<p>I FINALLY got all my college decisions back, and of the schools I got into, I've narrowed it down to Dartmouth, Bowdoin, and Tufts. I know they're all completely different, but there are things I love about all of them. </p>
<p>I plan to go pre-med but am undecided about my major; looking for research opportunities.
I'm really outdoorsy, musical (plan to join the orchestra), and politically-active.</p>
<p>Dartmouth: I love the undergraduate focus, the amazing academics, the fact that it has its own medical school, and the proximity to mountains. I'm concerned it will be too preppy & conservative, and I've heard a lot of horror stories about the Greek system. It also seems really isolated.</p>
<p>Bowdoin: It seems absolutely perfect (academics, dorms, food, beautiful locatoin, general quality of life), but I've heard it's pretty sporty, and I'm worried that 1700 students will be too tiny and there won't be enough resources available.</p>
<p>Tufts: Great location, medical school, & quirky student body, but it doesn't seem like the academics are at quite the same caliber as the other two, and there aren't as many outdoor opportunities.</p>
<p>Any thoughts on what might be a good direction for me? Will I be missing out by not going to Dartmouth, the Ivy League school?</p>
<p>From what I’ve seen from (junior) D1 at Tufts, the academics are absolutely high caliber. When she compares her experiences with friends at other schools (including the two in Cambridge), she’s not seeing differences in the offerings or the level of academic commitment and ability within the student body. There might be departments where one school is noticeably stronger than the others on your list, of course.</p>
<p>Since the outdoors activities angle is especially important to you: would the Tufts resources be enough for you (the mountaineering club has a local lodge and there’s a tight cohort of folks that affiliate with it)? On the other hand, you’re concerned that Dartmouth (and perhaps Bowdoin?) are a little too isolated. Looks like you’re going to have to make a choice there. </p>
<p>Have you visited all three? Do you feel at home more at one than the others? </p>
<p>I attended Bowdoin as an undergrad, and went to an Ivy for law school. I am often asked if I would have preferred going to an Ivy for undergrad. No way! IMO you will not be missing anything if you by-pass an Ivy for undergrad and go to Bowdoin. A Bowdoin education is so personal and supportive, and the student body is super-smart, but non-competitive (in a good way). Plus, grad school placement is as good as it gets and the vast majority go to Ivy or equivalent grad schools. Also, Bowdoin certainly does not lack in resources. It is a very wealthy school with an endowment-- on a per student basis-- that is virtually identical to Dartmouth’s, but entirely focused on undergrads, and it shows in the resources, facilities etc. Your instinct about location is on point. But, despite its beautiful, coastal location (beach, surfing, boating, etc.), Bowdoin is far from isolated. Boston is only 2 hours by train from Boston and Brunswick Station is 1 block from campus!). So if you’re yearing for a day trip to the big city, just catch the early train in the morning and return in the evening. Can’t do that from Dartnouth (or Amherst or Williamstown, for that matter). Also, Portland is only 20 minutes away, and it is a cool, funky medium-sized city with a great art and food scene. </p>
<p>P.S. My wife went to Tufts and it’s cool too! She made me say this. :)</p>
<p>I concur with SlitheyLove on the caliber of academics at Tufts, which is certainly comparable to those at Bowdoin, if not at Dartmouth. This I say based on anecdotal info from my D at Tufts and her friends/ acquaintances at the other schools. Classes are rigorous, taught by passionate faculty. </p>
<p>Tufts is so “plugged” into the Boston/ Cambridge community that the isolation and “smallness” you note with respect to Dartmouth and Bowdoin is non-existent. My D’s world has been expanded not only by her experiences on campus, but by this larger, vibrant community. It was Dartmouth’s and Bowdoin’s (and Colgate’s and Cornell’s) relative isolation that steered her from these schools as she made her own decision. </p>