<p>Hi all! I've had the incredible luck of being admitted by my four dream schools: Dartmouth College, the University of Chicago, Northwestern, and Cornell University. Now, I have to make a decision to attend only one. I live in Springfield, Illinois; I'm enthralled by chemistry, biology, english, playwriting, and theatre; I plan to go to graduate school, probably medical. I'm very young (only 16), but, egregious lapses of judgement aside, very mature. Distance shouldn't be a terrible issue; I've spent the last three years of my life at the Illinois Math and Science Academy, a boarding school. Could you guys please give me some advice? Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.</p>
<p>Dartmouth, Dartmouth, Dartmouth!! Not even a question. And even if you don't go to Dartmouth, PLEASE don't go to Chicago. Its not a normal college experience at all. College can be one of the most amazing times of life, and I think Chicago kids miss out. The others will get you into amazing grad schools, and you will feel much more of a sense of place (and at Dartmouth especially).</p>
<p>Dartmouth is such a tight school. After you graduate you will realize how amazing your friendships are, and how connected people are to the school. People love to love the place, moreso than almost anywhere else. Princeton is the only other top school with this mentality. There are FOUR big weekends a year, and people are cool, funny, hardworking, and playful. Its amazing.</p>
<p>I'd also say Dartmouth/ Cornell are more prestigious than Northwestern, although all are good. </p>
<p>Cornell was too big for me, its not nearly as community oriented. But it is a fun school.</p>
<p>U Chicago is higher ranked than Dartmouth and is in a really cool city...its definetely a unique school and is probably awesome in everything you could possibly want. Northwestern also kicks serious ass--for journalism. Cornell is good but Dartmouth doesn't impress me that much.</p>
<p>Considering how harsh college decisions have been I truly congratulate you on having to make a decision between those four highly selective schools.</p>
<p>Ignore Slipper as he bad mouths Chicago wherever he goes on CC. I will just suggest this to you. Go where you feel most comfortable because you will prosper the most. Visit and decide. Good luck.</p>
<p>Ok I'm going to let a little of my bias out. What are you going to major in. If it is Math I can help you some with Chicago as my S is 1st year studying Math at Chicago. Chicago of course has a highly rated math program. Check the course catalogs between your options. If you want to leave Illinois obviously Chicago is not for you. I am not going to bad mouth any of your options becasue they are all great.</p>
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I'm enthralled by chemistry, biology, english, playwriting, and theatre
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<p>In terms of ranking and reputation, Chicago is probably the best in chemistry/bio/english. If your interest is primarily science/liberal arts, Chicago offers probably the most rigorous training, though that kind of training is not for everyone. Other three are also good. However, in terms of playwriting and theatre, Northwestern sets itself apart from the three. So if your interest in theatre/playwriting is very strong, I would pick Northwestern, given it's science/liberal arts (esp chemistry) are pretty decent also. The school of communication is simply amazing.</p>
<p>It seems as if... Chicago offers a .. more intellectual experience. It is very explicit in their brochures and such -- they seem to emphasize greatly and deeply on intellect and .. well, not much else. Which is not necessarily a bad thing. But IMHO, I'm looking for the overall college experience, not just.. well, not just a regiment of studying, lecturing, testing, and repeat. </p>
<p>I've heard Cornell has something left to be desired as far as the social situation goes. Dartmouth, I hear, is great for a balance of academics and social environment -- so I will have to agree with some of the above posters, and say Dartmouth.</p>