<p>So i am completely at a crossroads…I don’t know which one to choose…I like them all for different reasons. I know that the decision is mine to make but I would like to gather some of your guys’ opinions. Please HELP!!</p>
<p>What I really like about Brown is the Open Curriculum!! This is really beneficial for me because I want to go premed, but I also want to major in a non-science (maybe anthropology or history) AND I really love to learn about everything. This is my major concern for Columbia because I can imagine that it will be hard to juggle core, premed requirements, and major requirements. Brown’s open curriculum will allow me to do this. Faculty is amazing, but so are the other schools. Providence is obviously trumped by New York in my opinion. I love New York! I love the city and I will severely miss city life if I went to Dartmouth but I really like the unity that Dartmouth breed among its students. All three campuses have amazing academics. All three campuses are gorgeous. I love them all for more reasons then I can post right now. So…here’s some questions…</p>
<p>Which college has a better pre-med track?
Which has the most unity/school spirit? the least?
Will I be able to handle CORE, major reqs, and premed reqs at Columbia?
Which college will get me into a better grad school?
Which college has the best anthropology/history departments?
Which has the best neuroscience department?
Which college has the happiest students?
Which college has the healthiest dose of liberals and republicans?</p>
<p>I know that is a lot of question but fell free to pick and choose.</p>
<p>i got into brown too. i would take columbia hands down - it's one of my favorites (campus, academics...CAMPUS). sadly the low acceptance rate this year didn't allow me a spot in columbia - i envy you.</p>
<p>but answering some of your questions: brown was voted #1 for happiest students - it's a really happy place :). Columbia is hard but brown is hard too (my sister goes to brown).</p>
<p>I went to Columbia, transferred to Dartmouth, and had Brown as an option and visited many many times. I would say Dartmouth or Brown in a heartbeat. Will write more later...</p>
<p>To be honest, I visited Columbia and HATED it. Ironically, Columbia had been my top choice until I visited. I felt as though the lack of community was the primary draw back. I want to go to a school with kids who LOVE their school and LOVE hanging out with one another. That's not to say it is impossible at Columbia, but it is much more of a reality at a place like Brown or Dartmouth. All are phenomenal schools, but in terms of an undergraduate education, I feel as though Dartmouth or Brown will give you a better experience. Save a place like Columbia for grad school...</p>
<p>I'd prefer Brown over Columbia and Dartmouth. I didn't apply to Columbia and Dartmouth in the first place because I didn't like Columbia's location and strict course requirements. Too inflexible for me. Besides I think Columbia would be a better school for grads than for undergrads. I think the community spirit and love for their school is important and I felt that I saw more of it at Brown and Dartmouth, which all have smaller student body. As for Dartmouth, I didn't like the fact that it's so similar to my current school. Students tend to be sportsy, outdoorsy, and generally preppy. I also didn't like the location. I didn't want to live out in an isolated place after spending more than 4 years of high school almost in the middle of nowhere. That leaves Brown...</p>
<p>i went to brown, have a brother at dartmouth, and my wife's whole family went to columbia. they are all great schools, congrats!</p>
<p>here are my thoughts
-all are good for being a pre-med, but brown will probably get you there with the least pre-med pain. brown studients are reputably the happiest (i had a great time as a pre-med), cooperative and non-competitive, and still rank as one of the top 5 in the country for placing students into medical school.
(see "life after brown" Brown</a> Admission: Facts & Figures)</p>
<p>-in my experience, dartmouth and brown have more school spirit than columbia--both in terms of sports, and general pride in alma matter/school traditions</p>
<p>-the core at columbia is a significant burden if you are not passionate about the core classes --particularly if you also are trying to fullfill pre-med pre-reqs. on the other hand, if the core classes really interest you, you will probably be very happy</p>
<p>-all have great departments in your areas of interest. columbia may offer the broadest scope in research opportunities because it is a huge university. brown has one of the best neuroscience departments in the country and is very undergraduate focussed (the only neuroscience textbook for undergrads was written by three brown professors and "introduction to neuroscience" is one of the most popular courses at brown)</p>
<p>-brown was ranked by princeton review as having the happiest students in the nation several years in a row</p>
<p>-dartmouth is probably the most balanced on the political dimension, columbia is probably the least</p>
<p>Which college has a better pre-med track?: All of them are absolute equals</p>
<p>I'll rate from 1-10, 10 being the highest.</p>
<p>Which has the most unity/school spirit? the least?: Dartmouth (10), Brown (7), Columbia (3)</p>
<p>Will I be able to handle CORE, major reqs, and premed reqs at Columbia?: Yeah its not hard.</p>
<p>Which college will get me into a better grad school?: All absolute equals</p>
<p>Which college has the best anthropology/history departments?: All good. Dartmouth has tons of undergrad grants for anthro and history, its pretty incredible. I did my anthro research (my off term) on a pacific island and Dartmouth gave me $10K for it. This level of undergrad commitment is unique to Dartmouth.</p>
<p>Which has the best neuroscience department?: All great, Dartmouth and Brown are very focused on Neuro.</p>
<p>Which college has the happiest students?: Dartmouth (10), Brown (10), Columbia (6)</p>
<p>Which college has the healthiest dose of liberals and republicans? Dartmouth has a vocal conservative base, but its about 10-15% of the overall school tops. They're all overwhelmingly liberal.</p>
<p>I don't really believe either Dartmouth or Columbia are equal to Brown. Brown produces more fellowship winners than either, sends more graduates to the very best law schools, and have better athletics for undergrads. Dartmouth might have a slight advantage for investment banking, but if your heart is set on that, Brown will give you that too. Unless money is an issue, Brown is the superior choice.</p>
<p>Yeah Brown gets it all when it comes to fellowships..But Columbia and Dartmouth have some advantages as well..For example Columbia and NYC recruiting is super cool and Dartmouth has very local alumni etc..</p>
<p>Thanks for all the input so far! It is really helping me make a decision. I am going to visit when they are all having open houses for admitted students in April and I wont decide till then ..................but keep the information pouring!!!Thanks!</p>
<p>Pinder, actually on a percentage basis Dartmouth sends just as many to Harvard, Yale, and Virginia (the three that publish stats) as Brown. Columbia isn't far behind.</p>
<p>"I don't really believe either Dartmouth or Columbia are equal to Brown. Brown produces more fellowship winners than either, sends more graduates to the very best law schools, and have better athletics for undergrads. Dartmouth might have a slight advantage for investment banking, but if your heart is set on that, Brown will give you that too. Unless money is an issue, Brown is the superior choice."</p>
<p>Wow. Thanks for completely skewing the data. The ONLY aspect that Brown places more ppl in are the fellowships. That's it. The Law and sports are... ***?</p>
<p>it's actually legitimately a big deal that brown gets more rhodes scholars, fulbright scholars, and marshal and truman scholars than the others. it reflects the strengths of the student body and brown curriculum</p>
<p>as for graduate school placement, brown is in the top five in the country but other others are great as well... so you can't go wrong</p>
<p>My son is trying to decide between Brown and Dartmouth. My daughter is a junior at Dartmouth right now. She does love Dartmouth but there are a couple of negatives. The Greek scene dominants the social experoence at Dartmouth. Some of the negatives that you may think about frats are so prevalent at Dartmouth. I'm not sure my son is the frat type. Also, I'm not sure that I am a big fan of the D plan. Her calendar has been so "off" from every other college around. The sophomore summer was fun but then she's had a couple of terms where many of her friends are on their "off term" and vice versa.</p>
<p>Can't it be just because this is posted at Brown's forum..In my opinion, even OP leans toward Brown by posting it to Brown's forum..and since most the responders are current students at Brown or people who love Brown, they lean toward Brown as well...</p>
<p>It should not be difficult to eliminate either Dartmouth College or Brown/Columbia since Dartmouth is more conservative & preppy & rural while Brown/Columbia are very liberal and urban. If you want freedom from rigorous curriculum requirements and relief from the pressure of grades, then choose Brown University. If you want a rigorous classically styled education with significant core requirements and enjoy NYC, then select Columbia. If you, or any relative, has ever voted--or thought of voting--for a Republican candidate, then Dartmouth College is your only option.</p>
<p>Dartmouth isn't conservative. I never understand this. How can a college where only 13% of the student body is republican and 85% voted for Kerry in 2004 be conservative? Where are people getting this from?</p>
<p>In fact Columbia probably has just as vocal a conservative presence.</p>