<p>Thanks for the replies, everyone! The money issue is something I have considered and my parents think I should take the U of M scholarship. However, although going to the U would probably get me into the U of M med school, I'm not sure the U of M is the kind of environment I'm looking for in a college. </p>
<p>Also, about Chinese- I received info about ND Chinese from a current Chinese major and the program seems pretty good- with some great study abroad opportunities. And I know that the U of M has a large Chinese program that is very active in the surrounding community. However, I don't know much about Dartmouth Chinese- except what I learned from my interviewer, who was an East Asian studies major- does anyone else have further info on Chinese at Dartmouth?</p>
<p>P.S. I'm from Minnesota- long underwear isn't a problem :)</p>
<p>Dartmouth chinese 1 and 2 (and maybe 3? i'm not sure) meets 10x a week - class and drill both meet every day. Class is normal grammar stuff, but in drill, no grammar is taught - its just practice speaking and doing verbal exercises to increase fluency. While it might seem like a lot, it means students are very well prepared, and many go on an LSA (language study abroad) the summer after their freshman year to China.</p>
<p>"Example: Go to Dartmouth over Minnesota, cost difference say $170K. If you're planning on going to Med school, maybe you should chose Minnesota and take the extra 170K in cost from your parents and put it in the bank. You appear smart enough I doubt going to Dartmouth over Minnesota will inprove your med school chances much.</p>
<p>Starting out your career with $170K in the bank can open up a world of options in the future."</p>
<p>People always say this, but in many cases this isn't how it works out. Frequently parents are willing to pay what it takes for the kid to go to what college he wants, but won't neccessarily hand him 170k after graduation if he goes somewhere on a free ride.</p>
<p>My college fund is in my name and currently contains enough money for me to attend school pretty much anywhere- for four years. If I don't spend it for undergrad, my parents have assured me that it will be there to pay for graduate school.</p>
<p>Dartmouth is significantly more respected academically than ND or Colgate (though both ND and Colgate are excellent). Williams is like a mini-Dartmouth, and is a truly magical place, with academics as good as at any college in the world. Avoid U of Minn. The profs at a place like that look at teaching undergrads as a major irritant (I've attended several large universities, and am related to several profs at such schools). Dartmouth or Williams, hands down.</p>
<p>I would also suggest you save the $170,000+ toward med school or other grad school if that's something you're interested in. By going to U of M, you will be the "big fish in the small pond." You will be able to afford whatever med school you'd like that accepts you rather than having to settle for the med school you can afford.
Many honors programs at state Us give undergrads an opportunity to do research with faculty members as well & can provide a great experience at a good price.</p>
<p>We're probably going to be having to consider a situation similar to this in a few weeks when my son's admissions decisions come in as well. He has already gotten a 1/2 tuition merit award from Santa Clara U & will likely get a full ride (tuition + housing) at ASU. We have no idea what other schools will accept him or what they will offer, but can definitely identify with your issues & will be discussing them soon.</p>
<p>If you go to med school you are going to make some serious coin after graduation. If I were to do it all over again I would pay $170K extra for Dartmouth in a heartbeat.</p>
<p>Dartmouth is seriously one of the most amazing college experiences in the world.</p>
<p>Friends whose kids attended Dartmouth have all reported that their kids were very happy there. My niece almost applied there but ultimately decided it was too cold & rural there so chose Notre Dame instead. <grin> She's Catholic too.</grin></p>
<p>Yeah...I think you should go to Dartmouth too :) The rivals would be Princeton/Williams if you're aiming for med school. Dartmouth, Princeton, Williams are known to have amazing undergrad experiences (and very respectable placement to top med. schools) and that's just not somethign I would sacrifice for a scholarship at the U of M. And I agree with slipper, if you ultimately become a doctor, the extra money to go to a top undergrad school is a worthwhile investment.</p>
<p>I think you are applying the wrong comparison group. It is NOT between Minnesota and Dartmouth or Williams, but between Minnesota Honors for a pre-med, and a pre-med at Dartmouth and Williams. At which place are you more likely to get an internship at the Mayo Clinic? At which place are you more likely to get to do upper level research at a teaching hospital as an undergraduate, and during the school year? At which place are you more likely to rank in the upper echelons of your class for med. school admissions? Finally, and this bears research, what percentage of folks entering as pre-meds actually end up as pre-meds? (A far, far more important percentage than med. school admits.) </p>
<p>It's not so "open and shut" that, for a pre-med, that so-called "top" undergrad school plus shelling out virtually the entire cost of med school on one's undergrad education is the best choice. It is not even open and shut that it is the best choice even putting money aside.</p>
<p>Do your own research. You plan to be involved in research someday - now's a good time to start.</p>
<p>If you are a TOP student (which you are if you got a D likely), Dartmouth will be much more likely to get you into a top 10 med school. I have seen top med school class lists and it seems like 80% went to Ivies or similar. A 3.8 from Dartmouth is MUCH stronger tjhan a 4.0 from Minn.</p>
<p>On the otherhand, if you aren't as strong academically and are looking at more "average" med schools, Minnesota will probably be better since you can get a higher GPA. A 3.7 from Minn beats a 3.0 from Dartmouth. </p>
<p>But the Dartmouth experience is absolutely one of the best in the world.</p>
<p>(And with the grade inflation at the Ivies, I fail to see that this is so obvious - why you keep comparing Dartmouth with Minnesota, as opposed to the Minnesota Honors Program, I don't understand.)</p>
<p>Dartmouth vs. Minnesota Honors-Mayo Clinic-Med. School virtually totally paid for is far from a slam-dunk.</p>
<p>A Stanford alumna we know wishes her daughter had not gone to Stanford for pre-med, because she got eaten alive in organic chemistry by the zombie pre-meds. Except for that, she was glad to have gone the the best school among her choices.</p>