Brown vs. Green (Dartmouth)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Dartmouth College
21

<p>woodwork, to answer your question--
the pass/fail option definitely has the potential to be used strategically for the purposes of keeping up your GPA. in fact, i'm sure there are people who abuse it. there's not really anything covert about it though because
1) it's on your transcript
2) employers and grad schools are less likely to look favorably upon liberal/inappropriate use of the option--particularly in classes that are pre-med or within your concentration</p>

<p>it's different thing entirely from grade inflation, which refers to the ease with which you can achieve high grades in particular classes. </p>

<p>a truly covert way of boosting your GPA is to take a GUT--something that probably happens on every campus to come degree.</p>

22

<p>IMO, there is such a distinct difference between these two schools that it's unfair to even compare them. I just returned from a 2 day visit at Brown during their annual "ADOCH," a day of college hill. Indeed, if you have a chance to attend Dartmouth then, IMO only, don't even think about attending Brown. I was incredibly impressed by the students at Dartmouth. Regardless of where I met them they were intelligent, articulate, respectful, welcoming, focused and mature. They were enthusiastic and highly motivated and there was a clear school spirit at Dartmouth. Those are factors I found sorely lacking at Brown and in their student body. The students at Brown were like students at any non-Ivy institution anywhere; passing time by going to college. Suffice it to say that while Brown remains an Ivy, I'm not at all convinced it will remain an Ivy for long. To me it seemed that the admin is far more interested in shedding its Ivy image and turning Brown into a hybrid between NYU and Antioch. It would not surprise me if Brown voted to secede from the Ivy League, much in the way it chose the "Brown curriculum," which, almost 30 years later, is still one of the only colleges with it. Brown is different. If you are attracted to that sort of thing then Brown is the right place for you. By the way, the absence of asians and asian-indian students at Brown was palpable. I wondered why, but for only a split-second. Don't misunderstand what I'm writing. This is only one-person's OPINION.</p>

23

<p>Lawyerdad,</p>

<p>I think you might have seen the wrong side of Brown. I have spent some time there and found the students to be amazing people. It is true that is isnt as tight or spirited as Dartmouth, but I do think it is a great school with ana amazing student body. I dont think its in danger of losing its Ivy status anytime soon.</p>

24

<p>Slipper: Your opinion is valuable, but not to the exclusion of anyone else's. Nor would I be so obnoxious and rude to suggest that your opinion (or observation) was wrong. Therefore, tell us, on what objective basis did you conclude that Brown is a "great" school? Was your conclusion based on any objective criteria or solely your subjective opinion? According to your logic (or lack of same) my comments about Dartmouth are also "wrong," as I witnessed the "wrong side" of it, too. Correct?</p>

25

<p>Lawyerdad: do you have any objective basis to conclude that Brown is not a great school, or was your conclusion based solely on your subjective opinion?</p>

26

<p>Ivy League administrators have better things than to do than sit around threatening to kick each other out of the Ivy League. For the last time, NO ONE IS GOING TO BE KICKED OUT OF THE IVY LEAGUE ANYTIME SOON. No one cares enough to bother with something as trivial as this, and there are absolutely no "minimum standards" that any of the schools are in danger of dropping below. This is all nonsense, and anybody who can seriously suggest that Brown or anyone else is in danger of losing their Ivy status obviously has WAY too much time on his or her hands.</p>

27

<p>
[quote]
The students at Brown were like students at any non-Ivy institution anywhere

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Do we have some Ivy prestige-whoring from an adult? Sad...</p>

28

<p>Seriously. On both subjective and objective accounts Brown is an awesome school. I spent a SIGNIFICANT time researching it when I chose between it and Dartmouth, and had nothing but positive impressions. I believe my "subjective" opinion is as valid as yours, and because I am sure I have spent much more time there and with actual Brown students, it is perhaps much more valid.</p>

29

<p>some people find it hard to believe brown is a good school. i still can't believe anyone would have voted for george bush as president even one time let alone two times.</p>

30

<p>ursdad...rofl...so true...</p>

31

<p>Bush is a great president. But why must we always bring politics into this. To each his own.</p>

32

<p>hahahahhahahahahhahahahhaa</p>

<p>Bush is a great...something lol</p>

33

<p>DMC,</p>

<p>where are you?? It had better be Hanover:)</p>

34

<p>Lawyerdad,</p>

<p>Any high school senior, and any parent, should know that it is irresponsible to spread unfounded rumors. Brown is not leaving the Ivy League, and I challenge you to present evidence that it is. If it were to consider this, it would have to answer two questions. Why? and How?
Why: Brown has marched to a different drummer for a long time, and stayed in the Ivy League. What has changed lately that would prompt such a move?
How: How many other Division 1AA conferences are there in the northeast? How many of them sponsor competition in the wide variety of sports offered in the Ivy League? If Brown were to leave the Ivy League, where would it go?</p>

<p>I could say I had a bad time when I visited Duke, list a set of Duke stereotypes-too Southern, too conservative, basketball is a religion- and based on that claim it is leaving the ACC. It would be equally ridiculous. </p>

<p>For those who are seriously considering Dartmouth vs Brown, the real choices are country vs city, distribution requirements vs none, D plan vs traditional semesters, and differing student cultures of sports and drinking. Academically they are as similar as two places can get on overall educational quality, undergraduate focus, limited professional school offerings, small graduate programs, and excellent graduate school, professional school, and employment placement. Differences in reputations of the graduate programs are far too small to measure accurately, or to matter to undergraduates. It makes perfect sense for a student to prefer one over the other. It makes no sense to declare that one or the other is better.</p>

<p>Even the student culture differences may be shrinking as the Dartmouth administration attempts to reduce the emphasis on athletics, and restrict underage drinking. As Dartmouth seeks to enroll more students who are independent "lonely scholars", it of necessity will have fewer who will know who won the big game, let alone care, attend or cheer. If rah-rah school spirit is desirable to you, and central to the college experience, then right now that would be a point for Dartmouth. If you find this sort of enthusiasm childish or annoying, then point for Brown. Neither is better, just different. </p>

<p>These moves to change the culture at Dartmouth are controversial among the alumni, and ironically make Dartmouth more appealing to those who usually choose Brown. If disgruntled alumni have their way, Dartmouth may drift back towards its historic hard partying, and serious athletics roots-magnifying its contrasts to Brown.. If the administration stays the course, Dartmouth may end even up more like Brown.</p>

<p>Brown and Dartmouth are much more like each other than either is like NYU or Antioch. That said, what is wrong with these two schools that mentioning them apparently is intended as an insult?</p>

35

<p>Afan, you criticized lawyer's stereotypical views yet you are perpetuating his stereotypicism in other spectrum. All of these absolutes you are making (rah rah school spirit, lonely scholars, etc.) are very tenuous at best. Are you an AO at either school? If you are than I sincerely apologize for questioning you.</p>

36

<p>Sorry if my comments appeared to overstate the case. I tried to make it clear that these were generalizations. "point for Dartmouth" means "in the overall scheme of things, if this is important to you, you will probably find relatively more of it at D than at B. However, you will see lots of both at both places." As I said, these two schools are far more alike than different. Plus, as noted, the Dartmouth administration has been clear in its attempts to change the Dartmouth character. This is not my generalization, it is theirs. I just repeat what they have said.</p>

<p>The real differences are in things that cannot change (country vs city) or are unlikely to change (distribution requirements vs none). I completely agree that stereotypes are rarely helpful. </p>

<p>Even more important, choosing between them, for those in that position, is based on flavor, which is a preference, not an absolute.</p>

<p>Thanks for helping me clarify.</p>

37

<p>afan,</p>

<p>I'm curious when you say,</p>

<p>"the Dartmouth administration has been clear in its attempts to change the Dartmouth character. This is not my generalization, it is theirs. I just repeat what they have said"</p>

<p>what direct things were said and who's remarks/positions are you repeating?</p>

38

<p>
[quote]
As Dartmouth seeks to enroll more students who are independent "lonely scholars"

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Sorry, you're about seven years too late. That quote is from the Freedman administration, which is no longer around.</p>

39

<p>Its actually pretty known that Dartmouth has been diversifying and become much more liberal, changing significantly from the way it was in the 70s and 80s. </p>

<p>Dartmouth isnt really too rah-rah about sports, its spirit is a lot more focused around the community and "Dartmouth bonding."</p>

40

<p>“Its actually pretty known that Dartmouth has been…..”</p>

<p>Like most people, I love and embrace all that is ‘pretty known,’ ‘commonly known’ or prefaced with ‘word-up’; however, I sometimes long for that peculiar form of ‘common knowledge’ that is based upon the occasional fact, or source. </p>

<p>Perhaps I am uninformed and Dartmouth is a Brown wannabe as 'afan' seems to imply when saying “If the administration stays the course, Dartmouth may end even up more like Brown”; and yet, it is but a small school but there are those that love it ….. as it is “commonly known,” which is somewhat different in character than say, the way that Brown is ‘pretty known’ or ‘commonly known’, but what do I know.</p>