Hello, I was recently waitlisted from Yale, which was my dream school. However, I had the fortune of being accepted into Princeton. After researching it I have come to love the school and am excited to commit, but I am not sure if I should still stay on the Yale waitlist considering my love for Princeton. I have yet to tour Princeton. I am planning on majoring in Geosciences and minoring in music.
Yale pros:
more artsy and musical (Music is my main extracurricular and I like the access to YSOM)
-I liked the campus vibe and seemed very positive and happy
Big fan of residential college system
Love campus feel and surprisingly love city location and New Haven offerings
Like that there are a bit more humanities at Yale. Even though I am a science major I like the humanities a lot.
seems a bit more fun and choll(just based on my own experience, I know this may not be representative)
Streets running through campus
Many tracks offered for geoscience
Princeton pros:
very academic
junior project and senior thesis
large school pride
no Greek life
low key excited for eating clubs (inclusive ones, though I do like the Yale residential colleges better)
campus seems quiet and charming
seems like there is a large diversity in the type of people
happy campus
slightly warmer
With this info do you think it is worth it to stay on the Yale waitlist? My biggest fear is that I won’t be able to go to an admitted students day in the small possibility I get off the waitlist or take someone’s spot if i decide i like Princeton better even if i get off the waitlist
Last year, Yale admitted zero students off the waitlist. For the Class of 2026, it admitted nine.
Even if you were to accept a spot on the waitlist, you would not be taking anyone’s else’s spot. Everyone offered a waitlist spot has the option of taking it. When someone is offered a seat off of the waitlist and declines it, the school will move to the next logical choice on the list.
I guess the question for you is: what will you know in a month or two or three that you can’t or don’t know today? If, against all odds, you get an admissions offer off of Yale’s waitlist, what new information will emerge to help you choose between Yale and Princeton?
If you have to ask if you should, then you should.
So get on it, and then forget about Yale.
Move on and love Princeton.
A WL means you were not accepted (or rejected). Their loss. You are clearly very talented. But they use it as a hedge in case their yield is lower than expected. So yes, it’s highly unlikely.
But if you think - well, I love Princeton - but should I stay on - then yes, stay on - and if Yale comes later, you can always say no to them later - worst case. This way you eliminate any doubt. If you don’t stay on and it beats you up later emotionally, you’d have wished you saw it through. The result, btw, is likely the same - that you’ll never hear back from them but it will give you peace of mind.
If you are truly undecided, get on the Yale waitlist. After your Princeton visit, if you decide to matriculate to Princeton, you can always with draw from the waitlist.
Princeton is a fabulous university. Congratulations.
Tour Princeton. You will almost certainly love it.
If you like Yale better, stay on the WL. Odds are it will not go anywhere from there. But… If you do get accepted from the WL, you will have a very short time to make a decision. This last point is important because it can be stressful and disruptive to have to revisit a decision that was previously made.
If once you’ve committed to Princeton, you’re getting excited about your plans, you may not enjoy thinking about an offer from Yale in the unlikely event you get one. If you see yourself in this scenario, commit to Princeton and skip the Yale WL. If not, no harm in staying on the WL.