princeton vs yale?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Residential college system at Yale was more appealing to me than eating clubs at Princeton but your daughter may feel the opposite.

+1000 from another Yalie

The residential colleges are randomly assigned, you don't have to apply like a fraternity - which turned me off of the eating clubs

Yale has all sorts of selective clubs, including the infamous "secret societies"; if anything, they are more overtly exclusive than Princeton eating clubs.

Half the eating clubs are sign in, meaning anyone can sign up. It’s really a non issue and it starts junior year. I know plenty of Princeton grads who weren’t in a club… they chose to be independent or in coops. All freshmen and sophomores eat in dining halls and that’s plenty of time to find friends. It’s the least of my concerns.

I would also not be overly concerned with the secret societies at Yale. There are quite a few for seniors and if you want to be in one you can find one to be in.

You're not going to be in skunk bones or cottage eating club but so what? Those things are not a good reason to choose one or the other for the vast majority of students.

They're both fantastic options. I would choose based on the academic programs in your major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Residential college system at Yale was more appealing to me than eating clubs at Princeton but your daughter may feel the opposite.

Princeton does have a residential college system. It is one of the reasons why I like Princeton. Eating clubs are only for juniors and seniors. Also, a student does not have to join an eating club if they don't want to. I know many students who go independent, join co-ops, or who remain on the university dining plan. There are many options for upperclassmen. They are not forced to join an eating club. When you enter Princeton first year students are automatically placed into a particular residential college and they can't join eating clubs anyway.

As a parent of a recent Yale graduate (2025) and a current student (sophomore) at Princeton. I have a better insight on the specifics of both institutions. The OP can't go wrong with either school. They are both similar in many ways, however I think Princeton is the better option for STEM majors. I don't think a student would be at a disadvantage at either Yale or Princeton. They are phenomenal institutions. It really boils down to major, the structure of the programs and where the student wants to reside. The resources, job placement, internship placement, and research opportunities at both schools are amazing.

Would you say the same for engineering majors (given STEM could include other science/math fields?). Thank you for your insight. Any thoughts on the grind at each institution?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Residential college system at Yale was more appealing to me than eating clubs at Princeton but your daughter may feel the opposite.

+1000 from another Yalie

The residential colleges are randomly assigned, you don't have to apply like a fraternity - which turned me off of the eating clubs

Yale has all sorts of selective clubs, including the infamous "secret societies"; if anything, they are more overtly exclusive than Princeton eating clubs.

except secret societies are not a big part of the social fabric/experience at yale. at all. nothing like p-ton's eating clubs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Residential college system at Yale was more appealing to me than eating clubs at Princeton but your daughter may feel the opposite.

+1000 from another Yalie

The residential colleges are randomly assigned, you don't have to apply like a fraternity - which turned me off of the eating clubs

Yale has all sorts of selective clubs, including the infamous "secret societies"; if anything, they are more overtly exclusive than Princeton eating clubs.

except secret societies are not a big part of the social fabric/experience at yale. at all. nothing like p-ton's eating clubs

Maybe not for those excluded from the Yale clubs, lol.

[Anonymous]

the student should go where he feels he fits in better. princeton always felt like a snobby country club, yalies seem more down to earth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Residential college system at Yale was more appealing to me than eating clubs at Princeton but your daughter may feel the opposite.

+1000 from another Yalie

The residential colleges are randomly assigned, you don't have to apply like a fraternity - which turned me off of the eating clubs

Yale has all sorts of selective clubs, including the infamous "secret societies"; if anything, they are more overtly exclusive than Princeton eating clubs.

except secret societies are not a big part of the social fabric/experience at yale. at all. nothing like p-ton's eating clubs

Tell me you didn’t go to Yale without telling me you didn’t go to Yale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Residential college system at Yale was more appealing to me than eating clubs at Princeton but your daughter may feel the opposite.

+1000 from another Yalie

The residential colleges are randomly assigned, you don't have to apply like a fraternity - which turned me off of the eating clubs

Yale has all sorts of selective clubs, including the infamous "secret societies"; if anything, they are more overtly exclusive than Princeton eating clubs.

except secret societies are not a big part of the social fabric/experience at yale. at all. nothing like p-ton's eating clubs

Maybe not for those excluded from the Yale clubs, lol.

i don't think you understand the yale social scene very well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Residential college system at Yale was more appealing to me than eating clubs at Princeton but your daughter may feel the opposite.

+1000 from another Yalie

The residential colleges are randomly assigned, you don't have to apply like a fraternity - which turned me off of the eating clubs

Yale has all sorts of selective clubs, including the infamous "secret societies"; if anything, they are more overtly exclusive than Princeton eating clubs.

except secret societies are not a big part of the social fabric/experience at yale. at all. nothing like p-ton's eating clubs

Tell me you didn’t go to Yale without telling me you didn’t go to Yale.

I'm the PP and yes, I very much did go to Yale, thank you very much. If you truly think secret societies are a large part of Yale, then I highly doubt you actually know much about Yale first hand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Residential college system at Yale was more appealing to me than eating clubs at Princeton but your daughter may feel the opposite.

+1000 from another Yalie

The residential colleges are randomly assigned, you don't have to apply like a fraternity - which turned me off of the eating clubs

Yale has all sorts of selective clubs, including the infamous "secret societies"; if anything, they are more overtly exclusive than Princeton eating clubs.

except secret societies are not a big part of the social fabric/experience at yale. at all. nothing like p-ton's eating clubs

Maybe not for those excluded from the Yale clubs, lol.

what are you talking about? the vast majority of the yale students are not in secret societies and could not care less.

[Anonymous]

How is this even a question OP? Princeton for sure. New Haven is a dangerous dump. And, Princeton has been ranked #1 on USNWR for at least the past 15 years for undergrad. Further, if your kid ever wants to get a job, the Princeton Alums are much more helpful/ collegial than the Yalies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is this even a question OP? Princeton for sure. New Haven is a dangerous dump. And, Princeton has been ranked #1 on USNWR for at least the past 15 years for undergrad. Further, if your kid ever wants to get a job, the Princeton Alums are much more helpful/ collegial than the Yalies.

Sorry but Princeton, NJ is a wealthy dull suburb. Go for that if you are frightened of New Haven for some reason but it's pretty sterile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is this even a question OP? Princeton for sure. New Haven is a dangerous dump. And, Princeton has been ranked #1 on USNWR for at least the past 15 years for undergrad. Further, if your kid ever wants to get a job, the Princeton Alums are much more helpful/ collegial than the Yalies.

Sorry but Princeton, NJ is a wealthy dull suburb. Go for that if you are frightened of New Haven for some reason but it's pretty sterile.

Hoagie Haven > New Haven. And last I checked only one of those towns once served as the home to the Continental Congress, and it wasn’t downtrodden New Haven.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is this even a question OP? Princeton for sure. New Haven is a dangerous dump. And, Princeton has been ranked #1 on USNWR for at least the past 15 years for undergrad. Further, if your kid ever wants to get a job, the Princeton Alums are much more helpful/ collegial than the Yalies.

Sorry but Princeton, NJ is a wealthy dull suburb. Go for that if you are frightened of New Haven for some reason but it's pretty sterile.

Hoagie Haven > New Haven. And last I checked only one of those towns once served as the home to the Continental Congress, and it wasn’t downtrodden New Haven.

Sounds like Princeton is for you so enjoy. Yawn.

[Anonymous]

New Haven is a dump.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New Haven is a dump.

Princeton is a rich neat and tidy snoozefest.