REALLY REALLY need help chosing...just give me your input!!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hey,</p>

<p>I've only lived the United States for about half my life, and am the first in my family to go to college in this country. My parents have no idea about the whole process, and I really need help from people who know what they're talking about.</p>

<p>I'm chosing between Columbia, Dartmouth and Brown...I think I want to study International Relations or Communications...</p>

<p>I visited all three schools, I think by now it's really between Columbia and Dartmouth because I really didnt like Brown. I like the people better at Dartmouth, and the sense of community. I feel like I'd be lost at a big university like Columbia. But at Columbia I like the city.....so my question is from an academic standpoint and for jobs in the future etc, is the name "Columbia" really a factor in chosing? are the academics and opportunities that much better at columbia, to the point of sacrificing a school where I'd maybe be happier?</p>

<p>THANK YOU!! I have two days to chose, please tell me what you think or which one you would chose and why :-)</p>

2

<p>I don't know the schools, but go for community. If you're engaged with your school, setting won't matter so much. You may live in cities the rest of your life, but will only be in college for a short period.</p>

3

<p>Dam, you got accepted to three Ivies. Congrats</p>

<p>Go to the colleges where you feel you can succeed the most while having a good time. All three schools will offer you the best edu so dont worry so much about Academics. You should feel happy at college</p>

<p>:p</p>

4

<p>Where's slipper, she/he left Columbia for Dartmouth. Dartmouth biased here but I didn't feel comfortable at all at Columbia. First, I covered a lot of the core in HS. Second, just too urban gritty.Hate taking the subway at night up there. Really was taken aback by all the bars on windows and bullet proof boohes at local stores.</p>

5

<p>Judging from your post, I'd go with Dartmouth. You sound like you'd be much more comfortable there. In terms of name recognition and job opportunities/placement, I would say they're about equal. But academically I believe Dartmouth is stronger.</p>

6

<p>Go to Dartmouth. It's the ****.</p>

7

<p>I'd go to Dartmouth, what I've read about the core classes at Columbia, I didn't like and when I visited the city didn't appeal to me that much. I have a friend that goes to Dartmouth, he's more on the introverted side, but he loves it there and doesn't get bored of the small campus</p>

8

<p>Dartmouth by far</p>

9

<p>I went to Columbia and transferred to Dartmouth. I also have a grad degree from Columbia. I probably know these two schools more than anyone. In my opinion Dartmouth is the choice for undergrad. The access to grants, the undergrad focus, the more intimate instruction, the overall "campus" focused environment, and the loyal alumni network (tightknit student body) are all factors distinguishing it. </p>

<p>I'm not sure why you have the impression that Columbia will open more doors, these two are absolute equals in terms of recruiting and grad placement (in fact Dartmouth has the edge on most published lists. There are more Dartmouth grads at Columbia Law than Columbia grads for example). If you look at any placement of graduates at top professional or grad schools Dartmouth is always in the top 7-8 schools. Choosing Columbia over Dartmouth for some non-existant notion of a prestige difference would be a huge mistake in my opinion. These two are equals.</p>

<p>I would argue that given Dartmouth attention to its students is actually its biggest strength and this is why Dartmouth students do so well after graduation. The tight alumni network is unbelievable.</p>

<p>Here's an example of the difference between the two in terms of school spirit and alumni loyalty:</p>

<p>Reunions: Last year's Columbia reunion (class of 2001) had about 200 people out of 1200+. The first night of the Columbia reunion was in Hammerstein ballroom and was a cocktail party that ended at midnight and ended up in groups of 5-10 going out in the city. The second night a fancy party in a tent that merged into an all alumni jazz party that ended at midnight (lol I know Columbia well!). </p>

<p>The Dartmouth reunion (class of 2001) had 700+ out of 1086 show up (plus people from other classes). It was a three day weekend with alumni staying in the dorms, pre-parties with friends, people going out and running into each other all night and everywhere, swimming in the river, barbeques on the lawn, and the pinnacle was a fancy affair with over 500 people in attendance in a beautiful outdoor space. The whole weekend it feels like the campus is taken over by the class. </p>

<p>Dartmouth has an amazing spirit and in my opinion it changes people's lives as an institution in a way that few schools do. Its hard to get bored with the amount of activity on campus and due to the fact that you'll be surrounded by hilarious, fun, bright, and interesting people every day you are there. My best friendships were made having "casual fun" like 2am dips in the river during the summer. I feel as if Columbia students miss out on much of this type of fun. </p>

<p>I would choose Dartmouth again in a nanosecond and personally transferring was the best decision I ever made. I don't want to be too hard on Columbia, its a great school with a great reputation. Yet its a bigger school with an intense vibe. For some its the right choice. But I think (given what you have said above) that Dartmouth is the right fit.</p>

10

<p>BTW: If you have any specific questions about these two feel free to ask.</p>

11

<p>Another vote for Dartmouth.
Just a better experience all around, which I think you sense.</p>

12

<p>DARTMOUTH DARTMOUTH DARTMOUTH if you can deal with life without a city. Friendly and undergrad oriented...I stayed away from columbia because I have a bunch of friends who miss highschool prof attentiveness.
Brown is in between as far as city but if you didn't get a good feeling here forget about it, trust your instinct.</p>

13

<p>I agree that Brown is the "in between" choice. Its a great balance between a community focused LAC-ish college like Dartmouth and an urban University like Columbia.</p>

14

<p>Does Brown have as many on campus activities and gatherings as Dartmouth? Or does the city tend to draw people off to other places?</p>

15

<p>

Me too (well, in my case it's a third of my life). Where is your family from?</p>

<p>Where did you decide to go?</p>

16

<p>addy,
brown definitely has a more than solid core of people on campus. Probably 95 percent of the population is here on the weekend/participating in activities but the "city" (really small) is always there if you want it.</p>