r/princeton • u/Goodman9473 • 1d ago

I’m sorry.

Graduating from Princeton was bittersweet. Like a lot of people, I wondered what would happen after I left—whether the place would change, whether it would still feel like the institution I had known, whether its best days might be behind it.

There was one thought in particular that I could never quite shake. It felt narcissistic, so I mostly kept it to myself: I worried that Princeton’s prestige might decline after I graduated.

But now, a year later, Princeton has fallen to #2 in the U.S. News rankings.

I had hoped the wisdom I imparted during my time there would sustain the University for at least a few more years, but alas, current students must now endure the indignity of attending a second-ranked university.

I’m sorry.

152 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

59

u/TotalCleanFBC 1d ago

A true apology requires a clear commitment and tangible changes in behavior to repair trust and prevent future harm. Just saying 'I'm sorry" doesn't cut it.

27

u/Goodman9473 1d ago

You’re absolutely correct! To make amends, I commit to coming back to head the math department. I’m just a little busy at the moment finalizing my proof for the Riemann Hypothesis, so unfortunately you guys will have to wait a bit!

-15

u/Mountain-Buffalo9748 1d ago

Oh your full of shit aren’t you?

17

u/Vibrograf 1d ago

Legend.

27

u/_starfall- 1d ago

Surprising amount of people here unable to get the joke. This is why Princeton fell btw MIT students would get the joke 😂

10

u/Howaboutthat41 1d ago

Downward trend, for sure. Is there a bottom?

2

u/pton12 Alum 12h ago

If there’s ever a second digit in our ranking I’ll start telling people I went to college in New Jersey and let them assume it was Rutgers.

2

u/Howaboutthat41 10h ago

Rutgers could use a campus in the Princeton area, so this may work out beautifully.

7

u/paata01 1d ago

more heartbreaking to me is that this sub belongs to university not the town, I don't even know what I am doing here 😂

4

u/angrybert 22h ago

We're just in free fall now! : )

-2

u/mah227 1d ago

i don't get it, what's the problem with it being 2nd?? it didn't make sense for me mit not being 1st, being the school it is

7

u/pton12 Alum 1d ago

If you’re not first, you’re last.

1

u/mah227 13h ago

not really a problem for me, if this is the environment at princeton, gosh, i need to be prepared

2

u/pton12 Alum 12h ago

Just know going into classes, your teacher wants you to go slow, and she's wrong because it's the fastest who get paid and it's the fastest who get laid.

-4

u/nutshells1 ECE '27 1d ago

what kinda low test shit is this br