Should I reserve my spot or wait it out?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Princeton University
1

<p>Hey everybody, </p>

<p>This past fall and winter I became a Questbridge Scholar and was matched to Princeton through the National College Match and was given a spectacular scholarship.</p>

<p>There is, however, a slight problem.</p>

<p>I was notified of this back at the end of November, and then I received an email from the admissions office asking me to convert my match to Princeton to an Early Action and so I was technically admitted through Early Action. I loved Princeton when I visited there this past Summer but I'm afraid that it isn't the best school for me. I know its one of the best schools ni the nation but I have my heart still set on Stanford (which I ranked higher in the National College Match Program [Princeton was my #2]). Stanford, however, doesn't mail its admission decisions until April 1st and I live in Massachusetts. I'm also waiting to hear back from Harvard and Columbia which I won't hear back from until late March. </p>

<p>I looked at the folder they sent me and I saw that I don't have to pay any deposit in order to reserve my spot and my math teacher to whom I am very close is warning me that they will possibly not offer me housing or that they would even rescind their decision if I don't reserve my spot as soon as possible. Yet my guidance counselor told me that most universities are not legally allowed to do that and that most of the Ivys, Stanfords, Dukes, etc. usually don't have that problem. </p>

<p>I guess what I'm trying to ask is: would it be better for me to reserve my spot now to Princeton and then change my mind after I hear back from all other three? And can someone tell me if there are any repercussions for waiting nearly a month before May 1st to reply to a schools offer? What should I do? Does it matter?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Unless they specifically told you otherwise on your offer of admission, you have until May 1 to accept or decline an offer of admission. All undergraduate students are guaranteed housing all four years at Princeton so there is absolutely no repercussion with regard to housing. If you are unsure just call admissions and ask!</p>

3

<p>I’m not familiar with how questbridge works, but if you were admitted EA, you shouldn’t worry! Housing is guaranteed. Also, Princeton’s deadline is designed to allow EA admits to compare their offers from other colleges in the regular decision round. </p>

<p>TLDR; don’t worry about it waiting to accept your offer, and definitely call admissions if you’re confused! And congrats.</p>

4

<p>Your math teacher is trying to be nice and is trying to watch out for you, but he or she doesn’t know how Princeton works. </p>

<p>Some colleges do give priority when it comes to housing to those who commit early. </p>

<p>Princeton absolutely does not do this. They have a block of housing reserved for the freshman class, and have housing guaranteed for all of them (in part because freshman are required to live on campus). They don’t assign housing to students until they know who is coming, and then they match up people after looking at their backgrounds carefully. You won’t get a better room because you committed early.</p>

<p>You will not lose your spot if you wait to commit until you’ve heard from those other schools. You won’t be at risk of losing your spot unless you wait until AFTER May 1 to commit.</p>

<p>If you’re really concerned about this, call admissions to confirm this.</p>