<p>/\ /\earthquake fault area?
I agree, it is a matter of time. It is highly likely there will be a major earthquake along the New Madrid fault some time in the next…5,000 years. Give or take. If that is in any way part of your decision-making process, however, you are not smart enough to survive either Dartmouth or WashU.</p>
<p>^ I think that maybe it was a joke.</p>
<p>Check out the USGS webpage for possible earth quake in St. Louis. It is not a joke.</p>
<p>[St</a>. Louis Area Earthquake Hazards Mapping Project](<a href=“http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/ceus/urban_map/st_louis/index.php]St”>http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/ceus/urban_map/st_louis/index.php)</p>
<p>It is your faith if you happen to be there if it happens.</p>
<p>^Okay, I gotta bite.</p>
<p>I checked out your link. The USGS estimates that the odds of a huge quake like the 1811 New Madrid earthquake occurring some time in the next 50 years is 7 to 10%. The odds of this happening during the 4 years one would be in college therefore are considerably less. The odds that it would occur during the 8 months a year that college is in session even less so. Finally, St. Louis isn’t even in the primary area likely to feel the major effects of a quake. Memphis is a lot closer to the likely active zone. This isn’t to say a big quake won’t happen. Over the next 5,000 years, it is almost a certainty. Over any given 4-year college career within that 5,000 year interval…not so much. </p>
<p>I think the odds of this occurring aren’t appreciably different than the odds of a Category 3 Hurricane hitting Providence over the next 50 years, but that wouldn’t keep me from applying to Brown. Weighing the odds, I think it is foolish for this to be in anyone’s calculation as to whether to matriculate at Dartmouth or Wash U.</p>
<p>My D (a Dartmouth '10) had the same decision to make. She liked both schools. She was offered a Moog scholarship at Wash U, but a very generous aid package at Dartmouth. She choose Dartmouth for it’s smaller size and emphasis on undergrads. It turned out great for her. You can’t miss with either school. As far as the sciences are concerned, while Wash U has more graduate students in the sciences, Dartmouth offers the ability to work in the lab from freshman year. My D graduated in Bio and is now at Stanford for her PHd. If you like economics or aspire to ibanking, Dartmouth is definitely the choice.</p>
<p>
As does WashU. I know tons of people who took the initiative to work in labs their freshman year. Several of them were authors on papers from that year as well.</p>
<p>Science/Business = WUSTL
Everything Else = Dartmouth</p>
<p>If you’re undecided, go to Dartmouth. They are more prestigious, more selective, and they have grade inflation. But the point of the matter is, everything should come down to you and your child. Visit both schools, consider what’s best for the two of you, whether it be location, the campus, the school ideology, financial aid, etc. Whether he goes to WUSTL or Dartmouth, he will still have a great quality of education and will lead a successful future.</p>
<p>Wow, what an excellent choice to have to make… Dartmouth and WashU were actually my top two schools (after getting denied EA by Yale). I got waitlisted at WashU and I’ll hear from Dartmouth next week. I don’t know what school I would have chosen, but for what it’s worth, Dartmouth has an fMRI on campus that undergraduates can use, which for a potential cog psych major (my intended major as well) is a big draw, in my opinion. Hope that helps; it’s not something you can find on the website, I picked it up on my campus visit.</p>
<p>Calvin - I’d actually give a SIGNIFICANT edge to Dartmouth for business -Dartmouth rivals HYPS in placement into elite firms. WashU actually lags the top 20 for business placement - the existence of a business school really doesn’t matter much after Wharton.</p>