<p>May 1st is fast approaching and I really need to make a decision soon. I have been leaning considerably towards Dartmouth but recently my parents have been very passive aggressive about the cost and have been hinting at their preference towards Cal. The difference between the tuition, over a period of 4 years, will total to about $80,000. My parents can afford it but it will take a considerably larger chunk of their savings. I plan on majoring in Economics and going into either banking or consulting. I know that Dartmouth consistently does well in placing its students into those areas but the fact that my parents will take a big hit on their savings worries me. I really want to go to Dartmouth because going to a completely new environment with completely new people for college is a big deal for me (I know many people at or planning to attend Berkeley). I also crave the undergrad focus and study abroad opportunities and the tight-knit community. The frat culture is not a major concern for me as I've been assured by current students who I trust that while it is a big part of Dartmouth, it is also very inclusive.</p>
<p>I know that the Haas School of Business is really good but the whole large public university environment does not appeal to me as much. Also, I want to end up working in NYC so I feel like although Haas is strong, it will not provide me with as many opportunities as Dartmouth would. My Regents Scholar offers priority registration and some faculty mentoring and membership in the Regents association but that seems to be around it. Is Dartmouth worth the extra money or should I start seriously considering Cal?</p>
<p>Are you absolutely sure you want to go into Banking, especially on the East Coast? If so, yes. Come here. Dartmouth definitely gives you a leg up over Haas. In the long run, you’ll be able to make up for the $80,000 with the opportunities Dartmouth gives you.</p>
<p>Beware that Dartmouth’s environment is very different from Cali’s, and you may feel out of place during your first term here. But the place grows on you over time, and you learn to love it. I had the same choices last year (Berkeley Haas Regents vs Dartmouth), and I chose Dartmouth at the last minute. I definitely don’t regret my year here, because I got exposed to so many things that my Berkeley friends will probably never experience within the “UC bubble.”</p>
<p>Go with where your heart tells you, and make sure YOU are happy and satisfied with the reasons behind your choice.</p>
<p>Congratulations on your offers from these two amazing schools!</p>
<p>If you are a freshman admit, I don’t believe Haas is guaranteed. Do Regents Scholars get a little boost when applying? Would you have to apply separately to Dartmouth’s business program (assuming they have one)?</p>
<p>Thank you so much!! I know that I want to get into business, not necessarily banking. Does that make a huge difference? If I didn’t get Regents at Berkeley, this would have been a much easier choice since I know it is a huge honor. I am definitely still leaning towards Dartmouth. Thank you again for your help!!</p>
<p>And @mothergoldenbear Haas is not guaranteed for freshmen, I was just comparing it because it was something I would have worked hard to get into if I end up going to Cal. I don’t think Regents Scholars would have much of a boost since their admissions criteria is probably more on what the applicant did in college, not on what the applicant achieved in high school. Dartmouth does not have an undergrad business program but it is possible to take a few classes at Tuck (their business school) or do the Tuck Bridge program.</p>
<p>“Haas is not guaranteed for freshmen, I was just comparing it because it was something I would have worked hard to get into if I end up going to Cal.” </p>
<p>Grammar lesson [sorry: can’t resist & applies no matter which school you choose]</p>
<p>“would have worked hard to get into if I end[ed] up” implies you’ve already decided to go to Dartmouth [needs the “ed”]. “would … work[] hard to get into if I end up” is the “going to Cal” sentence you might have meant.</p>
<p>I meant to say ‘would work hard to get into if I end up going to Cal’. Thank you for clearing up any possible misunderstandings or inferences.</p>
<p>(Usually, I’d pay more attention to my grammar but right now I’m much more distracted by college decisions. There may very well be grammatical errors in this post as well but I’d appreciate if we’d ignore those now since I’d much rather hear some feedback on what college I should choose.)</p>
<p>Haas is very hard to get into and if you don’t get in, you’re stuck with an econ major that isn’t effective.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t make the decision based on whether or not you got Regents. If there is a significant difference in cost (60k vs 30k) then Cal may seem to be the best option.</p>
<p>If costs are about the same, Dartmouth all the way because of the alumni network and the unique supportive environment. Dartmouth is significantly more prestigious as well (except for engineering)</p>
<p>I will try to pay more attention to grammar also, I have gone through that thread and it has helped a lot, thank you!</p>
<p>Is an economics major (non-Haas) that bad for Cal? I feel like there will be added pressure for me to get into Haas at Cal whereas at Dartmouth, I won’t need to have that unneeded stress.</p>
<p>The difference between Cal and Dartmouth is $30,000 to $45,000 a year (my mom rounds up Dartmouth to $50,000 because of airfare/transportation/extra apparel costs). The only thing that is really stopping me from committing to Dartmouth right this minute is the cost, but the opportunities that Dartmouth presents seem so much more valuable. My parents can afford both but evidently, Dartmouth will take much more of their savings than Cal will. In the end, I know that it’s my decision and that I will end up working my hardest no matter where I go. It just comes to the question, where will working my hardest take me the furthest, in terms of success? And if it’s Dartmouth, will that $80,000 be worth it? I know that these questions are quite subjective but the deadline is approaching soon and I just really need all the help I can get.</p>
<p>I would say yes, it’s worth it. Berkeley is an excellent school, and there were times over the last four years when I would have loved for D to be just down the hill, but Dartmouth is a fantastic school, and Berkeley cannot touch it for excellence in undergraduate teaching.</p>
<p>Although both schools have great reputations globally, the region these schools are in is an important factor.</p>
<p>You said that you are trying to go into business… what type of business? Are you trying to start a tech company or work for Google or Apple? If so, Dartmouth won’t hurt, but it may be nicer to develop local connections/ possibly have internships here in the Bay Area. That said I know wildly successful families who went to dartmouth and wildly successful families who all went to Berkeley. I guess its what you do with your education after that really counts, especially when you are comparing two of the top schools in the world. You really can’t go wrong with either. </p>
<p>It’s not like the east coast doesn’t have business opportunities as well. From what I have read, Boston is doing well and Southern New Hampshire is developing a lot of tech businesses (they have really low taxes in NH).</p>
<p>I read a magazine article, forget which, that ranked the top cities for business growth. It went;
Austin TX
Boston
San Jose
San Francisco </p>
<p>If it was me, I would go to Dartmouth, but my reasons are completing different than yours. Good luck and congrats.</p>
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also, I have gone through that thread and it has helped a lot, thank you!</p>