<p>Through at least the last four decades Princeton ChE has ranked in the top ten just about every year, with many years at the top 3 - and several at #1 in the country.</p>
<p>ChE has been one of Princeton’s long running strongest programs during this period, along with Physics, Math and Philosophy. Although I now see that Princeton’s Economics, History and Political Science departments are currently ranked #1 in the country.</p>
<p>Quality-wise there is not much difference in the ChE major between the two schools.</p>
<p>The OP now has to decide which one of these incredible universities he feels more comfortable with - and it appears that it is going to be The Farm.</p>
<p>I happen to believe that there is nothing like Princeton in the world for undergraduate school.</p>
<p>From an alum that graduated from both Ol Nassau and The Farm</p>
<p>That’s not true. The OP did something and said another, and the two are mutually exclusive. He was completely aware of this. Therefore, it constitutes a lie (it’s just spread out over a time period).</p>
<p>Someone says they will not shoot you. Then they turn around and shoot you in the face. They say they genuinely didn’t intend to. Do you care? No. All you care about is the gigantic disconnect between statement and action – something that the adcoms at the school WILL care about. </p>
<p>Original statement:</p>
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<p>Correct. But he still said he would attend to someone – and now is not. Do you not see how that is a breach of trust on a personal level? </p>
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<p>Out of curiosity, I was wondering about this – I’m looking for an area of California with incredibly intelligent, wealthy, socially archconservative, religious people, and a government that reflects all of these traits very closely. I want the weather to change from warm to cold (i.e., seasons). Where should I live?</p>
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<p>That’s not the issue here – the OP said one thing and did another. If he had said, “I likely will attend,” I would have no issue whatsoever. It’s the fact that he told someone at Princeton he was coming and then did not. That clearly reflects badly on him and his school.</p>
<p>I’m not saying he should go to Princeton if he doesn’t want to. But don’t say something definitive if it’s not so definitive after all.</p>
<p>A lie is an intentionally false statement. While your “shoot you in the face” example is, emotionally evoking? - it still stands that the OP did not lie. If I say I’m going to shoot you in the face, have the gun inches from you but then the cops bust in, cuff me and drag me away before I can pull the trigger - have I lied? Or did the circumstances just change? </p>
<p>Did he make a mistake in saying that he was going? Sure. But the fact remains that when he e-mailed the admissions officer; he thought that he was going to Princeton…and then something changed. Its really not a a big a deal as we’re making it out to be. A “breach of trust on a personal level” makes it sound as though they’ve been dating exclusively for a year. Which wasn’t the case, in fact the adcom knew he was looking at other school since he wasn’t early action (lol).</p>
<p>Again, There are hundreds of kids vying for that one spot. The fact that an accepted student changed his mind - only makes everyone happy here.</p>
<p>That’s different – there’s an external agent. Here the OP has complete agency. He could have decided not to make the statement in the first place, and he could have still picked Princeton.</p>
<p>The situation that you are describing is not analogous at all.</p>
<p>It’s very simple – it’s a lie by definition if you can follow through but do not. “I intend to go to Princeton” would not have been a lie in this case (but would have had the OP actually preferred Stanford). </p>
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<p>Princeton has no early program, so I don’t see how this is relevant.</p>
<p>The point is that when dealing with people, it is better not to say anything than to lie (under the definition that I gave). It is a big deal.</p>
<p>Exactly. This is the big problem – as long as I can get away with it, it’s fine! Who cares if I trample everyone on my amoral rampage towards self-gratification? etc. </p>
<p>It really is a matter of respect. But this has gone on too long – </p>
<p>Do we agree that the OP, in the future, should not make conclusive and definitive statements unless he, acting as his own agent, follows through with them? If yes, we can move on.</p>
<p>“Exactly. This is the big problem – as long as I can get away with it, it’s fine! Who cares if I trample everyone on my amoral rampage towards self-gratification? etc.”</p>
<p>Easy Reverand Baelor, this is not the place…</p>
<p>No one in the Princeton administration will give a flying f*** whether the OP chooses to attend or not. He’s not that important. He would not be trampling anyone by going to Stanford.</p>
<p>The OP’s LIFE, however, can be drastically different depending on which institution he decides to attend (the people you meet, the places you’ll end up living, extra curriculars you choose to do, etc. might all be different). It would be ridiculously stupid to go to Princeton if the OP thinks Stanford’s a better fit just because he told someone at Princeton that he’d come to Princeton.</p>
<p>^How about the poor Princeton waitlisted student? If the OP chooses Princeton even though he prefers Stanford, this poor student will now have to attend ______.</p>
<p>I like Princeton because I can be a snob about it. “Where do you go to school?” <em>clears throat, assumes graceful posture</em> “Princeton.” It sounds elitist and exclusive and I love that(even though people may label you as a ****** bag) . Bite me.</p>
<p>Stanford is cool, but its name doesn’t have that same “in your face motha****a, I’m better than you” sound to it.</p>
<p>Duh, I need a prestigious college to reassure my importance as a person, along with my lamborghini and prada gear. But seriously, Princeton does make me feel important. <3</p>
<p>I hear the fact that Princeton keeps clinging to this is really turning kids away these days.</p>
<p>Also, Baelor, I am a large proponent of honor and all, but your argument takes it a bit far. You’re guilting a kid into a life-changing decision over a statement like that…</p>
<p>Also, one remark of yours caught my eye:
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<p>Do you mind elaborating? There are instances of people promising to attend non-binding schools if admitted (in perhaps their counselor recommendation or own application) and then reneging on that promise, but that is very different from making a statement post-acceptance.</p>
<p>Stanford vs Princeton: 2 of my favarite schools.</p>
<p>When it comes down to engineering, the choice should be Stanford, a no brainer.</p>
<p>Stanford has more than 90 engineering faculty selected into the prestigious national academy of engineering. Princeton has about 20. Plus, Silicon Valley is the mega of technology in the world.</p>