I have been fortunate enough to get an acceptance from both of these universities, but I haven’t been able to choose one yet. I am planning on doing a dual major in math and computer science and am leaning towards NYU but I’m worried that I might make the wrong choice. Dartmouth has more recognition (the Ivy League name) and I feel like it might take me further. Please help me make a decision!
Assume that reasons like financial issues and location are out of the picture
NYU > Dartmouth for CS
The Dartmouth hame (or the Ivy label) won’t take you further than you take yourself.
But even if finances are completely not an issue (b/c there is no debt for anybody at either place) the differences in location / type of school are likely to make more of a difference than the ranking difference. Hard to believe that you really aren’t drawn more to one than the other.
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I don’t really care about the environment…even though they’re polar opposites, I like both of them in terms of location and people
The Dartmouth name will impress your entire life; NYUs will not - it’s well thought of by those who know colleges but not by those who don’t.
That said, you state you don’t care about pedigree - nor location - which is odd.
What about school size??
Where is the $$ - meaning COA?
You need something to “pull” you to one over another - ultimately you have to make the right choice for you - so have you visited both?? If so, did you feel a spark at one over another?
Ultimately you need to make the right decision for you…
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I have visited both and I was attracted to both of their environments, school size doesn’t make a difference either, and I already have enough money saved to pay for both colleges…it’s just purely academics for me that will make a difference
Assuming financial aid is even, I’d go for Dartmouth. While I am a Dartmouth student so that is expected, this is my reasoning:
- Dartmouth is far smaller and more undergrad focused (undergrads substantially outnumber postgrad students) than NYU . Most of your classes even in CS (one of our more popular majors) will be small, and all will be taught by professors rather than TAs. In most larger schools TAs generally run the intro courses and many others as a given. So, you’re likely to get more individual attention, and (most importantly) more attention from actual professors at Dartmouth. In addition, due to our undergrad focus, undergrads are actually preferred over grad students for most research positions if you want to be involved with research as an undergrad. This is also unusual.
- Dartmouth has a liberal arts curriculum, so you are free to, ane encouraged to take classes in numerous fields outside your major and explore all your academic interests. I’m not sure which NYU school you are at, but if it’s not CAS or Gallatin you may find yourself constrained by your main field of study.
- The name recognition should never be a reason for choosing a school, but what will take you further is Dartmouth’s strong, loyal alumni network. We usually have one of the highest alumni giving rates, which tells you Dartmouth alumni (in higher proportions than most schools) are very loyal to the school. With a little work, you can use that network to gain internships and jobs anywhere. If you just contact a random Dartmouth alum they tend to be delighted to hear from a Dartmouth student. When I go to cities, I am often stopped on the streets by alumni gushing with pride. My friends in other schools, including NYU, haven’t had the same kind of experience.
In addition, our com sci program is excellent. It’s at least on par with (and in my opinion ahead of) NYU for undergraduates (though NYU is better in graduate CS programs). Just take a look at the department page online. Plus, if a double major becomes too course-heavy (which it likely may be regardless of which school you attend) we offer a modified major program, wherein you can combine two fields into one major with fewer course requirements than a full double major.
Hope I helped. If you have any other questions, let me know. Like most Dartmouth students, I love my school, and am happy to talk to people about it.
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For NYU, I will be taking CS classes at CAS and math classes at Courant
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Okay, cool. My other points still stand though. Let me know if I can provide any additional help or info.
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Courant is one of the top math schools, for those who care about such things. Btw, computer science is housed in Courant as well. Your college within NYU is CAS but your school for both will be Courant.
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so would you recommend Courant over Dartmouth?
For someone serious about math, i probably would. But again, the campuses and schools are so different it depends what else you want. I am however not as in awe of the Dartmouth name as you seem to be, so that may be more of a subjective factor for you.
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The good news is, you can’t make a wrong choice. I would advise you to take Dartmouth, but you will be fine if you select NYU.
You worked hard through high school to earn this choice. Dartmouth will give you the more prestigious degree, and there is nothing wrong with aspiring to that.
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In addition, NYU >> Dartmouth for math.
NYU’s Courant Institute is an absolute powerhouse when it comes to math. Few people among the general public know that, but people looking for math talent absolutely do.
Will that make much of a difference for undergraduate math? Perhaps not. But if you are doing research in CS while there, often times those projects involve math professors.
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Just because Dartmouth is an Ivy League school (and an excellent college), that doesn’t make it a “better” degree. I’d be inclined to listen to @hebegebe and go for NYU, not just because of the Courant Institute, but because you state you prefer NYU.
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Neither one is particularly renowned in the Putnam math competition.
I know someone at Dartmouth who has competed. D is a smaller math department than the other Putnam leaders (MIT, Harvard, CMU, Stanford, UCLA) but they are familiar with the competition and place people there. NYU may be the same way. They had one great student a while back and she’s now at UCSD as a professor.
For hardcore CS/Math, you may have an edge at NYU. Check the course listings and professor research. For lifelong networks, Dartmouth is up there with Princeton for alumni connections.
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They’ve actually been part of the top 6 universities…source: Math Competitions | Department of Mathematics | NYU Courant
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The Dartmouth name will impress your entire life; NYUs will not
Is this supposed to be a joke? Lol
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The most important thing for me is to prepare for grad school, whichever university helps me accomplish that in a “better” way, will be the one that I will pick
Great job by NYU.
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