Dartmouth vs. Yale Early

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>So I am a rising senior who is trying to decide which school to apply to Early.</p>

<p>As it stands now my top 2 choices are Dartmouth and Yale. I love their undergraduate focus and liberal arts feel without being fully LAC socially (something about those super small schools like Pomona and Williams just didn't do it for me), and I love the balance between hard work and vibrant school spirit/social life. I also love Yale's residential college system and gothic architecture. Dartmouth's D-plan, beautiful campus, and extremely great sense of community are also great.</p>

<p>Im pretty undecided with what I want to do, but I know I prefer the humanities (english, literature, history, classics) to hard sciences and although I don't necessarily want to major in it, it would be nice to have the option to study film as it is my passion and something I might consider continuing.</p>

<p>Both school's are obviously great and would set me up very well, but a couple of things make the decision a little tougher.</p>

<p>Firstly, I have been told by college counselors that I have a better chance of being accepted to Dartmouth than Yale. I have a 2320 SAT with decent SAT 2s, a 4.0 unweighted with a very rigorous course schedule. I participate in my school's a cappella group, annual musical, am co-founder of the habitat for humanity club, and run my school's film festival. I am told that I have an outside chance at Yale and a slightly better chance at Dartmouth early. However, I was also nominated by my school to pursue the Jefferson Scholarship for UVA, and although my chances of actually getting it are very low and I might not even accept it anyway, the fact that Yale's early action is non-binding is a plus (especially for someone like me who can never make up his mind).</p>

<p>Basically I would be happy in both places, but I fear that while applying to Dartmouth ED might by the "safer play", I might always think about the opportunity I could have had at Yale. Maybe I am just letting prestige of a HYP blind me, but I guess my question is:
Is Yale that much greater than Dartmouth that it is worth applying Early and risking getting denied from both?</p>

<p>PS I posted this in Yale's forum too I just wanted to hear both sides</p>

2

<p>Parent here, and a true Dartmouth lover, but I would not apply to Dartmouth ED if you will always wonder about Yale. ED should really only be used if it is truly your number one choice school, not because you think you have a better chance of getting in. </p>

3

<p>I’d say u shud apply to yale ED coz my acquaintance went to yale and she’s in love with it. yale’s student body is actually pretty amazing too and it’s a lot more prestigious than dartmouth. plus u have great stats. getting into yale shudn’t b too much trouble for u. let us know where u decide to apply ED</p>

4

<p>Sounds to me like you are a viable candidate at any of the Ivies and their peers. But when acceptance rates are in the single digits or just above, sure things are few and far between. I personally know a kid who was accepted at Y and P and waitlisted at D. You risk being denied at both no matter what.</p>

<p>Since you are torn between Y and D, I think you should apply to Y SCEA. If you are deferred or rejected–or even if you are accepted–you can apply to D RD. And continue to pursue the Jefferson. Keep your options open.</p>

5

<p>Agree with all posters except the one in text speak. There is trouble for anyone to get into Yale. If you are not sure do not ED. I applied ED because I knew it was my no. 1 and had no doubts. </p>