<p>I need an unbiased opinion so I chose to post this topic here, the columbia board, the dartmouth board, and the cornell board.
The facts: Cornell is consistently ranked as the lowest IVY on USNEWS report. However, I have the viewbook and the place is simply gorgeous. Now, Dartmouth is a better filler school to get into top grad schools according to WSJ, but what does Cornell have? BOth have world class dorms and food. Both have outstanding education. But, which school is ultimately greater?</p>
<p>I don't like either, but my beef with Cornell is that it's too big, too competitive, and too pre-professional. Dartmouth does have a better undergrad focus; it's smaller, and I just like the color green. :p On the other hand though, Dart's greek scene is kind of frightening. And of course, both are in the middle of nowhere! blahh</p>
<p>Look at Cornell's class sizes and teacher/student ratios on US NEWS. The amount of classes over 50 is closer to a good state school (U of Mich.) than an elite private school ala Dartmouth.</p>
<p>Dartmouth for me (hitting self on head for not applying there... deadline just came too soon, time wasted away before my very eyes... oh well...)</p>
<p>i would choose dartmouth as well, the focus on undergraduate studies is much more at dartmouth. i didnt get the intellectual/overwhelming feel while visiting cornell like i did at the other ivies (brown excluded). dartmouth's campus is nicer and i mean dartmouth owns their own skiing place! what can beat that?! i just got a better fell and liked dartmouth much more when i visited. cornell kinda seemed like a huge university and gave me a feeling like a regular large state school rather than a close-knit private school.</p>
<p>As everyone above has pointed out, Dartmouth is a better option. At a smaller school with equal resources, you will have many more opportunities. Additionally, an undergraduate liberal arts degree from Dartmouth would be the key to many grad schools; at Cornell, I feel there is more of a tendency to lock students into specific, career-oriented paths - hence the intensely competitive pre-professionalism zante noted.</p>
<p>i disagree with the better "all around." its difficult for one of a pair of comperable schools to be better all around. Each has its own advantages. it depends on your field of study. for example cornell is better in engineering, but dartmouth is probably better if you want small classes from the start.</p>
<p>...but I guess I could have guessed that a bunch of Princeton wannabes would have the opinion that Dartmouth is better then Cornell... Dartmouth like Princeton is hampered by its lack of substantial graduate programs...(JK)</p>
<p>... as I posted over at the Cornell board, my advice to Devil is for her/him to pick the school that feels right....</p>
<p>Both D & C will prepare Devil well for law school. Contrary to some assertions, there is just as much opportunity to make connections with Cornell Profs as there are at D. One advantage Cornell has is a top notch law school right there in Ithaca. I had MANY classmates that really benefited from spending time at the law school as undergrads... it helped them either confirm or in some cases helped dissuade their desire to go to law school.</p>
<p>Cornell's size is a double edged sword. Perhaps there is less "clubbiness" than at D, but rest assured, there will be a multitude of students who you will relate to very well, no matter what your taste in people is. And better yet, you may desire a variety and this is what Cornell offers more than any other Ivy.</p>
<p>I married a Princetonian and we've had lots of discussions about our respective experiences. We've got a number of friends that went to Dartmouth. The fact is that there are way more similarities than there are differences. Our daughter looked at all three schools this year (Cornell, Dartmouth, and Princeton) and ultimately decided Cornell was the place for her.</p>
<p>Devil... you have got to go and check these schools out first hand. Dartmough has Dimensions. Cornell has Cornell Days. Go and see for yourself. </p>
<p>These orange and black types are not giving Cornell its due.</p>
<p>Um....that's probably because Princeton and Dartmouth are a lot more alike than Princeton and Cornell. So it should be no surprise that we "Princeton wannabes" (many of us are laughing at that) would lean more toward Dartmouth than Cornell. I personally just couldn't stand Cornell's location. Hanover's out in the middle of nowhere, but Ithaca is out in the middle of nowhere, around the corner, and then some. Cornell's bigger and has state-funded schools. Dartmouth is entirely private.</p>
<p>I started getting semi-excited about applying to Dartmouth right before I got my Pton acceptance. It's a great school, and while Cornell is too, I, like many on here, would probably pick Dmouth over 'nell.</p>
<p>Congrats on your acceptance to Pton.... not sure what state funding has to do with the subject... but you're right, Pton and Dmouth are probably more alike than Cornell and Dmouth.... as for middle of nowhere idea... I think that Hanover and Ithaca are comparably isolated.... but hey, to me that's a plus... living in a large urban area is the destiny for most people wanting to make a living... frolicking in the wilderness of upstate New York for four years was a privilege that I'll all always cherish.</p>
<p>I think frolicking in nice safe Princeton while having philly and nyc so easily accessible is ideal...;)</p>
<p>lol @ the around the corner and then some comment phil...it really is true, ithaca is like...the armpit of NY state.
It was funny because when I went on vacation people would ask where I'm from and I would say "New York" and then they would ask "where in ny?" and I got all dumbfounded because it was like huhh ny refers to more than the city...I forget that...
my friends always say "the city" when people ask...which city? THE city, obviously :p</p>