<p>I'm trying to decide between Columbia, dartmouth, georgetown and williams. Please help me out and tell me what you think about each, from personal experience or reputation. I'm the first in my family to ever go to college, so I need all the input I can get. which one would you chose? Thank you!!</p>
<p>i would choose columbia if you like the bustling city and not just any city but NY CITY!! ...lol but seriously...columbia is in the middle of it all with any part of the 5 boroughs a couple of train rides away...also im gonna go out on a limb here and say that it is much more recognized worldwide than the other colleges on your list</p>
<p>Hmmm...All four are really great schools. It really depends on what you want to study, what kind of environment you want, etc. Can you give some more details about your preferences?</p>
<p>(If I was choosing for myself, I'd go with Columbia.)</p>
<p>From your past posts, I see you are a Hispanic living in S. Florida who is an international.</p>
<p>All of the colleges that have accepted you are excellent, so in terms of your education, you will get a good one whichever you choose.</p>
<p>Williams is beautiful, has small classes, etc., but is in a very isolated area. How happy would you be in the middle of nowhere? (I am from a NY State small town about a half hour away, and am African American. I felt very isolated and, frankly, bored growing up in that part of the country. Now, if unlike me, you love cold weather, spending weeks on end in small, scenic villages where the locals are not diverse, and also love snow skiing or want to learn how to ski, Williams might be the place for you). </p>
<p>Dartmouth: This is the only one of the colleges on your list that I have never visited. I hear it is beautiful and the students are very happy. They also are very athletic. If that sounds good to you, Dartmouth could be the place for you. Remember, though, that it also is in a cold, snowy relatively isolated town where there's little ethnic diversity. </p>
<p>As for me, I'd pick Columbia. I love NYC. Lots to do including things that don't cost much. Wonderful diversity. Excellent public transportation, so you would be fine without a car. Ivy League name. Excellent access to things like good local internships, etc.</p>
<p>My second choice would be Georgetown. Has similar pluses to Columbia, just isn't an Ivy. Weather is a little warmer, too.</p>
<p>What do you plan to major in?</p>
<p>Id go to Dartmouth. It is just as known as columbia and the campus is GORGEOUS. columbia just seems dirty and stuck up to me personally...as well Dartmouth i believe is more difficult to get into. and it is most certainly diverse. ask yourself, do you really want to be in the middle of a city?</p>
<p>The main turnoff of Dartmouth for me was that 60% of the school are in frats. If that doesn't bother you or if you want to join a school with a heavy greek life then by all means, Dartmouth is the school for you.</p>
<p>My personal choice would be Columbia because it's in the city, the neighborhood around there is becoming better, and you will NEVER lack for anything to do. The downside is you don't really want to be walking around there alone late at night, especially south of 95th street or north of 130th. On campus is fairly safe because a police car is always in the middle of it, and they do close all their gates except the main two after dark. Definitely not like UPenn, where mugging on campus is not an uncommon occurence.</p>
<p>I believe the Greek percentage at Dartmouth is 37% and the frat houses are not residential. My son is not interested in the Greek system and was initially troubled by the Greek life aspect. After visiting and reading the Dartmouth forum, that is no longer a big factor in his thinking.</p>
<p>We have visited GT, D, and C not W. All three are excellent schools. What kind of environment do you want to live in? What kind of climate? Do you like Outdoor activities(skiing, hiking, rock climbing) or cultural events? Are you majoring in a subject that one school has an advantage in? Do you like the idea of the Core Curriculum at Columbia? Do you want to be a GT and be part of the political scene (A&S or SFS)?</p>
<p>All things to consider.</p>
<p>One other thing to consider: The costs and convenience of visiting home.</p>
<p>Both Williams and Dartmouth are not close to hub airports, and also are more likely than D.C. and even NYC to be affected by the severe winter storms that can delay flights, shut down airports and highways, etc. It also probably costs more to fly to south Fla. from the airports serving Williams and Dartmouth.</p>