<p>I am very conflicted about which school to choose and May 1st is coming up. I am interested in social sciences/humanities/ legal studies. I haven’t yet visited dart, but I am in a few days. I visited Amherst and it was pretty nice. Maybe my choice will become clearer after I visit Dartmouth, but I was just wondering if anyone on here has any advice. I am a little worried about what has been going on at Dartmouth as of recent and I am not a big fan of the Greek system. I am a little worried that I am letting the name, “Ivy league”, influence my decision.</p>
<p>Legal studies? Check out the Center for Jurisprudence at Amherst run by Professor Sarat. As a liberal arts college, not sure there is a better one around. </p>
<p>I actually was in one of Sarat’s classes and he’s great! I am a little concerned about the size of Amherst though</p>
<p>Point being what if you can’t get into a Sarat class, its tough I hear, think bigger picture!</p>
<p>^^ But he is not there only prof in the Center. It is the Center that counts. May have to wait until sophomore /junior year for his classes, but the other classes in the Center matter too.</p>
<p>A is small, but D is not a large school, think bigger picture, which school would position you better for your future job or grad school, if you are East Coast there is alot of Ivy eny, if you do Ivy people will respect that. My 2c</p>
<p>As for grad school, especially law, business, and medicine, Dartmouth has nothing over Amherst. And in the East, Amherst name recognition is the same or even slightly higher among a good bit of employers as well, especially banking and law school placement. However, Tuck is tops, but that is not undergrad.</p>
<p>Which school do you think is better for social sciences and legal studies/law?</p>
<p>I think they are perhaps the equal of one another, you need to establish which school ‘feels’ right for you.</p>
<p>For legal studies, I would not equate. Amherst definitely has the edge there. Put it this way, a Supreme Court judge sent his daughter to Amherst because it had the best in his eyes. That says a lot. For the social sciences, a wash.</p>
<p>However, if you’re not the son or daughter of a Supreme Court justice, like me you have to choose which college might enable you to reach the level of education and success you are best able to. Whilst both schools are very good, I think either would likely assist you in applying to top law schools or whatever grad programs you wish to apply for.<br>
Neither one nor the other guarantees anything other than a fine education, you must choose a college and experience you will enjoy for upto 4 years, choose wisely, if you do time will fly, if not, you may have to struggle and even look to transfer if you don’t fit in, but that’s rare. </p>
<p>I don’t think you can separate these schools on academics, it more comes down to where you feel better, I don’t think the Ivy designation is affecting your decision, I think you think it is, which suggests to me, that’s what you want and where you want to be, make sense?</p>
<p>^^ I agree with you up to a point. The Supreme Court justice thing was to illustrate the assessment of a serious legal mind re undergrad legal studies at Amherst. I believe that endorsement says a lot. Whether it means anything to someone else is another story. </p>
<p>I don’t think you can really lose, but I do so love Amherst more. From the name, to the consortium options, to the area, to the LAC principle and that there is no Greek presence there, I would pick Amherst hands down. Academically, it’s really a flip of a coin.</p>
<p>I found Amherst to be more of an academic place. When I visited Dartmouth I didnt get the same feeling…</p>
<p>Not sure which Supreme Court Justice’s daughter attends Amherst. I know that Rehnquist’s son and daughter attended, and Scalia’s son attended. Name dropping aside, I believe the Center for Jurisprudence was the first of its kind at a LAC, and still is unusual at a LAC. It is highly regarded by students and perhaps even more importantly, graduate and law schools. Not sure about programs at Dartmouth. I agree with other posters that what you do in college is what is most important. Either place can get you where you want to go later in life. Ask yourself: Where will you be happy and flourish? The rest will take care of itself. Good luck on two great choices.</p>
<p>^^ Scalia’s daughter Meg is Amherst '02. Yes, the Center of Jurisprudence was first of its kind and still unusual for an LAC.</p>
<p>Thanks for the correction. I remember reading somehwhere that Scalia was a parent of an Amherst grad and thought it was a son.</p>
<p>How do Amherst and Dartmouth feel socially? The same? Is there a sense of spirit? A sense of community? Are Intramural sports popular? How do the kids spend their time out of class?</p>