Yale vs. Princeton
I don't want to come off as a d-bag, so I really apologize if it seems that way. A couple weeks ago I posted asking whether Yale or Columbia was the better choice. I ended up following your guy's advice and went with Yale. A few days ago, I was notified that I got off Princeton's waitlist. Going into applications, Harvard was my first choice, followed by Wharton, and then Yale/ Princeton. So, these two schools are for all intents and purpose the same in terms of my interest in them.
I get that with Yale and Princeton prestige is practically equal, so debating that would be splitting hairs. Like when I chose between Yale and Columbia, I want to focus on career perspective and exit opps alone. Throughout high school, I was very involved in finance (at least for a teenager), and I am very sure I want to go into the industry. With that being said, I am not too worried about choosing a school that gives me flexibility in terms of career. I'm sure I won't have an epiphany, and then decide I want to be a doctor or lawyer. I'm practically dead set on finance.
Like every other high schooler on here, my eventual goal is to get to buy-side as quick as possible. I saw a thread on here talking about Yale's "sub-par performance" for finance (https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/how-is-yal…), and some points that user made was things I had also noticed which did get me worried about Yale. Is Princeton's placement and overall presence at the higher levels of finance any better than Yale's? I am inclined to think that OCR would be basically the same at both schools, but of course I may be very wrong about that.
Something else I'm thinking about with the choice is Yale's weakness in STEM. I would be majoring in econ/ applied math at both school (maybe ORFE at Princeton, but most likely not), so I won't be technically involved with the true STEM crowd. My problem with Yale's focus on the humanities/ liberal arts is the type of student body it creates. I would rather be around a ton of STEM majors than english majors.
I maybe be wrong, but does Yale's focus on humanities allow for a student body that generally looks down upon finance kids. I have no problem with being know as the person "who sells their soul for finance" like all those godforsaken Wharoton kids. I feel like people like me won't fit in well at Yale where students are more focused on theater, performance, literature, instead of using college as a stepping stone into a career. Don't get me wrong, I do see the merits of a well-rounded education with a strong liberal arts focus; I just don't think it's something for me. Yale's whole artsy/ humanities vibe irks me the wrong way, but of course it also allows for a better GPA. With equal effort at both schools, I would be able to do much better with my GPA at Yale, so that's also something to consider.
Sorry for the the long post. I guess what I'm trying to ask in simple terms is whether Yale or Princeton have any aspects that make it better for finance. Does either school offer something that makes it better, or should the decision be based on other factors like fit and culture? I talked to some people working at a HF, and they said definitely Yale, but I would like to get some more opinions.
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It seems like you already know where you want to go. I wouldn’t second guess myself, especially if it’s Princeton.
Yeah, your entire post was basically an argument for taking Princeton over Yale. It seems you fit in better at Princeton as well. You can't go wrong picking Princeton.
if you wanna have an inferiority complex to Harvard go to Yale. Else, Princeton.
Go to Princeton dude. Also if you wanna go to buyside straight out of undergrad, there are some funds that recruit on Princeton campus. So if you're good enough you'll be able to skip banking all together
Are there any buy-side shops that recruit at Yale? The only thing holding me back from Princeton is the GPA deflation, or better put the rigor involved with getting the same GPA as at Yale. I don't see the glory in surrounding myself with the people I would rather be around, yet struggling to maintain a GPA that could be achieved at Yale with less work and more free time to do other things like research or prep that would serve me well come interview time.
Seems like you want Princeton. Just go there, you can't go wrong
Is Princeton substantially better than Yale for finance. Academically speaking, I would rather be at Yale where its easier to build a strong resume purely because it's slightly less rigorous. The thing that I don't like about Yale is the PC/ tree-hugger vibe (for the lack of the better term). I hate the idea that people who go to Yale already planning their career are the minority. I would consider myself pre-professional and it seems like Yale's student body is the polar opposite to that. At least to me, Yale seems like a LAC with a very, very big name.
That being said, the GPA and student culture balance themselves out which is why I want to focus on which school will be better for finance in the long run. Any ideas which is better purely from the point of a career?
To be 100% honest, it is literally equal for finance.
Take some time to think and choose based on where you see yourself as a student.
Both schools have hundreds of people going into finance, hundreds of artsy/humanities people, and they both offer an incredible launching pad for your career. No matter where you go, people will give you shit for "selling your soul," but honestly it's a joke 95% of the time. There are enough people that you don't really need to spend time with those who will actually judge you/care. Also, I don't really know where you're getting the idea that Princeton doesn't emphasize a "strong liberal arts focus," because you will still be required to take multiple humanities courses and do a year of independent work even if you choose ORFE. If you go the Econ route, it's twice as much.
In terms of GPA, most firms know that Princeton grades more harshly than Yale and will take that into account. As long as your GPA is above the cutoff you'll be in the conversation just by virtue of where you go to school (at least that was the case for me, but take it with a grain of salt I suppose).
Basically, to answer your question, neither school is really "better for finance." However, you will be HAPPIER and therefore more involved, better at networking, and more likely to succeed at whichever school is a better fit for you. What do you think about the atmosphere? Do you think you would enjoy being a part of the eating club system at Princeton, or does that type of social climbing sound annoying? How would you feel about living in New Haven? Of all the students you met, who did you vibe with most? Are you comfortable with the idea of not getting straight A's, or do you think grade inflation would make you more comfortable? How do you feel about writing a thesis?
The answers to these questions matter much more than the number of humanities students at a given school. Not to mention, I know dozens of people who are heavily involved in arts/humanities and are going into finance (myself included). I would suggest toning down the assumption that arts/humanities people aren't career focused and that you wouldn't get along with them–you might end up missing out on some great friendships or networking opportunities. Feel free to dm me if you have any specific questions about life at Princeton, and congratulations on getting in to some great schools!
Based on the information provided, you should be at Princeton imho. Princeton’s ORFE will be rigorous and finance network is strong. As you also said, it’s a haven for Wharton-type kid, whereas while Yale is definitely not “artsy/theater” as a whole or majority, you will likely have slightly more trouble finding your “people,” one of the most important aspects of college. If you can get into Princeton (albeit off the waitlist), you can manage the rigor - don’t shy away from a challenge for the “easier (GPA) path” - that mindset won’t serve you well in the future.
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