I have narrowed down my colleges to UChicago and Dartmouth College (Cornell is unlikely). As someone who likes to learn, likes the Core, and wants to study Econ, I feel like Chicago is the obvious, runaway choice. I want to maybe go into finance/consulting and also do Comp Sci, and I heard that Chicago has been improving each year for opportunities in both. While I know that Chicago is no doubt one of the most rigorous undergrad schools, I heard from students on my admitted students overnight that the rigor is manageable and blown out of proportion.
However, while I was at the overnight at Chicago, I was thoroughly underwhelmed by the experience. I sat in a chemistry class, talked with first-years, and heard fourth-years talk about their experience: I couldn’t help but feel a sense of competitiveness. I also felt a culture of being sarcastic and self-deprecating, and the quirkiness of some students didn’t strike a chord with me. When i visited in the summer, it was 70 degrees, the campus was almost empty, the sun shone on the quad…during the overnight, I had to walk on the side streets, there were many cars on the roads, there were hustling and bustling students galore, and it was cloudy and snowing. I had originally thought that UChicago was a mix between city and traditional campus, but it seriously looked like a city school on the overnight (which I’m not a huge fan of). I didn’t like how many of the students talked about relying on going to the city for fun, because I grew up in a suburb bordering LA, know I’m going to live in the city one day, and kind of want a change of pace during college. I stayed at a supposedly social dorm, and while most people were great, I felt a lack of school spirit and conversation. I didn’t like the graduate-school focus either. Finally, this is a selfish concern, but most of the admitted students and current students said they were admitted to many other amazing schools (and I was asked by others, not the other way around, which made the school seem more competitive to me, although I think this is commonplace everywhere) and I’m worried that I’ll be one of the weaker students in that competitive environment.
I haven’t stayed overnight at Dartmouth yet, but I’m thinking I want a bucolic traditional campus. I think I want that typical campus-centered, Greek life involved, collaborative lifestyle at Dartmouth. Even as a girl, I’m not scared off by the Greek controversies of late. I also think I want to take advantage of the location and outdoors opportunities-when will I have this chance again? I also love the tight-knit feel, and the incredibly strong finance alumni network.
Will I be making a silly choice picking dartmouth over UChicago, because of all these secondary factors and my unpleasant stay at an overnight? Should I really throw away my acceptance to the best school for economics just because I don’t like having a few cars in the road and being self-deprecating? Am I sacrificing job opportunities? Thanks 