I’m sure this particular question has been asked a thousand times and I’ve probably read through every single one of them lol. Before I commit to any school, I want to make sure I don’t leave any stone unturned. So a little backstory. I’m an international from Nigeria, and I’m sixteen years old. I was also accepted to Lafayette (Marquis Scholar), Wesleyan, and Minerva at KGI, in case anyone thinks I should really reconsider them. So those are my two top choices. Financial Aid is good at both, slightly better at Amherst, but hopefully they’ll match.
Right now grad school is not in the picture. My intended major is either Computer Science or Engineering. Either way I’d end up at Thayer I haven’t had a chance to visit either. I’m also a very broke international, in case that matters. My financial aid is nearly the full cost of attendance.
Dartmouth pros:
Ivy status is cool.
I am very used to work hard play hard (though definitely not the level of partying I should expect)
I love the scenery
Traditions (bonfire!)
D-plan and study abroad is amazing
The students seem really cool, nice, and I’ve met more Africans there
Dartmouth CS appears to be better
The soccer is good! (I love this sport. I hope to play it, but I don’t care if I don’t anyway)
Cons:
Em… frats, partying, alcohol? Cold!!!
Amherst pros:
5 college consortium
Nice town
Elite LAC status
Very welcoming and open community
Very diverse
Less partying (I think?)
Cons:
Cold!!!
Basically I’d be cold anywhere so oof.
Did anyone choose between the two? Which did you choose? Why? Tell me about the dorms, dining, the entertainment, and just life as a student.
I don’t think there is a meaningful difference in the opportunity to party at Dartmouth vs. Amherst. Both have the opportunity to work hard/play hard – how much of each is up to the individual student. For what it is worth, a colleague gave a paper at Dartmouth recently and said that the Library was packed on a nice Friday afternoon – maybe students were getting the work done before the party hard, or maybe they were the work hard kids, but it seemed very intellectually engaged. In terms of culture, Amherst did have underground fraternities which have recently been banned, so Amherst is no stranger to the party scene. Amherst has worked hard to foster economic diversity. Both have excellent soccer, at least on the Men’s side, which is what I’m familiar with. Dartmouth does have a Women’s Club team which – at the D1 level – is usually a very competitive program. Amherst would have more of an intramural program. If you are interested in the possibility of trying out at either school as a walk-on player, contact the coach quickly to find out what, if any, opportunities there may be. On the D3 side, we’ve seen kids come to pre-season, and either make it or not.
It sounds like you somewhat prefer the scene at Dartmouth – if the money works out, they are both superb, so pick the one that feels more comfortable to you.
Have you compared - since you are high need - funding for unpaid summer internships and research and study abroad and things like that? I know Amherst has tons of funding for these things (and help with the initial dorm stuff, coat, etc too), not sure about Dartmouth.
Career center at Amherst is very strong also, lots of programs, speakers, workshops etc.
I’m sure you know engineering is out if you choose Amherst. CS or whatever else. Easy double major too, if you like, with no required distribution courses.
When I had said work hard, play hard for Dartmouth, I did not mean clean playing as in sports but alcohol and beer pong. You are 15 years old turning 16. Another con for Dartmouth is the isolation especially in winter. Amherst has plenty of great outdoors also. No shortage of pretty scenery.
Colloquially in the US
“play hard” in “work hard/play hard” is a way of saying “as serious about getting very drunk/high as about getting high grades, where getting drunk is a social activity appreciated by all including excellent students”
15-16 year olds don’t characterize themselves as “work hard/play hard” in the US as this implies regular drunkenness.
(End of us colloquialism lesson:) )
I’m not understanding the phrase, “I’ve met more Africans there [meaning, Dartmouth]” , if you’ve never visited? I’d be very careful about drawing conclusions about student culture, interaction, and “seeming cool” based solely on what you’ve seen on paper. I’ve met several African-American alumni from Dartmouth who will probably never contribute a dime to their annual fund because they were so disenchanted by their experience there. Your mileage may vary (YMMV), as they say on the net, but, the question of whether you have visited any of these schools needs to be cleared up.
About age. 15 turning 16 or 16 turning 17 is another colloquialism. Sorry about that. It means that you will soon be having your birthday. You are not 16 turning 17 because you had your birthday at the end of last year. In mid December you were 15 and worried about the impact of age.
I don’t think it’s fair to generalize about Dartmouth’s experience for Africans (or African-Americans) because of anecdotes from an individual or two on CC. Please do note that the chair of the Board of Trustees is an African-American woman, as is the newly appointed vice president of alumni relations.
And frankly, the frat/party culture stuff is overplayed here too. There’s a good percentage of students who aren’t active in Greek life at all, and you should understand that not all frats are the same–some are coed and very different from your typical image. Dartmouth students didn’t get accepted to a school of this caliber by partying their brains out in high school. The difference between Dartmouth and some other schools is that frat parties are generally open to everyone, which makes it a much less exclusive and more welcoming atmosphere than the party scene for many other colleges.
As far as the OP not having visited, with admitted student Facebook groups and then group texts/chats that develop, students can get a good feel of who’s in the class and make friends early.
So, one vote for Dartmouth, an astounding beautiful place with so much to offer. (But OP is right–it’s cold in the winter! Which is why the D Plan is a great thing.)
Dartmouth has the better CS program. Dr. Tom Cormen wrote the bible on Algorithms and teaches at Darmouth. You will find many developers at Google, Amazon and Facebook who went to Dartmouth and the alumni network is very strong. As for the climate? Does anyone think Amherst has a pleasant climate in the winter? Dartmouth embraces winter and has their own ski mountain (and many Olympians). And, if you change your mind, and no longer want to pursue CS, then Dartmouth has a world class connection to Wall Street.
Yeah I agree. Amherst is a big step down from Dartmouth academically. Not.
Just joking.
Both equally spectacular.
One is smaller
one is ivy brand known around the world
Amherst is known around the world by academics grad schools and sophisticated employers
Both sporty.
Both cold in winter.
Amherst is a bigger college town than Hanover but both with a nice vibe.
More students in general area in Amherst
5 college system in Amherst
Dartmouth offers the breadth/quality of offerings across disciplines unique to a university of its class
despite what you hear Dartmouth does have more of party/Greek life aspect than Amherst. But not that big of deal. It can be fun too.
You would find good friends at both schools.
Splitting hairs At 16 soon to be 17 I would go to Dartmouth. Amherst will be a bit more serious and it’s size will make it a bit harder for someone with your unique background and age to find your group.
@KeepItFair Winter sports are expensive which will be a problem. Dartmouth certainly does embrace skiing but this family will be reaching to afford the 4K a year. There would be more to do in Amherst if you are priced out of winter sports. Is Wall Street a viable option for internationals?
I haven’t had a chance to visit either. I’m also a very broke international, in case that matters. My financial aid is nearly the full cost of attendance.