<p>I need help... bad. I have fallen in love with two schools, and I would really appreciate any suggestions, comments, or advice.</p>
<p>About me: Both schools are approximately the same price (ND would give about 15k more loan debt total), but I'd rather not worry about cost. My priorities are finding a school where I'm happy and am able to find an academic interest which I'm passionate about. I currently have no clue what to study, but econ sounds pretty cool right now. </p>
<p>Notre Dame
- I'm a legacy and this has been my dream school for as long as I can remember.
- Notre Dame sports are awesome (football saturdays!)
- Amazing campus and community feel
- Dorm life is really special because they act like fraternities
- I'm Catholic
- I fear that at ND I would have less time for academic exploration and would end up pigeonholing myself into "Business" or "Engineering" and never finding anything I truly love.</p>
<p>Dartmouth
- I've liked D for a while and after Dimensions have fallen in love with this school as well
- The D Plan is amazing because I really like the idea of taking only 3 classes at once. It also allows for me to take more classes.
- Liberal arts school so I'd have more academic flexibility, smaller classes, more prof interaction
- Awesome traditions: Homecoming, Carnival, DOC Trips, Sophomore Summer, Green Key
- Dartmouth Skiway
- Co-Ed dorms for less awkwardness between genders
- Hanover > South Bend. Dartmouth is amazingly safe.
- Campus is gorgeous
- So many opportunities for amazing off-terms (e.g. service projects, study abroad, research, internships, etc)
- The people I met at Dimensions were amazingly welcoming and I made some great friends
- Greek parties were awesome, and I'm down to party, but I don't know that I would fit in with any of the frats and fear "falling through the cracks" of D's social scene
- I feel like there is a bit more of a wealthy-elitist population at D (especially in the Greek scene).</p>
<p>I would choose ND. I’m a staunch Catholic, though, so I’m biased. Dartmouth is an excellent school. But I wouldn’t be able to give up the legacy status at ND and the ability to continue a family tradition like that. The ND brand is just as strong or stronger in all but academic and financial worlds than the Dartmouth brand.</p>
<p>You’re absolutely right; I have thought about this waaaayyy to much. </p>
<p>@ Baelor, glassesarechic</p>
<p>Catholic life isn’t too important for me. I mean, I go to church, but mainly because I’ve grown up doing so. At this point, I’m more a Catholic-leaning agnostic. I do think that the Catholic affiliation at ND is a positive though - dorm masses, emphasis on service, etc.</p>
<p>Both of you bring up good points and I appreciate your responses.</p>
<p>I personally think Dartmouth is the stronger choice. Objectively it does do better than ND in terms of graduate placement, recruiting, etc. It is a stronger brand overall if that matters. Also many of the elements that make ND special among its peers also hold true to Dartmouth - incredible alumni loyalty, strong community, lots of tradition. I think what puts Dartmouth over the edge is are the special Dartmouth only things you’ve noticed such as sophomore summer, the awesome study abroad, the significant resources such as grants and advising towards undergrads, and the incredible undergraduate attention and focus.</p>
<p>Although D is probably academically better, and in some fields (certainly not all) better for job/grad school placement, ND has a unique culture that is distinctly different from not only Dartmouth, but also almost every other school (whereas some schools are similar to Dartmouth culturally). </p>
<p>If academics are number one, pick Dartmouth. But ND has a lot going for it as well.</p>
<p>Look in the mirror, pretend you’re on an airplane 10 years from now and the person next to you asks where you went to college. Say “I went to Dartmouth” and “I went to Notre Dame.” Doesn’t one feel better than the other? Or get a Tshirt from each and spend a day wearing each. Which makes you more proud?</p>
<p>The comments to follow your heart are well-intentioned, but given your heart seems so conflicted perhaps it’s time for some logical arguments. While ND has made great strides over the past decade-plus to bring its academic profile up to the top of the heap, it still trails Dartmouth in terms of recruiting and grad school placement. I would agree that the wealthy-elitist vibe of many Ivies is a bit annoying, but it’s also due to the fact that this is where the scions of great wealth go to school. Not that there aren’t rich kids of influential parents at ND, just more so at an Ivy like Dartmouth. Academically, you seem to like its flexibility, and the fact is that Dartmouth will convey more opportunities for you than ND. Again, this is sort of a lagging indicator as ND’s standards have risen, but it’s a reflection of Dartmouth’s greater prestige among America’s elites, especially in the Northeast. </p>
<p>Really, you’ll do great at either school, but Dartmouth really is a step or two up in terms of the doors it opens. Plus, less debt at Dartmouth? That must be a sign.</p>
<p>Your reasoning is exactly what I’ve been thinking the past few days. I think Dartmouth is definitely a better place for me academically and financially; I love the academic flexibility and opportunities the D-Plan affords, and I do think the Dart brand will open more doors. Still, I think Notre Dame might (stress on “might”) be better socially, and I also know a piece of my heart will always be in South Bend even if I truly end up loving D. </p>
<p>Everyone’s responses are really helpful; they are really making me think, and I would still appreciate any more advice.</p>
<p>There’s more to life than academics. I did undergrad at ND and graduate at an Ivy. ND feeds your spirit as well as your mind. It will both change you and root you in ways I don’t think other places can. Going to ND will in no way harm your chances of going to an Ivy League school for graduate school, where the name of the schools matters more, career-wise. Then you’ve had the best of both worlds.</p>
<p>Good luck with your decision. What a great one to have!</p>
<p>@Thickfreakness- I can definitely understand what you’re saying about ND having captured a piece of your heart, my brother makes many of the same comments and he’s not a very sentimental type. </p>
<p>What really stands out to me is how little the Catholic piece seems to matter to you. If you were an active Catholic and craving that sort of spiritual community, I would definitely understand if you chose ND. One of the nicknames I’ve heard for it is “Catholic Disneyland”. However, I wouldn’t imagine this would be as important/attractive to a “Catholic-leaning agnostic”. You mention some of the great things that stem from ND’s Catholic focus-- service and familial dorm life-- what about some of the more frequently mentioned ‘restrictions’? My brother is completely happy with parietals and single sex dorms. Are those features you would be willing to live with for four years? I personally think the clamoring about strained ‘gender relations’ at ND are overblown-- kids are just plain awkward at that age no matter where you are. But they’re certainly different at ND than they would be at Dartmouth. Just something to consider when you lie in bed and try to visualize yourself actually living and working at one school or another.</p>
<p>Well I just sent in my enrollment card for the University of Notre Dame. </p>
<p>In the end, I realized that my head wanted Dartmouth but my heart wanted ND. I feel like although I adore the D-plan, I can still be just as successful at ND, especially if I end up loving it as much as I think I will.</p>