<p>I'm very worried on which to choose. I am a swimmer and being recruited by both schools. This weekend I have a recruit trip to Dartmouth and my brother was part of the class of 2010. I already visited Columbia and enjoyed my experience there. Which is better? NYC is an amazing location, but while in Columbia I felt there wasn't a strong sense of community amongst the students. It also seems that undergraduate students arent as well taken care of at Columbia as Dartmouth. Is this a true observation? As a kid whos lived in a rural area her entire life, I'm worried if the city may overwhelm me. I've visited NYC many times and loooove it, but is living there difficult? It also seems that Dartmouth students are happier and more cohesive than Columbia students. On the other hand Dartmouth is secluded and the frat lifestyle isn't very appealing. On reading other threads, the D-plan seems more of a nuisance than I thought. Both schools have so many great things! I don't know what would be best! Help!!</p>
<p>My sister attended Columbia and she constantly emphasizes how Columbia will not take care of you. You will have to be proactive and independent from the beginning to the end of your career at Columbia. And being from a rural area, it could be hard for you to adjust to the city scene. It seems as if Columbia isn’t the right place for you. Definitely Dartmouth.</p>
<p>I would say Dartmouth! However, I live in the city and I know how hard it could be to build relationships within your community because of the diversity of people but the campus would be like your community and there are many students who aren’t from the city either. Colombia is a gret choice, in my opinion it is a better University. Though students say it’s hard to communicate with the faculty.</p>
<p>First lesson of adulthood: never take the advice of a person who cannot properly spell the name of the thing of which they speak.</p>
<p>It’s true that Columbia tends not to carry you much and the campus isn’t as integrated as Dartmouth due to its proximity to Everything Else, but that’s not to say that the students aren’t enjoying themselves. Whereas Dartmouth’s community may benefit from its seclusion (it’s either the local area or the wilderness), I’d suggest that New York students generally grow up faster than those of other areas because of the city’s personality. If you’d like to see how well you can stand on your own two feet, I think Columbia would be an exhilarating learning experience for you. Remember, nobody learns from comfort. I say, shake things up for yourself and jump into all the new experiences city life will grant you. Go Columbia.</p>
<p>Full disclosure: I’m terribly biased.</p>
<p>This question bugs me too. But, New York sounds so attractive.</p>
<p>Go to Dartmouth. (CC’11 senior). </p>
<p>You will have access to everything you would have at Columbia (minus the city), but on top of that, you will have a great 4 years of college and the pride of being a Dartmouth alum for the rest of your life.</p>
<p>^How do you know the OP will have a great college experience at Dartmouth but not Columbia? How do you know the OP will be proud of being an alum of Dartmouth but not Columbia? I understand you have attended Columbia, but have you attended Dartmouth? And do you know anything about the OP?</p>