<p>I don't care for prestige. I have no idea which to apply between these two, so can anyone give some insight into them?</p>
<p>I would like the college chosen to have a really good study abroad program and financial aid. Also, which one seeks URM minority students and doesn't place too much focus on SATs?</p>
<p>Thanks :]</p>
<p>By the way, my prospective major is East Asian studies with an emphasis on either the Japanese or Chinese language. Both of these schools I have been told have good language programs..</p>
<p>My S is a first year at Dickinson-wants to study abroad in Japan and is taking Japanese for the first time this year. He really loves it there! Dickinson was just featured in Black Enterprise magazine as a top school for African-American students.</p>
<p>My S is a first year at Dickinson-wants to study abroad in Japan and is taking Japanese for the first time this year. He really loves it there! Dickinson was just featured in Black Enterprise magazine as a top school for African-American students.</p>
<p>Dickinson has a study abroad program second to none. They have been doing it for a long time and supposedly it is a top program by however one mesures these things. Dickinson does give some merit aid. Conn colege does not give merit aid. Dickinson is now SAT optional for admissions, but you must submit scores to be considered for merit aid... I thnk. Can't compare the 2 schools on minority recruitment. I recall our tour guide at CC was heavily involved in minority stuff there and seemed happy with the college.</p>
<p>We will be visiting both schools with my D. From my research, they both seem a fit with her style and interests: studio art, natural sciences (think biology, botany, ecology), being a vegetarian, politically liberal, active Jewish presence on campus.</p>
<p>I would be interested to hear info regarding these schools from those in the know.</p>
<p>Conn's study abroad programs are phenomenal, with several innovative programs run through the school.
They are also very gung ho about recruiting minority applicants, and in the past few years there has been an emphasis on diversity on campus, through events and speakers and such.
their east asian studies program is great as well. the alumni from the department have been very successful.</p>
<p>students are very happy there, no doubt due to the tight sense of community and laidback/friendly atmosphere. gorgeous campus, funded internships, high involvement in community service
definitely an underrated school</p>
<p>DD has also visited both these schools and they're both near the top of her list. As others have said, both are very strong in off-campus studies and EA Studies. Both have also made great progress at seeking a diverse study body and both feel that they still have a way to go on that count, so they would show strong interest in qualified URM students.</p>
<p>Conn meets 100% of students' calculated financial need, and Dickinson 96%, so that's close to a draw, too, but Dickinson awards merit aid, while Conn does not. That gives Dickinson slightly more flexibility in courting students whom they'd really like to enroll.</p>
<p>Dickinson is SAT-optional. Conn requires standardized tests (choice of two SATIIs or ACT). </p>
<p>I would say that Dickinson has the advantage on study-abroad opportunities, but only because they're one of the super-stars in this area. They run a dozen of their own fixed-site programs all over the world. The vast majority of Conn's study abroad programs are run by affiliates (other colleges or professional organizations that run such programs and enroll students from lots of different colleges). Conn has 4-5 "study abroad-teach abroad" programs per year which change faculty and move around. </p>
<p>D's impressions were that the student bodies were similar: engaged, friendly, and frankly a little bit preppier than some peers. She loved the feel of the CC campus (mainly self-contained with a huge open quad overlooking Long Island Sound). The first thing that everyone notices about Dickinison is that one of the main streets of Carlisle bisects the campus. I was impressed with what you might call the strategic vision of both. Neither has a huge endowment, but both have been very thoughtful about identifying and targeting their areas of strength: for Dickinson languages/international studies and global experiences; for Conn a seriers of innovative interdisciplinary programs:</p>
<p>I had one child who seriously considered both these schools. Here are my thoughts:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>East Asian Studies: Both are fine, but neither are really top notch. There's nothing wrong with either of them. It's just that the number of faculty and course offerings are somewhat more limited than what one will find at larger or more East Asian-focused schools. CC is quick to point out that it had the first EAS program on the East Coast, and that's a good thing. But the department doesn't appear to have gotten a whole lot stronger since then. The best EAS programs tend to be on the West Coast, but there are exceptions.</p></li>
<li><p>Study abroad: Both are good, but Dickinson has a clear advantage here. It's whole raison d'etre is internationalism, so it focuses very heavily on this and positively pushes its students to go abroad.</p></li>
<li><p>Diversity: My impression of CC, from my visit, was of wealthy white kids. Nothing wrong with that. It's an expensive school and is bound to attract wealthy kids. Dickinson is also much that way, but seems to have more international presence and flavor than CC.</p></li>
<li><p>The SAT I is, I believe, optional at both schools.</p></li>
<li><p>Financial aid: As I recall, the FA packages offered by both schools were practically identical. They were somewhat less than those offered by Chicago, Stanford, and Vassar. </p></li>
<li><p>Dealing with the administration: My subjective impression is that the Dickinson people were just a lot nicer than the CC people. Dickinson staffers in admissions and financial aid were always helpful, courteous, and I got the sense that they were speaking on the phone with smiles on their faces. The CC people were never rude (that I recall), but were often brusque, mechanical, and hurried. The faculty I contacted at Dickinson usually wrote detailed replies. When CC faculty responded, it was generally in a perfunctory manner.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Dickinson is building a brand new science facility that is scheduled to be completed in 2008. While you will notice kids at Dickinson (including my S) who fit the "preppy" appearance mold, there are all different types of people there. I can tell you that in the last couple of weekends, S attended a party at a housing facility for students interested in the arts, went to a football and a hockey game, went to see Dickinson's improv comedy group (who are funny!), went to see a speaker and hung out with some friends who live in a multicultural house. Here is a calendar for the Asbell Center for Jewish Life (a bit outdated): <a href="http://alpha.dickinson.edu/storg/hillel/events.html%5B/url%5D">http://alpha.dickinson.edu/storg/hillel/events.html</a></p>
<p>The only problem with applying to CC is that I will have to take the SAT IIs. I can do this in January if my high school finds the SAT Subject test fee waivers. I was supposed to take it in December, but since the woman who is in charge of those waivers is on medical leave, no one was able to find it in time, and I missed the deadline :[</p>
<p>My mother has no credit card or a checking account, so I will just have to hope that I will be given a subject test waiver before the SAT deadline for Jan rolls around.</p>
<p>I called Conn and asked if this is alright, and they said I just have to rush deliver the scores after I take it in January. I do not think fee waivers can cover the rush scores service, so what do I do? Give up on CC [and Tufts, in which I am in the same dilemma] and just apply to Dickinson? Or take the tests in Jan -hopefully- and pray that they accept the scores a bit late? :(</p>
<p>If there's really no financial alternative, maybe you could take the test in Jan, sendthe scores late, but also send a note, well in advance, to your regional admissions rep. from Conn and Tuft, explaining the circumstances. Your scores will still arrive 2 months before notification deadlines roll around, so I can't imagine that any halfway humane institution wouldn't make allowances for a student that they were otherwise interested in enrolling. If they're not willing to accomodate a situation like this, it doesn't bode well for their desire to enroll URMs anyway.</p>
<p>Thanks for the link MarathonMan, but I see that it is for application fee waivers. I need a Subject Tests one :)</p>
<p>Lolabelle: By Tufts thread, I am guessing you mean its individual board. I will do so and hope that someone who has been through the same thing can tell me what they did. I suppose I will email both schools and plea. Or is calling a better option?</p>
<p>^oops, I cut and pasted too fast. Sorry. Is there someone at your school, another counselor or administrator perhaps, who is sympathetic and could contact the College Board regional office and get replacement forms? It would be a shame to have your choices limited by an unfortunate medical leave when there's still so much time to explore alternatives.</p>
<p>I will check my high school again on Monday. If they have nothing, I guess I will call and cry to another high school around here. </p>
<p>My guidance office is unreliable sometimes. With so many students, my counselor is usually busy. I don't even think he has done my recommendation and he has already had a month. Oh well.</p>
<p>And Occidental College looks great; if only it wasn't in Cali..</p>
<p>Either school will provide you with a great education, but some differences:
-Conn is tougher to get into
-Dickinson is about 500 students larger
-Both schools seem preppy at first, but this really isnt the case. both are known for their very liberal student body
-Both have reknowned study abroad programs, Dickinson might get a slight edge. Conn's programs are more interdisciplinary.
-45% of Dickinson students are involved in Frats/Sororities; Conn does not have any greek system.
-Dickinson has a better library
-Diversity at Dickinson: 5% international students, 18% non-white.
-Diversity at Conn: 4% international students, 30% non-white (i actually dont think this is accurate; it sounds way too high)
-92% of Dickinson students live on campus; 98% of Conn students do</p>