's kid gets into those two. Anybody can apply.

[Anonymous]

I’d choose Princeton. Prettier campus and more opportunities for research and attention from professors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d choose Princeton. Prettier campus and more opportunities for research and attention from professors.

Totally false especially the second point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d choose Princeton. Prettier campus and more opportunities for research and attention from professors.

MIT campus is quite stunning as it’s right on the Charles River.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d choose Princeton. Prettier campus and more opportunities for research and attention from professors.

Barf

[Anonymous]

So much bloviating on this chain by people who couldn't name a single math professor at either school. They're peers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS with high stats applied to Harvard and was deferred. He would like to pursue a math major, has math related awards and research. He is applying to the top places. If he gets into both, which one is better in math, Princeton or MIT?

better in math-MIT. Better in life and avoiding booksmart ditz and respecting women-Princeton. He can learn math from MIT's free OCW, but if he wanted "Harvard" life over MIT, Princeton is more similar culturally.

I'm a female that went to MIT and never felt disrespected. Same with my female friends. If anything, we were very supportive.

What I did get was a lot of hate from "friends" in high school telling me the only reason I got into MIT was because I was female. Since I got into many elite schools, clearly that wasn't true, but there attitude was very telling.

[Anonymous]

Dear OP, encourage your child to apply widely and may the odds be in your DC's favor.

I would also target the top state schools with historically strong math research programs. If you are in MD, recall that UMD is #13 nationally in applied mathematics, driven by the proximity to our defense industry. Other options are Michigan, Wisconsin, Berkeley etc. Top graduates of those programs routinely transition to Ivy PhD's. In mathematics, your child will definitely need a PhD if an academic career is under consideration, as your original letter implies.

If the child prefers applied math and cool modeling / startups, then MITs, Georgia Techs, and CalTechs of this world are your best bet.

If the child is a theoretician who feels most comfortable with analysis and algebra, then I would strongly consider Princeton due to the presence of the Institute and a history of theoretical mathematical inquiry within the institution.

I am also hopeful that you placed an application in NYU with an eye to the Courant Institute for advising, assuming affordability is not a roadblock for your student.