<p>i've visited both of these schools and they are probably my top 2 choices. I know they are differet in many ways, but I seem to like the different features of both. I'm trying to decide if I should apply early to one of them and was just wondering what you guys think of the schools in comparison to each other. I am kind of leaning towards Dartmouth, but I think its more just cause of the ivy league tag which i know is a bad reason. BTW, I'm thinking about majoring in something like economics and eventually doing business out of college.</p>
<p>Both excellent schools for econ. and business--I don't think that you can go wrong either way.
Both are academic powerhouses where students seem to enjoy themselves socially.</p>
<p>*Dartmouth's advantages, (in my opinion:) more intimate feel to the campus, smaller classes, fewer TAs.
*Northwestern's advantages: right next Chicago (!) Big Ten sports; varied areas of academic excellence.</p>
<p>both are peer schools and are on par for most things. Northwestern is very close to a big city ... Dartmouth isn't. Dartmouth has a stronger east coast name and the Ivy tag. Dartmouth is like a bigger LAC, while Northwestern is like a comprehensive research university. If you do well at both, one won't get you "ahead" in life more than the other. Pick on fit and have a great time!</p>
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think its more just cause of the ivy league tag which i know is a bad reason
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<p>I don't see why that's necessarily a "bad thing" per se. If you go to Dartmouth, you will be in a position to get a quality education of the highest order, in an idyllic collegiate (quasi-LAC-like) setting, be surrounded by highly qualified classmates PLUS the Ivy League tag to boot... I mean what's not to like?</p>
<p>I mean if you think that the Ivy name is the only thing that Dartmouth has going for it (or that its reputation is not well deserved) THEN you'd be flatout wrong. </p>
<p>Otherwise, as is said on CC frequently, choose the school that best fits YOU.</p>
<p>Those are peer institutions. Chose the one that you feel is better suited for to your personality.</p>
<p>I strongly considered Northwestern out of high school, and transferred into Dartmouth. IMO Dartmouth offered a much more intimate experience: no shuttles around campus, smaller more friendly student body, etc. Add in the best study abroad in the country and special things like Dartmouth's amazing big weekends and sophomore summer, plus IMO a much stronger alumni network and I think Dartmouth has the edge socially. Then again, a strong campus experience/ community matters to me more than having a city nearby.</p>
<p>In terms of prestige, Dartmouth has never been ranked lower than Northwestern in ANY US undergrad ranking EVER and is slightly more prestigious, but its up to you whether this matters. In my experience on the east coast, Dartmouth does have a better reputation.</p>
<p>I would definitely go Dartmouth here, depending on where you live and hope to reside after. At least, on the east coast, I've always felt that Dartmouth is much more highly regarded, but in the midwest probably a much lower % know of it. To me, it really has nothing to do with 'Ivy status', but how enjoyable the experience will be and how it can set you up afterward. Dartmouth has a much more cohesive setting, stronger social scene and what seems as a stronger alumni network. I wouldn't at all go by what USNWR has ranked schools historically, but how they personally appeal to what you're looking for. Penn went from #19 to #4 in a little more than a decade and probably neither of those were accurate and is not something to base your decision on. What would you do if there were no rankings?</p>
<p>Not that this matters, over 80% choosing between these two pick Dartmouth.</p>
<p>I chose Northwestern. :)
Honestly, I didn't enjoy the thought of living in Hanover, so far from skyscrapers, cultural attractions, and bustling streets. (That said, Dartmouth seems to provide a lot of cultural attractions and entertainment for its students.)
For me, NU had one of the best locations of any in the US--a safe, tree-lined campus on the beach, a short subway ride away from one of the most culturally rich cities in the US.
That said, I agree with slipper1234 and gellino--on the east coast, Dartmouth is slightly better regarded in general.
Two of my favorite schools, personally--great programs, great students.</p>
<p>I’m not going to start another argument with you, Slipper about this subject. I will say, however, that getting your silly little “Dartmouth is slightly more prestigious” shots in every chance you get amuses me. I do not disagree that on the East Coast, Dartmouth is probably more prestigious. In fact, I would expect this to be so- for the same reason why I would expect NU and Chicago to be more prestigious than Dartmouth in the Chicago area: location.</p>
<p>“In terms of prestige, Dartmouth has never been ranked lower than Northwestern in ANY US undergrad ranking EVER”</p>
<p>-Trying to make minor differences look larger than they are… shame on you. </p>
<p>“Not that this matters, over 80% choosing between these two pick Dartmouth.”</p>
<p>-And most people who are admitted to Harvard choose it over Yale, Princeton, and Stanford. So what?</p>
<p>Also, about all these size issues that are being raised…. Northwestern, while it is a larger school, can in many ways feel like a LAC if a student enters the right college within the university. I want it to be known that Northwestern has a SMALLER student/faculty ratio than Dartmouth (7/1 vs. 8/1), and that Northwestern also has more classes with 20 or fewer students than Dartmouth (72% and 64%) , fewer classes with 50 or more students (9% vs. 10%) and more professors who are full-time (93% vs. 91%). </p>
<p>Moreover, just because Dartmouth is more secluded and smaller than Northwestern does not mean it offers students a better campus life. I’d advise the OP to research the schools heavily before making a decision.</p>
<p>slipper,</p>
<p>I am just wondering where you got those stats...80 percent choose Dartmouth. I'm interested in seeing some them, including between other schools.</p>
<p>First of all, the fact that 80 percent choose Dartmouth means jack ****. For starters, in that infamous revealed preference rankings, although they are somewhat old, Wellesley is 11th in "kids choosing this school over that school" and Notre Dame is 13th. Clearly, this doesn't remotely sink up with any US News rankings, and may show that head to head battles between schools aren't very meaningful. It may also mean that everyone in the Northeast applies to Dartmouth AND Northwestern, and many of them choose Dartmouth. But in the Midwest, people may apply to Northwestern and not bother to apply to Dartmouth. Or it may be that people that are more inclined to go Northwestern in either region don't apply to Dartmouth. </p>
<p>Prestige, although not as important as you think, isn't even meaningfully different between these two schools. In fact, in the Midwest most people have heard of NU but never Dartmouth. Again, a regional thing. You should just go to each place based on its own merits, but their academic reps reps are the same.</p>
<p>Come now, let's not defame slipper1234. It's true that Dartmouth has slightly more prestige on the Eact Coast--in my experience anyway; I'm from Massachusetts. Furthermore, it does offer all of the aforementioned positives--certainly, nothing to scoff at.
That said, kk19131 and peter_parker, you're probably right--Northwestern is a stronger name in the Midwest. On the West Coast, I found that people really respected Northwestern--I didn't ask about Dartmouth, so I don't know for sure, but I assume the same.</p>
<p>What about financial aid? Which institution is more generous?</p>
<p>"Dartmouth has a... stronger alumni network"</p>
<p>not if you want to live in the midwest, or work anywhere outside of the northeast, for that matter.</p>
<p>Average debt: Northwestern: 18,362- Dartmouth: 19,305</p>
<p>Average cost after financial aid: Northwestern: 23,674- Dartmouth: 18,804</p>
<p>^^ how is nu more expensive after fin. aid but ends up leaving students with less debt? It gives more financial aid than students really need?</p>
<p>Dartmouth must have poorer kids for these numbers to work. I don't know if that's actually true (or even if it could be measured).</p>
<p>Preference chart</p>
<p>elsij- Dartmouth, outside of Princeton, has the most active alumni in the country in almost every measure- giving, percent who return for reunions, whatever. Its hard to quantify (giving is the only measure), but its powerful.</p>
<p>But what about Tufts?</p>