<p>Hi, I'm wondering which one is fit to me,Dartmouth or Amherst? I visited Dartmouth before but I didn't get time to visit Amherst. Is it true that there are many parties and drinking at Dartmouth? I don't like too many parties but I do like the fame of Dartmouth as a member of Ivy league. When should I choose the major at Dartmouth, the first year,the second year or the third year? Is its Economics major pretty good? Is it easy to find a Work-Study job on the campus? Is it easy to find a summer job there? I have got 12 AP classes' credits. BTW, My FA from Dartmouth is about $4K less per year than from Amherst. I do need the answer to the above questions ASAP because I have to make my decision in a few days. Thanks a lot in advance!</p>
<p>Correction: regarding to the AP classes, I have taken 12 classes, is not 12 credits.</p>
<p>I am a student at Amherst. I think that these two schools probably provide among the top 5 or so undergraduate schools in the country. Both have some of the most satisfied students and alumni you will find anywhere. Both are located in lovely New England towns (I think the Amherst area is a bit more lively and fun, slightly less isolated, and a tiny bit warmer. The Hanover area is a bit more scenic, with incredible outdoor opportunities.)</p>
<p>That said, I decided fairly early on that Dartmouth was not for me. I didn't like the frat scene (I have heard that it is unusually inclusive at Dartmouth, but I still don't like the presence. That is a personal choice, many people love it.) I love Amherst's commitment to diversity and the benefits of the consortium. It also has a larger endowment per student, and I think this has real tangible benefits (the opportunities it has given me have been absolutely staggering). Dartmouth also provides wonderful opportunities and is known for its undergraduate focus - though, obviously at Amherst undergraduates are the only focus.</p>
<p>Dartmouth has an unusual academic calendar, which is probably the biggest difference. Some people love it, some hate it. It will give you a bit more freedom. Amherst has an open curriculum, which is amazing. </p>
<p>If i had to stereotype, I would say that Dartmouth students are slightly preppier and more preprofessional. Others may object to this. I think the student bodies are, overall, remarkably similar. Amherst has some of the best off-campus food options I have ever seen in a small town (probably the second best, followed by nearby Northampton!) but the dining hall is lacking - I think Dartmouth's is better. </p>
<p>Amherst also has two girl schools nearby, which guys tend to love. </p>
<p>A word on prestige: both schools are thought of about equally within the academic community. Outside of it, neither are well known, though Dartmouth fares a bit better. People have heard of the Ivy League but would generally be unable to identify Dartmouth as a member. If you care about what these people think, you don't intend to introduce yourself by saying "hi, I'm Jason. I go to Dartmouth - that's in the Ivy League", do you? I personally like going to a school that doesn't impress random people I meet on the street, I would be embarrassed to have them fawn all over me or make assumptions about me.</p>
<p>I tried to be unbiased here, I hope someone who knows more about Dartmouth can help you out further. I'll just end this by saying that I love Amherst and it has been absolutely wonderful to me and you are lucky to be choosing amongst two of the finest schools in the country.</p>
<p>PS Amherst doesn't give AP credit. I'm not sure if Dartmouth does.</p>
<p>Unregistered,</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for your informative poster!</p>
<p>what are u intersted in?</p>
<p>Economics, working in the top Banks or Pre-med after graduation.</p>
<p>Dartmouth's econ program is extremely strong and it does very well with Wall Street jobs. Either school has the premed courses to enable you to apply to med school.</p>
<p>dartmouth certainly isn't a party school but they have their fair share of parties, as does any other school. their mascot, "keggy", and the lack of off-campus activities probably adds to it but it's probably what you make of it. i know a person in a fraternity there, and then i know other who aren't into the partying scene.</p>
<p>sorry but that's the only question i can answer =)</p>
<p>oh, and i would go with darmouth. just because everyone i know who has gone there loves it... i really don't know why but they are just very into the school.</p>
<p>Jason - for an Amherst student who loves her school, Unregistered did a great job of conveying an unbiased comparison. Too bad you could not visit Amherst. It is a small, charming town, not very from a larger, lively town (not city) of Northhampton. You know what Hanover looks like and presumably the surrounding mountains. The mountains in western MA are a different range and more rolling. You can find images of it on the internet if that helps.</p>
<p>You voice concern about drinking at Dartmouth. The absence of frats does not equate to an absence of drinking and from I have been told (4 years ago but I imagine this really has not changed) students at Amherst do definitely party. Afraid you will find that goes on at most schools. Dartmouth is much larger than Amherst and you are apt to find as many, perhaps more, students who prefer not to drink at D as at A. </p>
<p>I always find it surprising that people label Dartmouth preppy - I think they expect that it should be - but find that it isn't. You definitely will find students on the pre-professional track. And you will significant numbers who are not. </p>
<p>As for opportunity, I can't think of how Dartmouth could make opportunities more available to undergraduates than they do.</p>
<p>Dartmouth does give AP credit for some courses - and exemptions for others.
<a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/%7Efrstyear/work/policies/AP%20Chart%202012%5B/url%5D">http://www.dartmouth.edu/~frstyear/work/policies/AP%20Chart%202012</a> </p>
<p>Dartmouth's economics department is reputedly excellent, and exceedingly popular. </p>
<p>Dartmouth does not have the open curriculum Amherst has. Working on fulfilling the various requirements in the first two years helps expose you to different fields. Many many students change their intended major as a result of this. You may not declare until the end of your first three quarters, you must make a declaration by the end of your fifth quarter , but you may revise your plan (including adding a minor, a second major...) as late as the end of the first week of your last term in residence (or course, that assumes that you have fulfilled all the requirements to enable you to do so. Subject to review and permission, some students create their own major.</p>
<p>Work study opportunities at Dartmouth are abundant - and many students who are not given work study are also able to find jobs</p>
<p>You don't choose a school merely for 'fame' in the first place, but in the case of this choice, its a draw. So set that aside and try to find valid points of distinction. Hopefully, you have read the myriad posts on both the Dartmouth and Amherst forums. Why don't you post questions in both those forums. Try not to phrase you question in a way to pit one school against the other (and don't mention fame - they are equally prestigious) but rather ask them about majors, about opportunities, about what makes their school special and then maybe you will get a sense about which of the two most suits you.</p>
<p>Regarding Dartmouth's party scene, there are plenty of people who do not partake in drinking and frats, and there are a surprising number of other ways to socialize. Although I don't drink, I have never felt like I needed to get out of Hanover for a scene more amenable to my social preferences...I live on a small floor, but more than half my floor chooses not to drink.</p>
<p>My son was admitted to both Amherst and Dartmouth a while back, with a bit better FA from Amherst. Dartmouth matched Amherst when we showed them Amherst's offer, within a couple hundred dollars or so.
I'm guessing that a phone call and a fax would do the same for you.</p>
<p>My son was admitted to both Amherst and Dartmouth a while back, with a bit better FA from Amherst. Dartmouth matched Amherst when we showed them Amherst's offer, within a couple hundred dollars or so.
I'm guessing that a phone call and a fax would do the same for you.
At least then you can decide without the money factor.</p>
<p>First of all, * Dartmouth is not preppy*. Sorry, wrong Ivy. With the exception of two historically preppy frats (Psi U and SAE), Dartmouth is probably the most down to earth Ivy. Okay, maybe second to Brown. But honestly, when I went to visit my best friend up there, I was shocked at what people wore around campus. It's pretty much a t-shirt and jeans kind of campus. Very very very few people dress up for class. In fact, most students walk around in athletic/gym clothes (not surprising considering 70% of the students are on a sports team). </p>
<p>The drinking question...The Greek scene is bigger at Dartmouth than it is at most LACs (60% of the student body is in a frat/sorority). With that being said, not everyone parties. And not everyone drinks. While at a frat party I met a brother that doesn't drink at all for personal reasons yet he was still able to join a frat. And there are plenty of things to do if you're not into partying or the Greek thing. Shows at the Hop, the Nugget, various clubs and activities, or just hanging out with other people who don't go out. Trust me, 60% may seem kind of high but remember that 40% chooses NOT to rush.</p>
<p>At Dartmouth, you actually aren't allowed to officially declare a major until the END of your sophomore year. Why? Because your first two years you are supposed to be trying out different classes that may interest you. With that being said, Economics is the * most * popular major at Dartmouth. Dartmouth's econ department is phenomenal, one of the best in the country. And many Dartmouth grads end up working in banking. Many of the alumni I've met work at either Morgan Stanley or Goldman Sachs. And when it's time for corporate recruiting, nearly all of the recruiters for the major companies are Dartmouth grads. </p>
<p>It's very easy to do Work-Study at Dartmouth. Almost all of my friends at Dartmouth have part-time jobs, some of which pay as much as $11/hour. The hours are flexible and the good news is that there are plenty of jobs all over campus. Dartmouth makes it really easy for you to find jobs as well. They have an online database that compiles a list (which includes contact information, a description of the job, and what is required to apply) that any student can look up. The best part is, you have the option of getting paid the money you earn directly to you so you can use the money to help pay for books or other expenses not included on your tuition bill. </p>
<p>The D-Plan may be odd and it's definitely not for everyone. A quarter schedule isn't for everyone. It's tough and can feel overwhelming at times. The benefit to the D-Plan, however, is with internships, research, and study abroad programs. While everyone else is still in school finishing up their semester, you could be working at Lehman Brothers because there wasn't much competition for an internship in the winter or something. Same goes for research and study abroad opportunities. </p>
<p>You seem a tad bit too concern with prestige. While Dartmouth is in fact an Ivy League school, neither Dartmouth nor Amherst is very well-known outside of academic social circles. Though Dartmouth has been getting more press lately (thanks to movies like Superbad and tv shows like Gossip Girl), don't expect your average joe to know what school you are talking about when you tell them you go to Dartmouth. I know my best friend automatically adds "It's in New Hampshire" after she tells people where she goes because she's used to people saying "Oh, never heard of it. Where is it?" The same can be said for Amherst. The schools are just not as famous as some other schools.</p>
<p>Oh, I almost forgot. The AP question. Dartmouth does give credit for some APs, depending on your score. They also offer exemptions or credit depending on your score. You can look into that if you are interested. To be honest with you, take the classes over again in college. AP is nothing in comparison to the work you will do in college and if the class is needed for your major, it's really important to keep the information fresh on your mind.</p>
<p>Hope that helps!</p>
<p>thanks a lot!</p>
<p>Jason:</p>
<p>It is indeed unfortunate that you could not visit Amherst. Both my kids thought it too small. As a parent, I think the 5C is more a marketing benefit than value to an Amherst student. Why pay Amherst prices to take classes at a public school (UMass), or a much less less selective school (Hamp)? Amherst also has a different 'campus culture', which you need to judge for yourself.</p>
<p>the five college system is great. YOu can take courses not offered at Amherst at other schools. For example, economics majors at Amehrst often take sports economcis at smith, where the professor is the leader and beginner of the entire field. Also saying that UMASS does not have any worthy professors is ignorarnt..</p>
<p>the main benefit of the five college is the social life. Its fun being at a small school where you know everyone, but always meeting new faces. It's jsut a great area to be a college kid.</p>
<p>Dartmouth is not really 16K (4 yrs) more valuable than Amherst as it is practically an LAC itself.</p>
<p>I think the 5-college consortium is a huge benefit, even for students who don't take classes at the other schools. Socially, it makes us feel much less isolated, I have a lot of friends from all 5 colleges. It brings a number of speakers and musicians to the area, UMass puts on some great festivals, there are an immense number of workshops...the five college mentored language program allows us to take very quirky and rare languages, which I've been doing. </p>
<p>I took an unusual class at Hampshire (a very "Hampshire" type of course) that Amherst would not have offered. It was quirky and wonderful and fit my interests exactly. No, you wouldnt take a standard class that Amherst has available at another school, but I'm interested in linguistics, UMass has one of the very best programs in the country. Sanskrit at Mt. Holyoke? Smith has an amazing art program. I have only taken a few 5-college courses, but the consortium has really augmented my education. Not even to mention the 5 college certificates, dance and music opportunities...some of my odder friends have spent January term studying Elvish at Smith.</p>
<p>Not to mention the incredible restaurants that we get from being such a big college community! Mmmm...Bueno.</p>
<p>Done gushing now. :)</p>
<p>
[quote]
Also saying that UMASS does not have any worthy professors is ignorarnt..
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Hmmm, not what I said at all. Try reading it again, and point out any comment about professors, anywhere. Then, focus on the word public and price, and in comparison to Dartmouth, which has a linguistics and art major for example. The point being, you can walk to class, and not bus.</p>