We’re onto Princeton with our “School Like” series. In this series, we’re taking schools that are considered reach schools (yes, for everyone—no matter what your GPA or ACT scores are, any Ivy or equivalent will always be a reach), breaking them down into their most distinct parts, and giving you a list of schools that possess those same qualities, “vibes,” or personality. These are schools that you may not have heard of before, or perhaps that you have heard of but hadn’t previously considered. Consider this your charge to think outside the box and have an open mind.
Princeton is located in Princeton, NJ. It has world-class museums both on campus and off, as well as historical sites, a gothic University Chapel, and numerous renowned restaurants, cafes, and activities. And to top it off, it’s just a quick NJ Transit ride away from New York City which is particularly appealing to many who apply. It’s a unique atmosphere on campus, with a liberal arts focus and a research university feel.
The university is known for its academics, naturally, but in particular, Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs is well-known as is its ORFE program. This program is probably the most unique thing that Princeton has to offer. ORFE stands for Operations, Research, and Financial Engineering and graduates of this program gain entry to some of the most sought-after companies, think-tanks, and graduate programs in the nation. It focuses a lot on mathematical modeling, and then how to integrate real-world data and subsequently “make optimal decisions that improve the performance or manage resources effectively.” This program tends to draw those who are serious about entering finance or banking for the long-term feasibility and complexities—and not in an “I want to work at [insert finance company here] to make money” kind of way.
Princeton’s stats:
Location: Princeton, NJ
Size: ~8K undergraduates
Faculty to Student ratio: 5:1
Schools Like Princeton
University of Virginia
Location: Charlottesville, VA
Size: ~16K undergraduates
Not only do UVA and Princeton share a color scheme (orange and navy vs. orange and black, respectively), but they also share the fact that they tend to draw students who are extremely passionate about pursuing their academic passion as well as their school’s athletic abilities. Though UVA is larger in terms of undergraduate population, the campus itself is incredibly welcoming. UVA has a strong undergraduate business program at the UVA McIntire School of Commerce, which tends to draw those who are interested in financial markets.
Emory University
Location: Atlanta, GA
Size: ~7.9K undergraduates
Accounting and business are two of Emory’s undergraduate specialties, and its location and rigorous academic atmosphere make it an ideal place to any student to spend four years, particularly if you want to be close to a city (like Princeton is) but still be a part of a distinctly gorgeous campus. Emory’s required curriculum reflects its academic rigor, with its content covering nine areas of intellectual focus, students are able to tailor the specifics to their interests. Areas include writing, “History, Society, Cultures,” “Science, Nature, Technologies,” two humanities areas, physical education, and four others in an attempt to give students a true survey of academia. The school has a rich history and numerous traditions, much like Princeton, which creates a strong level of school pride amongst its students that can be hard to recreate.
Colgate University
Location: Hamilton, NY
Size: ~2.8K
Colgate is a world-renowned academic institution located in upstate New York, but its students still put a big emphasis on fun and tradition. While the location is a bit rural, its surrounding area and town of Hamilton, NY is a wonderful “college town.” This, in addition to the fact that it’s located incredibly close to a number of schools that have prominent surrounding towns and activity including schools like Syracuse and Hamilton College. Colgate itself prides itself on its academic intensity and the community’s commitment to creating a rich intellectual space. Much like Cambridge, because of the faculty, campus, and students, Hamilton operates as its own little academic utopia.
Middlebury College
Location: Middlebury, VT
Size: ~2.5K undergraduates
Many students choose Princeton because of its simultaneous academic and social reputation, and Middlebury certainly ties those two things together well also. Students tend to be multidisciplinary in their interests and take classes all over the spectrum of liberal arts. Students at Middlebury tend to be outdoorsy, athletic, and intelligent, whereas Princeton students tend to draw less of the outdoorsy and more of the just straight up athletic smarties. If you love the mountains, then Middlebury could be a great option in terms of achieving an incredibly reputable degree while also spending four years in nature.
Bowdoin College
Location: Brunswick, ME
Size: ~1.8K undergraduates
Similar to Princeton, Bowdoin draws out those who are intense and committed to excelling on their chosen path. That said, we've found the typical Bowdoin student is a bit more laid back and not quite as competitive as the typical Princeton student. The school is sort of like the more relaxed version of a lot of other Northeast schools, but with the same level of academic rigor and prestige. Part of it is due to its location, and part of it is just the nature of the student that it attracts. Bowdoin’s strongest program is arguably its Government and Legal Studies Program, similar to Princeton’s WWS programs, which certainly draws prominent professors from all over. Don’t get us wrong, though—the non-competitive nature that’s typical of the student body is not to say that the school leaves anything to be desired in terms of the level of intellect present in every classroom at Bowdoin. Everyone is eager to learn and exchange ideas, but it’s not a notably competitive atmosphere which is a huge bonus for many applicants.
Amherst College
Location: Amherst, MA
Size: ~1.8K undergraduates
Amherst and Princeton are both known for their academically intense atmospheres. Notorious, even, and our students who tend to choose these schools know that they are in for four intense and rewarding years. Though Amherst is incredibly academically rigorous and difficult to gain entry to, once you do, you gain access to the Five College Consortium. This means that if you gain admission to Amherst (or any of the colleges in the FCC) then you can take classes, attend events, and participate in student and community groups at Mount Holyoke, UMass Amherst, Hampshire College, and Smith College. You get the nice combination of liberal arts and research institutions through the consortium as well. Amherst is also known for its science programs, which Princeton is not quite as strong in (though they’re no scientific slouches), so if it’s what you’re looking for, then Amherst might be the way to go.
Elon University
Location: Elon, NC
Size: ~6K undergraduate
Elon is known for many things, but one of the main aspects that makes it unique is its focus on experiential learning. Princeton is groundbreaking in its variety and focus of degrees offered, and Elon is at the forefront of these ideas with the implementation of experience-focused learning opportunities. Because of its location, Elon students are able to make tangible, notable impacts on their surrounding communities in a way that is hard to achieve at a “name brand” institution like Princeton. Though Princeton has renowned public and social policy programs, Elon challenges students to get their hands dirty and make the change themselves, while learning about the policies and theories that drive community organizations. There are also numerous undergraduate degrees at Elon’s business school, including Economic Consulting, Entrepreneurship, International Business, and others.
Princeton is one of those schools that kids dream about going to from a young age, so we know it can be hard to expand your mind and think about spending four years at another school. That said, that’s why we’re here—to help you envision and live your best college life (this means building a good list). Call or email us if you’re having a hard time with that visualization.