Anonymous
Post 04/02/2024 12:10     Subject: Princeton versus Stanford for a humanities major
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Please explain what you’re defining as “the humanities,” because it appears you’re excluding the vast majority of the B.A. majors.

What does Stanford have that offers the same sense of community as the residential colleges and eating clubs at Princeton? I’ve heard mixed reviews on the sense of community in the “neighborhoods” and it appears the administration has disbanded some of the traditional social organizations on campus.

https://www.palladiummag.com/2022/06/13/stanfords-war-on-social-life/


The humanities as typically defined include literature, history, art history, philosophy, religion, and the fine and performing arts. There are many non-humanities majors that receive the BA--for example, all the social sciences.


OK. That's a fairly narrow range of majors - about 17% at Princeton. The decline in the number of English majors is noticeable but I doubt the total percentage of "Humanities" majors (so defined) has ever been much higher than 20% since Princeton had an engineering school. CS/Engineering account for about 33% of majors, and then you have the remaining 50% spread out over Architecture, Area/Ethnic Studies, Biological Sciences, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Psychology, Public Policy, and Social Sciences.

None of the majors are so dominant as to keep other departments from thriving, and students in smaller departments in the humanities and liberal arts may get more attention that CS/Engineering students. There have been complaints that the CS/Engineering students now set the tone at the school, but that seems to be largely a reflection of the fact that their majors are more demanding. Those majors are also demanding at other schools, tempered only by the possibility that the peer groups may not be as strong.

Anonymous
Post 04/01/2024 23:56     Subject: Princeton versus Stanford for a humanities major
I have kids at both - can't go wrong with either. One kid didn't like the Stanford architecture for some reason and wanted to be on the East Coast. Other kid could've been happy at either, but got in Stanford REA as it was their first choice. I'd say try to go to admitted student days for both.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2024 23:33     Subject: Princeton versus Stanford for a humanities major
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

Please explain what you’re defining as “the humanities,” because it appears you’re excluding the vast majority of the B.A. majors.

What does Stanford have that offers the same sense of community as the residential colleges and eating clubs at Princeton? I’ve heard mixed reviews on the sense of community in the “neighborhoods” and it appears the administration has disbanded some of the traditional social organizations on campus.

https://www.palladiummag.com/2022/06/13/stanfords-war-on-social-life/


The humanities as typically defined include literature, history, art history, philosophy, religion, and the fine and performing arts. There are many non-humanities majors that receive the BA--for example, all the social sciences.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2024 23:28     Subject: Princeton versus Stanford for a humanities major
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’m sure that Stanford has a great humanities program, but I thought it was Princeton’s greatest strength. Also, at Princeton, the humanities are more celebrated, not an appendage to CS/tech/startup bro culture. If your kid wants to stay on the east coast after graduation, that’s another vote for Princeton.


Not anymore. I was an English major at Princeton--great at the time. Now the school is down to just 15 percent of students majoring in the humanities. PU is increasingly like MIT: very, very STEM focused, with a resulting grind, joyless culture. Then again, PU has no grad schools to speak of--so all the focus is on undergraduate. Fewer TAs. Princeton is probably harder, as everyone has to write junior papers and a thesis on top of regular classwork. Stanford is less undergraduate focused, but becuz humanities is under-enrolled, will probably still have access to great profs. So I still think I might pick it over Princeton today. Also, the Eating Clubs at PU really are a problem--PU has yet to solve its social-life issues. Probably can't go wrong with either, but I might pick Stanford today. Stanford has better weather. Stanford may offer a wider variety of job opportunities for a humanities major after graduation than Princeton would....as so respected in biz/tech world. PU feels more old-school, tweedy (even tho that perception is dated). Congrats to your child on two amazing options!


Please explain what you’re defining as “the humanities,” because it appears you’re excluding the vast majority of the B.A. majors.

What does Stanford have that offers the same sense of community as the residential colleges and eating clubs at Princeton? I’ve heard mixed reviews on the sense of community in the “neighborhoods” and it appears the administration has disbanded some of the traditional social organizations on campus.

https://www.palladiummag.com/2022/06/13/stanfords-war-on-social-life/
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2024 23:13     Subject: Princeton versus Stanford for a humanities major
Anonymous wrote:I’m sure that Stanford has a great humanities program, but I thought it was Princeton’s greatest strength. Also, at Princeton, the humanities are more celebrated, not an appendage to CS/tech/startup bro culture. If your kid wants to stay on the east coast after graduation, that’s another vote for Princeton.


Not anymore. I was an English major at Princeton--great at the time. Now the school is down to just 15 percent of students majoring in the humanities. PU is increasingly like MIT: very, very STEM focused, with a resulting grind, joyless culture. Then again, PU has no grad schools to speak of--so all the focus is on undergraduate. Fewer TAs. Princeton is probably harder, as everyone has to write junior papers and a thesis on top of regular classwork. Stanford is less undergraduate focused, but becuz humanities is under-enrolled, will probably still have access to great profs. So I still think I might pick it over Princeton today. Also, the Eating Clubs at PU really are a problem--PU has yet to solve its social-life issues. Probably can't go wrong with either, but I might pick Stanford today. Stanford has better weather. Stanford may offer a wider variety of job opportunities for a humanities major after graduation than Princeton would....as so respected in biz/tech world. PU feels more old-school, tweedy (even tho that perception is dated). Congrats to your child on two amazing options!
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2024 22:51     Subject: Princeton versus Stanford for a humanities major
dd is a humanities major at princeton, and made a similar choice (p vs s vs y). she's extremely happy with her choice -- precept system, small intimate classes, location, etc. would be happy to elaborate.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2024 22:25     Subject: Princeton versus Stanford for a humanities major
I have experience at both as a graduate student and postdoc in the humanities. The teaching will be better at Princeton. Faculty at both will be great but there is more of a culture of real faculty commitment to undergrad teaching at Princeton.

On the other hand, I'd prefer the social scene at Stanford. I really don't like the eating club system.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2024 20:49     Subject: Princeton versus Stanford for a humanities major
Anonymous wrote:I would advise your kid do Princeton only if they have great social skills. If you can’t get into the right eating club, Princeton can be brutal. Stanford does not have the social pressure that Princeton does. They are both great academically so in my opinion it comes down to location and the social aspect.


There are 11 eating clubs and other options besides eating clubs, so you’d have to be fairly obsessed about a particular eating club to make that critical to any decision. And social skills can be significant to landing some of the internships and other opportunities at Stanford.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2024 20:36     Subject: Re:Princeton versus Stanford for a humanities major
Princeton poster - hopefully you will give your kids more freedom to pursue what truly interests them, just like I am doing now.

Haha after my experiences I am going to very actively encourage them to explore their true interests and focus their education on something that brings them joy.

Will Princeton be more socially hierarchical / old money-led?

Surprisingly they lead HYPSM in admitting and supporting low income students. Very high percentage of first generation college students now. I read that they received huge donations from Mike Bloomberg and others to set up an entire support center for low income students - they literally have a building or something.

I think the reality of Princeton has changed much faster than its image can. It may even be the friendliest T10 towards low income students at this point.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2024 20:35     Subject: Princeton versus Stanford for a humanities major
I would advise your kid do Princeton only if they have great social skills. If you can’t get into the right eating club, Princeton can be brutal. Stanford does not have the social pressure that Princeton does. They are both great academically so in my opinion it comes down to location and the social aspect.