Cross admit, Yale vs Princeton

glassesarechic
Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:40:59 +0000

think you mentioned that you’d be happier at Yale and that you could possibly double major, and I know you would be more comfortable at Princeton. However, I think that your college years should be a time to grow and expand your horizions, so I would say go with Yale because it will enable you to be happy (which is really important–this is not to say you won’t be happy at P) and Yale would also allow you to explore you distinct interests.



I would warn against these kind of false dichotomies. College is hard. You will probably feel uncomfortable regardless of which institution you attend, because you’re in a completely new environment. Both Yale, with its tight-knit res college system, and Princeton with its multiple layers of peer advising/living communities, will do their best to make you feel at home. But you will also feel like a fish out of water for at least the first couple days, if not the first couple weeks or months. (For me, the uncomfortable-ness only began to wear off recently.) This, combined with interesting courses and a diverse array of people, will undoubtedly expand your horizons and push you to new limits.

As for the matter of fun, hardly anyone could argue that either school lacks in that regard. Yale’s social scene relies on Greek life, Princeton’s on eating clubs (though both have other options). Both schools are known for wildly happy student bodies. No one comes out on top.

It’s tempting to say Yale = this experience and Princeton = that one. But that’s just not the case. There are many good reasons to choose either school, but an oversimplified dichotomy just isn’t one of them.