<p>I'm asking for those on the forum to give me advice/suggestions/statistics,etc. on these two schools because I'm currently trying to figure out which one to go to. Both are really good schools, and I got in, but I feel like I obviously need more information before proceeding to make a decision. I researched online, read college books, etc, but I'm sure there's other insightful advice that others on this forum can contribute as well.</p>
<p>I'm just asking for an overall evaluation of either school, seeing as how I havent picked a specific major yet.</p>
<p>In your case, I'd say Dartmouth. Duke is slightly bigger and more focused on research, which is great if you know what you want to do. Since you're unsure of what you want to do, I'd say a smaller college like Dartmouth provides a more nuturing environment for exploring your passions.</p>
<p>You should order the tapes from U Uncut They are great tapes of all the colleges. There is one for the ivy league, one for the schools in the south ect. I think they are done by the warner network. They are great and really keep your attention. They show what it is really like to go there. You get to see inside the dorms, in all the buildings, the campus, the towns. But they also tell and show you what the social scene is like, what it is like to go there, they type of person who would be happy there ect</p>
<p>well what are you interested in studying?
two of my best friends chose duke over dartmouth in this situation, and never look back and think it was the best decision of their life. the thing is, there's probably kids at dartmouth who can say the same things.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Looking over the results, note your reactions. Do you find yourself annoyed that Princeton got only 78 points and Harvard got 88? That tells you something. Do you find yourself tempted to go back over Carleton's results and add a bit here and there? That tells you something.</p></li>
<li><p>Look over the results again. Do you know that the answers the rankings give you just won't work? Because your mother would never be happy if you don't go to Duke? Because your dad will be furious if you go to Reed? Because the cost is just plain prohibitive for the winner? Then, go back and add whatever criteria these issues raise: Mom's favorite, Dad's view, and add more weight to the cost criterion.</p></li>
<li><p>Study the final results. Perhaps you now have your answer, and you are done.</p></li>
<li><p>To me this is the most important step. If you do not have your answer, put the tables and analyses away. Now, imagine that the decision has been taken completely out of your hands: a Big Boss has swooped in and told you that your acceptances to Earlham, JHU and UNC have been revoked. You have to go to Amherst. How do you feel? Relieved? Thrilled? Incensed? Ready to fight for that JHU acceptance? </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Test out this scenario for each college you're still considering. Believing that the decision has been taken out of your hands, and monitoring your reactions should give you your answer. If it doesn't narrow it down to one school (I think it will), it should at least eliminate some and you can redo the process for the remaining.