Re #39
UCLA does not have a business major, although it has a business economics major.
@ucbalumnus, I know that MIT has recently added a “business analytics” major. I looked it up before I posted. If you look at the specifics of the major, it does not sound to me like what most people think of when they think of a business major.
I think you and cobrat are wrong about the on-campus atmosphere at D. Certainly, they have a significant number of students who participate in sports of all kinds, but there absolutely isn’t the kind of rah-rah big sports atmosphere you would find at schools ranging from Clemson to U Mich. And your supposition about the nature of fraternities at D is also incorrect.
For fun, let’s throw a wrinkle in this: not everyone on the east coast knows UC Berkeley. Some will just think of it as one of the hundreds of state schools in the country. (Hey they may even confuse it with Berklee, in Boston.) Not everyone knows Dartmouth, on the west coast. Hmm. Maybe you pick based on what’s right for her, specifically.
Some kids don’t like the atmosphere at UCB, some find D small and remote. Hmm. What fit is she looking for? Where will she, as an individual be personally empowered during the four years?
And can she answer a Why Us for D or any non-UC tippy top in the way they hope to see? Frankly, when making this decision, you shouldn’t be asking if X is a good school. You should already know.
I’d also make sure your daughter is okay with Dartmouth’s unusual academic calendar. It’s not an issue for many but it is different.
Maybe she should pick, not you, especially if Early Decision is being considered.
Not only are terms 10 week quarters, but students are required to spend at least one summer quarter on the Dartmouth campus during their undergrad career.
This isn’t necessarily all bad as some D students take advantage of that fact to land internships/“summer jobs” during periods when most other colleges are in session.
They academic year also ends quite late compared to other colleges.
True, but they also start the academic year much later than most other colleges. Almost the end of Sept versus early Sept or even late August (Cough Cornell Cough)
The Dartmouth calendar would not be as disconcerting to a California resident as it is to most Easterners. The West Coast has a lot of quarter-system schools.
@cobrat : It’s called Sophomore Summer, and, far from a bad thing, it’s actually quite cool, since the second years get to rule the roost ion the absence [with a few exceptions] of other years.
I believe that UC Berkeley is on the quarter system.
Where does she want her first job to be
Dartmouth has had a required summer semester for as long as I can recall. Maybe around 40 years or so. As for current info/change at Dartmouth, starting in 2018 they will no longer give credit for AP or IB exams. So, if this student chose Dart (fabulous Ivy League school- love it) she would be in the last class getting AP/IB credit.
Berkeley is on the semester system
Not since the early 1980s. However, the other UCs except for Merced are on the quarter system.
Thx for the corrections. I thought all UCs were on the quarter system. Should have checked before posting.
Dartmouth announced this change in 2013.
Op’s D would not get credit for AP/IB courses. Policy starts with the graduating class of 2018 (not the entering class). OP’s D would be part of class of 2021
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~reg/enrollment/credit_on_entrance_exemption_charts.html indicates that Dartmouth gives subject credit and advanced placement for some AP scores, but http://www.dartmouth.edu/~reg/enrollment/types_credits.html indicates that they do not count toward the 35 courses needed to graduate.
@ucbalumnus : Correct. You can get credit toward fulfilling distribution requirements (I believe) and to be placed higher (e.g., in a language) without taking Dartmouth’s own test[s], but that’s it.
Is the hs counselor pushing for Dartmouth because it is not that well known at your hs and therefore s/he thinks your daughter might have an edge (less competition from fellow students)?
I’m not getting a sense of a lot of love for Dartmouth from your daughter, certainly not enough for an early decision application.
You ask “Should she apply to Dartmouth “early decision”?”
But then you ask
“Which school would you choose (assuming that she is accepted into both)?”
Of course you know if she gets into Dartmouth ED, that second question is moot.
I get the versatile fit kid who would do well in either environment, truly I do, but it doesn’t seem fair to her to have to make a binding decision at this point. It sounds like she would need to visit again, sit in on classes, maybe do overnights at both schools before figuring out which is better for her. I’d vote for RD.