<p>I'm deciding between ND and Dartmouth. Will probably be a liberal arts major in undergraduate, and go for an MBA or law degree for graduate school. Both schools have similar weather, and similar small surrounding town. So, I'm more focused on the differences within the campus. Thanks for your help.</p>
<p>You are in luck.</p>
<p>Shellzie had to make this decision a few years ago. Here is the link. <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-notre-dame/166442-amherst-vs-dartmouth-vs-notre-dame.html?highlight=Dartmouth%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-notre-dame/166442-amherst-vs-dartmouth-vs-notre-dame.html?highlight=Dartmouth</a></p>
<p>I don't think the surrounding towns are all that similar. Hanover is small and rural; quaint and New England-y. It's picturesque and has small shops, restaurants, etc. Lovely.</p>
<p>South Bend--well, no one goes to ND for the weather or for South Bend. It's an economically depressed, small rust belt city (much, much larger than Hanover). Has some very nice areas, but overall not attractive.</p>
<p>That's SB in general. The campus of ND is insular, gated and beautiful. Once one crosses the main gate, never much of a feeling of being in SB. Dartmouth is more isolated and further from a big city. Mishawaka (adjacent to SB) has some nice shopping/eating areas.</p>
<p>As for the student bodies, I believe both have an athletically minded (in general), fitness conscious, conservative (ND more than D) student population. ND does not have a Greek system, although my S strongly feels his dorm functions as such.</p>
<p>Congrats on such great choices! You can't go wrong. If possible, visit (or revisit) and go with your gut if f/a isn't a factor.</p>
<p>Thank you, Tim and Srystress!<br>
Tim, I've been reading your posts and rooting for you. Have you decided where you're going? What are your choices? Good luck!!! You'll be a great friend and classmate to wherever you're going.</p>
<p>thanks darkHorse,</p>
<p>I am trying to decide between Vanderbilt, Boston College, USC, and UNC-CH</p>
<p>Same exact dilemma for me -- also Wash U and Duke in the mix. I've pretty much decided against Wash U and Duke -- so now it's between Notre Dame and Dartmouth. I'm thinking mostly about the business opportunities. I know that Dartmouth has a 5 year MBA program form the Tuck B School, ranked the 7th graduate business school in the nation. BUT Notre Dame's Mendoza UNDERgraduate is ranked #3 in the nation.
This is tough.
Thoughts, please. What program is best?</p>
<p>Well Mendoza school of business is ranked third.</p>
<p>Right Notre Dame's is undergraduate ranked 3rd.
Dartmouth is graduate ranked 7th. (Notre Dame's graduate is not that stellar.)</p>
<p>Great choices, Tim! 12 top-quality students from my class applied to Vanderbilt, only one got in. Vanderbilt has the highest increase in applications nationwide - 2nd UofChicago-3rd Harvard. Something is going on at Vanderbilt (is the buzz). New dorms for freshman, starting a residential college system, that look like "Harry Potter" according to some of the posts a Vandy. Engage program guaranteeing medical and law school admissions to those who qualify and keep GPA level. Law school is ranked #15 in the nation. The most beautiful girls I've seen in any campus . Terrific weather. Nashville is a music-party town. One of my friends is going there, and is absolutely thrilled. Another friend is going to BC (although I don't know enough about it). Another friend is going to UNC. Don't know anybody going to USC, so can't comment. Great guns! You've got great choices! I know it's not ND, but being a strong Catholic, sometimes I let God take my hand so he can lead me along. Maybe He's doing that to you. Keep the faith!</p>
<p>The 5-year MBA program with the Tuck School sounds very attractive. But cannot ignore that ND undergrad is #3. Anybody knows anything about the caliber of the professors? Comparison of social/party life?</p>
<p>Sabrina, where you decide to go, ND or Dartmouth, let me know. If I make the same choice, I'd like to meet you next school year. Good luck to you!</p>
<p>The thing is undergrad business rankings are more than meets the eye. With the exception of Wharton and maybe Stern, econ majors at highly recruited schools (like top Ivies) tend to do better with job and MBA placement than even the highest ranked BBA programs. Dartmouth easily is one of the top most highly 5-6 recruited schools in the country. Its honestly a hidden gem in this regard, it handily beats out its peers. One reason is that Dartmouth alums have been incredibly successful in business and that legacy carries to this day. The second reason for Dartmouth's success is the D-plan. Sophomore summer on campus means you have to take a school-year off term. The banks/ consulting firms all have special Dartmouth only internships for this reason, basically you have little competition from other schools to get an "in." </p>
<p>Dartmouth has 5/7 elite banks and 4/5 elite consulting firms recruiting on campus, the same number as Yale. Notre Dame has 2/7 elite banks and 1/5 elite consulting (vault*.com). Plus at Dartmouth you get the liberal arts undergrad feel, which is much more intimate and welcoming. Better job placement + more LACy education always seemed like a great deal to me. </p>
<p>The biggest reason to get a BBA is because you want to get an "industry" job in areas like media, fashion in a more operational role, like marketing. In this regard ND will do well, but many prefer to go to elite consulting firms or banks pre-MBA because there tend to be more opportunities to advance your career quickly in these fields. for these jobs its hard to beat Dartmouth.</p>
<p>Socially both have lots of activity on campus, but Dartmouth is more diverse with a more liberal student body. Dartmouth's access to the outdoors is great, with a swimable river on campus and D's own ski mountain.</p>
<p>Darkhorse, yes, absolutely. What are you leaning towards right now?
Slipper, thank you! What info!
I don't know rtight now. I just don't know. BUT, I do know that Notre Dame is very special. I go to the games and oter things. It's an emotional attachment.
I will be on both campuses in the next couple of weeks and I will ask lots of questions.
This is tough.</p>
<p>Sorry for the spelling errors!</p>
<p>Slipper, I tried to send you a private message but your message box is full.</p>
<p>Sabrina, I'll know more after visiting Darmouth for the first time (next week) and ND for the 3rd time (the week after).</p>
<p>Hey, sorry PM box is now not full!</p>
<p>I should probably add that ND has incredible strengths. In terms of alumni loyalty and overall school spirit its hard to beat.</p>
<p>Slipper1234, one post told me that you had to make a choice before between Vanderbilt and Dartmouth. Did you end up in Dartmouth? What made you decide in favor of Darmouth? If you've been a student at Dartmouth for at least a year, can you share your positive and negative experiences at Dartmouth? Thanks!</p>
<p>Hey,</p>
<p>Actually out of high school I chose Columbia over Northwestern, attended Columbia and then transferred into Dartmouth. As a transfer I was also accepted to Brown, Duke and Waitlisted at Harvard. </p>
<p>My choice really came down to Dartmouth's undergrad focus, its tight-knit community, and the D-plan (with sophomore summer, study abroad, etc). Dartmouth was personally one of the best decisions I've ever made. Socially there's almost a familial sense about the place. Over 75% of my class showed up at the five year reunion. I think this speaks volumes.</p>
<p>Academically I got grants (10K for my thesis research), lived abroad with other Dartmouth students twice (D is different in that it runs its own Dartmouth exclusive study abroad programs) and had TWO thesis advisors work with me on a one-one basis. I cannot imagine a better academic experience.</p>
<p>All in all Dartmouth a very special place, unique even among the Ivies. </p>
<p>As for Vandy, I personally think Dartmouth is the easy choice. Outside of the weather, IMO it wins in almost every other category.</p>
<p>Daughter had the same decision a year ago...she is at ND now, but it was tough! Both schools are great, you can not make a bad decision! I would echo the above that you really should visit both again and go with your gut...that said, maybe the distance is a consideration? We didn't put too much into that a year ago, but with daughter now only 3 hours away, there is a huge benefit to being a little closer! Not that she ever comes home! It just has made all the commuting for breaks, moving in etc. so much easier! </p>
<p>Bottom line~visit again and see how you feel. Best of luck!</p>