<p>D was awarded the Seaver Scholarship (full tuition) but prefers Dartmouth at this point (which we are visiting in a few days). The cost differential is significant but could be managed with some strain on the family finances. She came away from a 3 day visit at CMC and didn't find a lot of school spirit nor a particularly close knit community, both of which she is looking for. Is this the "fit" everyone talks about? Anybody else experience this?</p>
<p>If she didn’t like the school atmosphere, she shouldn’t go there. I’m a high school senior planning on attending CMC in the fall and i’ve found that there is an enormous amount of school spirit and one of the tightest communities i’ve ever seen (this is coming from seven years at a school with 75 kids per grade). If she really feels that she fully immersed herself in what CMC has to offer and didn’t come away with a positive vibe however, then I’d say she should follow her gut instinct.</p>
<p>The Dartmouth student community is very fractured and divided, much more so than the CMC student community. Part of why Dartmouth is that way is because of the effects of the heavy Greek system at Dartmouth – about half the kids at Dartmouth are in frats or sororities and half are “independents.” That dynamic creates all kinds of social and community problems there.</p>
<p>CMC’s community is one of the more tight knit college communities, much more so than Dartmouth imo.</p>
<p>I think if she found over the merit weekend that she didn’t like the atmosphere/fit, it may be a good idea to stick with Dartmouth. If the fit isn’t right I can see how it could be tough to stay in such a small, particular environment for four years. Is CMC a pretty polarizing school (ie. very much a love/hate kind of place)?</p>
<p>Dartmouth really has a wonderfully close knit and enthusiastic student community. It is certainly a larger place than CMC but, in part because of its relatively isolated location, there is real bonding between the students and tremendous school spirit. It is, however, a very different place than CMC - bigger student body, in NH versus CA in terms of weather and also “feel”.</p>
<p>It is true that CMC has pretty good school spirt (not in the traditional way so much but in a “we’re awesome and we know it” kind of way) and the community is tight knit. But I would advise your daughter look really carefully at what about CMC made her not like it. I ignored the little voice in my head saying “this might not be quite right” and came here anyway. A year later I’m transferring somewhere else. CMC is a great place, but the fit has to be right.</p>
<p>Where are you transferring to?</p>
<p>The Claremont Colleges have 5,200 undergrads. Dartmouth has 4,100 undergrads. The 5-C student body is 27% larger than Dartmouth’s. Because the social life and community atmosphere of the 5-C experience is so intertwined, I would not worry that CMC is smaller than Dartmouth at all.</p>
<p>I didn’t get the impression it was “so intertwined”. Some connection to be sure but also a definite separation. The CMC kids my D stayed with on the scholarship weekend she attended said they all partied together but otherwise there was a tendency for the kids from the different schools, especially Pomona, to keep to themselves. But I guess there are different takes on all this and experiences can differ. Looks like we are passing on the $160K and D will be heading to New England this fall.</p>
<p>Very sorry to hear that NerdyGirl will be leaving CMC.</p>
<p>160k is hard to turn down gekkoman. I have one at each, but if you are set on Dartmouth your child will be thrilled. Both of mine are extremely happy with their choices. They are very different kids. Best of luck</p>
<p>^^^Indeed, but that’s what we are doing. On reflection CMC is a bit different from many of the other schools D applied to–a little narrower in scope, somewhat more pre-professional. I thought it would have worked! But this is my favorite daughter (OK, she is my only child). I don’t see Dartmouth being worse, and for her it seems better in many ways.</p>