Picture the Ivy League as a big, happy, sometimes dysfunctional family. Can you imagine what Princeton University would be in this melange? We would argue that this elite private research university would be the quiet middle child with a ton of academic ambition (think Alex Dunphy from Modern Family). Perhaps Princeton feels like an underdog compared to the other members of its Big Three, Harvard University and Yale University, but it completely exceeds these two schools in academic rigor and perhaps even in school spirit.

And if you find yourself in the fortunate position of choosing between attending this Princeton, New Jersey-based institution and another top school in the nation, what features of the undergraduate experience should you focus on to make this decision?

Princeton’s Campus is Dripping With Tradition and Ivy

Princeton’s campus leans heavily into Collegiate Gothic, but with a warmth that softens its grandeur: honey-colored stone, intricate archways, and ivy that crawls across walls as if it has seniority over the students. Walking through the main quad or along pathways like Blair Walk feels cinematic, equal parts monastic quiet and intellectual energy, though the spell is occasionally broken by a cyclist zipping past or an orange-clad student checking their phone between classes.

Undergraduates spend their early years in tight-knit residential colleges, each with its own dining hall and sense of community, before gravitating toward the famed eating clubs on Prospect Avenue. Unlike the secret societies and final clubs found at other Ivies, in which only a fraction of students participate, Princeton’s eating clubs are much more ubiquitous. The majority of students find themselves vying for entry into one or more, and membership in one is far less of a secret than at comparable institutions at Harvard or Yale.

Princeton Doesn’t Play About Academics

Lots of schools claim to hold academic rigor as the utmost value driving the undergraduate experience. Princeton is the only school, at least within the Ivy League, that actually puts its money where its mouth is. At Princeton, faculty actually prioritize teaching their students over researching, and the lack of graduate student activity on campus means that undergraduates receive their proper due. 

Moreover, Princeton is not the kind of school where students can just skirt by on grade inflation and a dream (ahem, Brown University!). In fact, Princeton ranks last in the Ivy League for average student GPA. In other words, receiving an A in a Princetonian class actually means something, and graduating with academic honors is perhaps the highest distinction an Ivy Leaguer can receive.

Who Runs the World? Princeton Alumni.

Quite literally. The one thing Princeton has in common with other highly selective schools is that its alumni are well represented at the top of every major industry and field. Yes, including as heads of state and celebrities! Princeton is one of those schools where social affiliation on campus can shape the trajectory of an alum’s life, as one’s Eating Club can open doors that remain closed to the average college graduate.

All told, you’d be lucky to count yourself among Princeton’s distinguished student body, although be warned: if anything, life at Princeton can be a bit stuffy and pretentious, as the school’s location in the suburbs of New Jersey doesn’t give students as much of an opportunity to escape into city life or get out of the campus bubble. But for the student seeking total immersion into Ivy League culture, Princeton is for you!

Ivy Coach’s Assistance With Princeton University Admission

Our team of former elite college admissions officers has secured Princeton admissions for our package clients at a 70% acceptance rate over the last five years. And just like Princeton’s elusive social scene, our method to our success is shrouded in secrecy to all but those in the know. To get a taste of our secret sauce that helps students optimize their odds of admission to Princeton, fill out our complimentary consultation form, and we’ll be in touch with an outline of our services.