<p>I am trying to decide between Dartmouth, Duke, and the University of Chicago, and I need some help! I applied undecided, but I am currently leaning towards perhaps studying global health. Keep in mind that I am still not very sure about my major. </p>
<p>Also a couple questions that would help me make my decision:
- In terms of social life, are Dartmouth and Duke very party and drinking-oriented schools? I am not a big partier, so I have been worried about some rumors about Duke and Dartmouth.
- Does Duke and Dartmouth’s emphasis on Greek life add to or take away from the schools?
- What could Dartmouth offer me in terms of global health (I was thinking maybe a double major in biology and government with a concentration in IR)?
- How is the social life at UChicago?<br>
- Which of these three schools has more academic prestige? Looking into graduate school and the job market, how do candidates from these universities weigh against one another?
- How are interracial relationships within these schools? Do those of the same race or ethnicity tend to stick together or is it very integrated? </p>
<p>These questions are mind boggling. </p>
<p>Why should anyone have to convince you to go anywhere? what were your reasons for applying to each school (if it was simply name recognition/academic prestige(your words), then you did not d your homework). Think back to why you applied to each school and what were pluses and minuses. You are concerned about drinking based on what you heard. There are students at every school who drink. No one at any school is going to tie you up an poor alcohol down your throat.</p>
<p>Posting on the Dartmouth forum, most posters will say you should go to Dartmouth, the same with Duke and Chicago. If you can, go to admitted students days at each school; sit in on a class, talk to other students and professors. You will know if you can see your self there for 4 years.</p>
<p>I agree with sybbie. Two of your schools were my S’s final two. He ultimately made his choice based on admitted students’ weekends, which refined his views of each school. </p>
<p>Winnie the Pooh has some reasonable questions. No need to be an Eeyore about it.</p>
<p>Okay, I’ll given them a shot.</p>
<p>Parties and alcohol use (& abuse) are big at Dartmouth; you can find a scene for yourself that does not include them. Please check out prior threads. I’m not interested in another thread on this subject.<br>
Opinions vary on whether the emphasis on Greek life adds to or takes away from the school. Can’t answer that one for you.<br>
Chicago is very, very different from both Dartmouth and Duke. I find it a bit hard to understand applying to those three. D&D are in charming towns; UC is in a major urban area. </p>
<p>AboutTheSame, as I said above, my S ended up choosing between the U of C and D. Urban vs rural vs suburban is not that big a deal for many people. (It is true that S said that Columbia’s degree of urban-ness was just too much for him at that stage. But the U of C is not a place of concrete canyons. Ironically, S is now a grad student at Columbia and loves it.)</p>
<p>Tastes vary, Consolation. It was a bit harsh of me to criticize OP for applying to three excellent schools, but the urban setting of Harvard was a very big factor in D’s choice of Dartmouth. YMMV. :)</p>
<p>Congratulations on your acceptances! Obviously, these three schools afford you amazing opportunities. I will offer what I can as a parent of an Dartmouth Class of 2018 ED admit, FWIW. While my S didn’t look closely at UofC, he did visit Duke and was prepared to like it. He was born at Duke Univ. Med. Center, and a close friend (a grade ahead) had committed to attend. However, after spending time on campus my S just couldn’t see himself there. I think the atmosphere was a bit too intense for him. Dartmouth, conversely, felt friendlier and more inclusive to him, and he had good interactions w/ people in Hanover. We returned for an unofficial visit during which we people-watched and generally soaked up the feel of the place. Before deciding to apply ED, he spoke w/ an acquaintance from his high school now a freshman at D to get the inside scoop, which seemed to confirm that, for him, applying ED made sense. From an academic perspective, S came to realize that he wants to pursue medical research down the road. Dartmouth’s emphasis on undergraduate education should make finding research opportunities possible, not to mention the benefit of the D-Plan allowing time to do research elsewhere, potentially. While I am not personally familiar w/ government studies there, our D tour guide was a government major and pointed out that he had spoken with/interviewed several of the presidential candidates who had been on campus for a debate during the NH primaries. In terms of the frat/party culture, my son is intending to be an independent but feels that the Dartmouth greek scene is preferable to Duke’s, where the fraternities are housed within upperclassmen housing (this may be changing down the road, not sure) as well as to some of the SLACs he was considering that don’t have frats, but the social scene seems to be heavily influenced by the athletic teams. </p>
<p>Bottom line, to echo other posters’ advice: go visit, interact with students and town/city people, read the college newspapers, listen to the college radio stations, talk to kids you know (even if you don’t know them well) who attend, get a feel for the personality of each campus. You likely will know what is the best fit for you very quickly.</p>
<p>Dear Winnie: Do us all a favor, go anywhere but Dartmouth.</p>