<p>On March 30, I found out that in addition to my early admission to Yale, I have also been admitted to Harvard and Dartmouth. I am now discovering that there can, in fact, be too much of a good thing; I also know that I cannot possibly make a wrong decision, only a less good one. However, I want to make a fair informed decision and I was wondering what the CCers would have to say about this dilemma.</p>
<p>For my part, I am undecided as to what I want to major in. (This is why I am about to turn down Oxford.) I haven't visited any of the schools yet, so I have no emotional response yet to the campus atmosphere. (I have slight attachment to Yale because they admitted me early and hence I got to know some potential classmates and a lot about Yale in general; I am not sure if this will just wean off as I learn more about D and H. I am also about to visit for Admitted Students' Days at each school.) In terms of passions, I love debate; while I am no varsity athlete or expert musician, sports and music are definitely on the plus side. Oh, and I am international and non-native, so I have some insecurities regarding the ability to blend in culturally. Having said this, I do not think that either of the schools have any defining characteristics that could swing me one way or another based on these preferences of mine alone.</p>
<p>Do you have anything to add? Am I missing anything? I will dearly appreciate your input, whatever it is. Open-minded is the word right now :) Thanks!</p>
<p>One difference between these 3 that jumps out at me right away: Dartmouth is smaller, in a more remote area, and its students politically tend to be a bit more conservative than at H or Y. </p>
<p>I’m a believer in larger schools (students tend to grow into the big ones, grow out of the little ones) and in the importance of location, so in my case Dartmouth would be a distant third in the running. </p>
<p>But your ultimate decision might come down to something silly & subjective: you liked the food better at one campus over the other or to the fact that Cambridge/Boston appealed more than New Haven or a sudden realization that it’d be fun to take up skiing near Dartmouth.
And that’s OK :)</p>
<p>For an international, your decision should be between H and Y. (Prestige matters a LOT more outside of the US.)</p>
<p>Boston/Cambridge is a lot more international than New Haven, and would be easier to “blend in” or just find some local, home-style foods. But IMO, Yale probably does undergrad a little better than H.</p>
<p>Visit, visit, visit (you’re lucky you’ll be able to)…its all about feel and fit. I knew with 45 minutes of arriving that the school I ended up at was home (my username probably gives away which one, haha.). Honestly, all three are great, with strengths in different aspects academically and socially. Visit and see where you feel at home.</p>
<p>right, as an Int’l, H or Y, only after you’ve visited. Yale undergrads, for what I reason I don’t know, seem to be more satisfied with their experience than H’s do.</p>
<p>Just attend each respective school’s prospective students’ programs, and after that making a decision ought to be much easier. I remember choosing between Dartmouth and Brown and not knowing which to attend. But, once I made the prospective visit, the choice was obvious. Get a feel for each place and talk to as many current students as possible.</p>