Civil Engineering- Tufts vs. Dartmouth? Please HELP!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Dartmouth College
1

<p>I totally cannot decide which place to go to. I am an international and I'm going to study Civil Engineering with a minor/ second major if possible in Architecture. I plan on working for a while before going on to grad school to study Architecture. I was in need of almost full aid, and using that criterion to decide isn't helpful anymore because Tufts and Dartmouth have both been very generous with their packages. Dartmouth has a slightly higher work-study and a higher EFC by around $300-400. I've been researching a lot but I really cannot figure out where to go. Both Dartmouth and Tufts have ABET accredited programs but Dartmouth's isn't specific, and its architecture program is more or less restricted to Studio Art with a concentration in architecture. Tufts does have a program in architectural studies but I'm not sure which school will give me an edge when it comes to getting a job or getting into grad school. Although I have been waitlisted in very good schools like Harvard, Princeton, UPenn and Duke, I'm not very optimistic about those working out.</p>

<p>From what I understand...</p>

<p>Dartmouth</p>

<p>Pros:
- Engineering broad based, no specific degree in 'civil' or 'mechanical' may mean more available options
- has the 'Ivy League' factor and the prestige (? might help with jobs/grad school)</p>

<p>Cons:
- Engineering more broad based also means no specialisation
- In an isolated place- less internship opportunities etc (? I'm not sure)
- architecture program is just a studio concentration</p>

<p>Tufts</p>

<p>Pros:
- Engineering program is specialised
- architectural studies available as a second major
- Boston suburbs</p>

<p>Cons:
- Is not very well-known outside US, and not as famous as Dartmouth (More difficulty in finding jobs/ getting into grad school?)
- Cost of living in city may be higher (I'm still ...stretching things around for getting the cash)</p>

<p>Both the options look equally good to me..Could somebody please help me out with this?</p>

2

<p>Personally in your shoes I’d spring for Tufts. Honestly, as far as I can tell, Tufts and Dartmouth have about the same level of recognition among laypeople (i.e. little to none) and about the same amongst those in the know (i.e. a great deal). And Tufts probably has better engineering and architecture programs – though that’s just my gut feel of it.</p>

3

<p>I think you have good points johnleemk (i.e. don’t choose Dartmouth because it is more prestigious). But, I would choose Dartmouth in your case (for other reasons). In my opinion, even if Tufts engineering were better (I don’t know that it is), I always am nervous when I hear that people say they are planning on majoring in something they most likely have never taken a class in before, and if they have, it was a watered-down high school level.</p>

<p>Not very many of those who go to college end up graduating with the major they indicated when they applied. This is common, especially at Dartmouth or Tufts, as opposed to Cornell, because you don’t have to apply to transfer in order to change your major here or at Tufts. But, you are more likely to stick with your major if you are sort of ‘stuck’ in your college (like at Cornell), because that system itself disincentivizes switching. You can transfer, but only at the end of the year.</p>

<p>Basically, I honestly don’t know how anybody could come into college ‘knowing’ they are going to be something as specific as civil engineering. For that reason, Dartmouth will be the all around better choice, as it is stronger than Tufts in more disciplines. But, this could all change if you found Tufts to be a better fit after visiting both. If you are unable to visit both, I would then pay attention to the fact that the vast majority choose Dartmouth over Tufts.</p>