<p>I'm really stuck between these schools... what are the potential benefits of attending one over the other?</p>
<p>well, i'm not really in the know as to the various strong and weak points of both schools. however, it can be noted that dartmouth has a bigger party scene, while amherst is closer to civilization. so, in my eyes, that's the big trade off. good luck</p>
<p>You can't ignore TAP, a three-day, every weekend party at Amherst.</p>
<p>I would visit the admitted students programs at both schools and judge that way. Dartmouth is larger so there is more going on socially, yet it maintains the intimacy of a LAC. </p>
<p>Can't go wrong with either.</p>
<p>Both are great schools. Intimate environments with total undergrad focus. Nonetheless, for what it's worth, Dartmouth carries the Ivy affiliation, Amherst does not. In Amherst's favor, it is not as isolated and has the 5 College resource sharing affiliation (with nearby quality schools).</p>
<p>on the surface this seems like a fair comparison, but having spent time at both I would have to say dartmouth is a far warmer, easier going place to be. Amherst just seems cold to me.</p>
<p>"cold" in what sense? unaffectionate kids? isolated and uncommunicative kids? the weather?</p>
<p>How about other comodoties/facilities: dorms, food, facilities (labs) etc. ??</p>
<p>
[quote]
amherst is closer to civilization
[/quote]
Heh - that's like saying Neptune is closer to the earth than Pluto.</p>
<p>I'm a Mom, so what do I know, but anyway DD did an overnight and an in depth look at Amherst and Dart back to back so here goes.
Amherst is a small tight gentle hill campus. It has some lovely buildings, particularly the old frats which have been converted to dorms. You can walk into the village of Amherst, which AC "shares" with UMass-Am, but it is a longer walk than Dartmouth to Hanover, which I would consider basically "in Hanover".
Facilities wise, Amherst has had housing problems for some time, and is much farther along in addressing them than Dartmouth. They have renovated some old dorms, and razed others, with the new dorms opening, supposedly in time for the 09s. When the new dorms are opened, all freshman will live on a freshman quad in either new or freshly renovated rooms - the renovated dorms which we toured summer 04, just as renos were being finished, are very nice.
Daughter only ate a couple of meals there, but was happy with the food. Science facilities were quite good, particularly bio.
The downsides I saw were mainly that you never got a really straight answer on whether the 5 College Consort helped or hurt students at Amherst.</p>
<p>The 5 college consortium, which each school uses in its promotional literature, is a HUGE advantage. Each of the 5 schools went into it voluntarily and remain in it so. The Consortium gives Amherst students access to courses and resources found only at the large, elite university level.</p>
<p>
[quote]
The downsides I saw were mainly that you never got a really straight answer on whether the 5 College Consort helped or hurt students at Amherst.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I found that also when my D visited because it seems that more people from the other schools are taking classes at amherst vs. amherst students taking courses at the other schools (maybe with the expception of smith). Daughter did like Amherst, but she chose Dartmouth because it was bigger and had a better sense of community.</p>
<p>Here are some views on the 5-college consortium from a Smith perspective:</p>
<p>1. 5-COLLEGE CONSORTIUM OVERRATED. There, I said it. I think the 5-college consortium is a bit overrated. It is a big commitment to take a class at another college in the consortium. It's not like the other colleges are right next door. If you want to take a class at another college, that means you definitely can't take a class at Smith AT LEAST during the period before and the period after that because of all the travel time, and often this is just not feasible. You also may miss one of your meals, which are offered only during very limited periods of time each day. Mount Holyoke in particular is a significant distance away. With all the things you tend to be doing in college, it's inconvenient to try to take a class at one of the other colleges.</p>
<p>Another view:</p>
<p>1. 5-COLLEGE CONSORTIUM OVERRATED. That was the biggest lie that Smith ever told me. I wanted to take classes at Amherst but I found out that it was an HOUR bus ride to get there. I planned to take a class on Eastern European Jewish history at UMass this semester but realized that giving up my entire Tuesday and Thursday afternoons were not worth it. I have no patience as I am not from NYC or San Francisco. We need subways! I know it's great to meet guys there... but guys who do come to Smith have my attention! I really like having the ability to see my professors anytime I want to- easily. Sigh.</p>
<p>And another:</p>
<ol>
<li>consortium -- Yeah, taking a class at another college ends up taking the whole afternoon. Also, prospective students should be aware of the Smith vs. 5-college offerings in different departments. For example, I believe astronomy is one major that cannot be completed at all without taking numerous courses at other colleges. For other areas of interest, as jyber209 points out, there are plenty of offerings at Smith.</li>
</ol>
<p>Random opinions are what they are - random. See for yourself:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.fivecolleges.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://www.fivecolleges.edu/</a></p>
<p>It is the stongest college collaboration in nation and has been working for 40 years.</p>
<p>People seem to think that Dartmouth has a tigher-knit community even though it is more than twice the size of Amherst. Why? Is it because Dartmouth is more remote? Would this make a big difference? Just curious...</p>
<p>I don't know what it is abouth Darmouth people. My experience with them has been that there are the nicest people you ever want to meet, are fiercely loyal to their school and are always willing ot reach out to members of the Dartmouth community. I remember when my daughter went on her DOC trip last year she said how members of the class of '58 came on their trip and make them this amazing breakfast and talked to them about his experience at Dartmouth 50 years ago.</p>
<p>She was a camp counselor and the parents of one of her kids was a Dartmouth alum. D wore her dartmouth flip-flops to camp, the parent just squealed when she found out she was going to Dartmouth,and reached out to her. Dartmouth is the type of place that if you walk through the airport with a dartmouth t-shirt or hat, you will run into some one else who has been to Dartmouth and they will start a conversation like they have known you all of your life.</p>
<p>would you agree that amherst and dartmouth are pretty much the same in selectivity, prestige, academics - but just different vibe?</p>
<p>gatsby,</p>
<p>it seems your heart is really with Amherst and youre hoping to have your feelings objectively validated by views other than your own. Amherst is a great school, if you feel that it suits your idea of college better than Dartmouth, you should feel good about it and take the leap.</p>
<p>Amherst is obviously for a particular kind of student, maybe youre just that type.</p>
<p>If you are interested in answering the question, "Where'd you go to school?" for the next 70 years, you'll go right to D.</p>
<p>I'm also quite interested in this question. I'm already accepted at Amherst (and MIT, Williams), but I didn't receive a likely letter from dartmouth and I'm a little worried about it.</p>