Hi everyone. A few weeks ago, I decided to commit to Duke over Dartmouth. However, I’ve been having a lot of second thoughts. Would it be possible for me to call Dartmouth and ask if I could change my mind, or is it too late?
There’s probably no harm in calling, but it may be too late. Why do you think you made a mistake?
@gardenstategal I feel as though I didn’t research enough about Dartmouth because I considered Duke to be more “prestigious,” as embarrassing as that is to say… Now that I’ve done said research, I feel as though I made a terrible decision…
So prestige aside (both are high), what makes you feel dartmouth is a better fit? Both are great schools, and the student body is probably similar. … smart, conservative, greek, etc
Why would you feel either is more prestigious? And why would that have any bearing on where you want to go to college?
@gardenstategal I feel as though Dartmouth is more committed to undergraduate teaching + their student body seems more cohesive and welcoming. And @ErinsDad, prestige shouldn’t have any bearing - that was my mistake, as I’ve stated in my post.
You’re going off of impressions.
Personally, I feel that they are fairly similar.
What you do will make a much bigger difference than which you go to.
What if Dartmouth says no and Duke rescinds as a result?
I can’t see that happening. The OP isn’t double depositing. I assume he would withdraw at Duke at the same time he deposits at Dartmouth if they allow it. He would lose his Duke deposit. I don’t see anything against the rules with that.
@tastypotatofries There is no harm in calling. But before you do, think about whether you really want to go to Dartmouth. Also, if they ask you the reason for the change in your decision, what will you say?
I don’t think it will go that far, but you need to be thinking through that question anyway. So, why Dartmouth…now, as oppose to back on May 1?
Do you need aid? If NOT, and you/your family will be full pay, I would tell Dartmouth that. Frankly, that could help.
Finally, keep looking into Duke. I think you will find it to be very, very good with incredible opportunities. Is any of this now getting caught up in Ivy vs. non-Ivy?
It is quite late, but it may still be possible as some people I know have done it up through the end of last week. All of them have changed from Yale, Columbia, to Brown PLME to Stanford.
Both schools will present you with multitudes of opportunities and you’ll barely scratch the surface in your 4-5 years. You’re simply over inflating the “differences” between Duke and Dartmouth.
To me, the biggest difference is the weather. Arguably, Duke has higher name-recognition w/the person on the street due to its basketball program. But to say Duke can’t provide a fantastic undergrad education as Dartmouth is nutso, IMHO.
Both are great schools. I really wouldn’t second guess your decision.
I was always told to go with my first instinct in cases like this. I’m not seeing any reason to question your choice of Duke over Darmouth. I agree the main differences are weather and basketball (did you make your decision during March Madness?), and maybe distance from home. Both are great schools.
You must have called by now. What happened?
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They are very similar schools; if you instinct pointed you to Duke, I would stick with it.
I find it a bit amusing how much Dartmouth has lost ground in the last decade. It is still obviously very much up there, but not to the extent it used to be. About 10 years ago, Dartmouth was considered one of the harder / prestigious Ivies, just after HYP and Columbia…
@Boothie007 : It is just an admissions thing primarily though. I would argue that the academics there are still stronger than many schools ranking below it, near it, and even above it. It’s kind of like some of the schools below it have made lots of grounds in admissions with much higher SATs, yet based on academics, if I actually valued it, I could not choose them over Dartmouth. The fact is, once you’ve reached a really good threshold academically (as have places like Dartmouth and Duke), a lot of it is branding and marketing and perhaps questionable admissions schemes (that could compromise the type of “feel” desired on campus). Also, Dartmouth has more of the liberal arts feel with less fancy amenities than many peers. Given that students seem to care much more about that and the socialization/location aspect, I can see how Dartmouth would lose ground in prestige by some metrics. Some other places have managed to change their admissions to “manufacture” an image that they are getting better for undergraduates, but academically, I think many know the reality behind such schemes…however, those matriculating can care less. The schools are beautiful, fun, and ranked well. No one (including students) has to know that many of the undergraduate academics are not on par to schools of similar or lower selectivity (versus the newer stats). Often faculty know it however…though few would admit it. As far as I’m concerned Dartmouth shouldn’t go the Chicago route and become extremely worried. They should continue to educate extremely well and other schools who want to desperately move up in the rankings should perhaps begin focusing on getting the academics to the same level of their student bodies.
@Boothie007 I agree 100%. I’d pick any top 10-15 school over Dartmouth as things stand. I have no reason to be biased against the school but it is objectively the weakest Ivy at this moment in time. Admissions statistics are in free fall, US News ranking is plummeting (relative to other elite schools), professors are paid a pittance (again, this is relative), international recognition is virtually non-existent.
The one thing that Dartmouth has going for it is a solid alumni network on Wall Street. However, I expect the quality of the alumni network to change as academically weaker classes graduate and enter the workforce.
@bernie12 Don’t you think it’s slightly suspicious that Dartmouth’s yield is increasing even though all other statistical indicators point to an institution in decline? Some Dartmouth alums argue that the college is already practicing significant yield protection (not just by using ED more extensively).