<p>I applied to Dartmouth largely because the application was easy and I wanted to apply to a second northern school. I know that's not a good reason but aside from Brown, Dartmouth was the only Ivy I was even remotely interested in. Plus I knew I could never get into Princeton from my school.</p>
<p>So anyway, I just got my call for an interview and after doing some additional research, I am realizing I don't think I'd want to go to Dartmouth at all. I hate the small size, hate the fact that its so secluded, hate Greek life (which is huge there), and on top of all this I HATE the cold. Really the only reason I am attracted to Dartmouth at all is the name, which is not enough to warrant spending $50k a year attending (which I can't even afford really anyway). Also, I am not one of those people that would go to a school just because of it's reputation anyway. I want to enjoy my undergraduate experience as much as possible (I'm going pre-med if this matters). </p>
<p>My question is, should I decline the interview and withdraw my application or leave it in? My main reasoning behind withdrawing is that I would hate to get in over someone else from my school who really loves it. I would not go to Dartmouth even if I got in, unless it was some crazy weird circumstance where it was virtually my only option or some miraculous discovery made me like it. I have better grades / stats than some people I know who LOVE Dartmouth and I would hate to take their spot in admissions (Dartmouth takes 1-2 kids max from my school every year) when I don't even like it. Also, I don't see how the interview could possibly go well. I would basically have to fake my interest in Dartmouth which will be hard to do, and I doubt it will help my application much. </p>
<p>My mom thinks I should leave my app in just because you never know what could happen and we've already done everything (minus the interview), but I honestly don't think I want to go to Dartmouth so I don't see the point. </p>
<p>I agree, at least cancel the interview. I interviewed for a college I had decided I didn’t want to go to and it was excruciating. I barely said anything because I couldn’t think of anything to say.</p>
<p>Withdraw; if you get in and wait too long, you might crowd out a rich kid who loves isolated campuses and dreams of joining a frat so that they can go bobsledding naked at 20 degrees below 0.</p>
<p>I have to agree with your mom on this - then again, I am a mom. My son is actually on both sides of this issue. He received a decent scholarship from one of the schools that he applied to, but was turned down for one that. was much bigger because they had so many perfect score type of kids apply this year. We all know that ALL of those kids are not going to go there - it was there safety school. As a result, my son is penalized the difference of $20,000. That being said, I think these “perfect scorers” did the smart thing. We never know what the future holds. Who knows? Maybe this school will offer you a full ride. Just look at all the surprises people post on this website. As a result, I have advised my own son to hold off notifying the school he most likely won’t chose, just in case the future throws a curve he’s not expecting. Yes, it’s hard on those people who are waiting. Yes, it is very thoughtful of you to be consderate of these people and their plight. But, what will happen to you and your plans if you burn this bridge and your other plans fall through for some set a bazarre circumstances. Sorry for the long post, but untill all your acceptances are in as well as decisions on scholarships, I say go on the interview. Good Luck to you either way!!</p>
<p>The reason I would withdraw is that it sounds like there is absolutely nothing you like about the school. Why would you or your mom want to be tempted if you did get in, if you don’t like this school at all???</p>
<p>Also, you are taking a spot that they might be able to offer to someone else. Many times they will not admit more than one person from one high school and you say there may be someone in your school who really does want to go there. </p>
<p>And, what will you say in your interview? At the least, I would cancel the interview. </p>
<p>I think you should withdraw as well. Given what you now know and feel about Dartmouth, you never would have applied in this first place, so there is really no reason to continue to leave it on your list. Best to simply move on and look forward to being accepted by a school where you want to go.</p>
<p>Chelseaaa217, you don’t say in your post if you applied to any other schools. Also, when does Brown announce their decisions? If you decide to withdraw your application, do you have a back-up plan for college? What if for some strange reason you don’t get into Brown? At this point it seems most schools’ deadlines for applications have already passed. By keeping your application, you keep that door open, even if it is a last resort. You could always go and then transfer if your ideal plans don’t pan out.</p>
<p>@ davenmame, Dartmouth does not offer merit scholarships so that is not even a question. Also I am not competitive enough stats-wise to get a scholarship to an Ivy even if they did offer them.</p>
<p>I applied to a total of 10 schools, some of which are safeties and some of which are reaches. I would probably rather go to almost any of these than Dartmouth… Brown just happens to be one of my top choices.</p>
<p>I would withdraw your application. If you get in and you have your heart set on not going, you are just taking away a spot from someone else. I’m assuming Dartmouth isn’t one of your safeties, so you don’t have to worry about not going to college at all.</p>
<p>I would visit Dartmouth if at all possible. I actually was in a similar position, where I was very turned off by the idea of Greek life, by the cold, by the small size, by the small town. Brown and Yale were my top two. But i applied to Dartmouth because I liked the curriculum, and the study abroad program, but i really thought of it as a sort of last resort, if none of my bigger schools in a city take me, option. And then I got in to some of my top choice schools (although waitlisted at Brown), but ended up not being as enthusiastic about the prospet of spending four years there as i had thought i’d be. So I visited Dartmouth, and fell in love. Its certainly not the school for everyone, I will readily admit that. But if you haven’t visited, I’d leave your application in and see what happens, or at least try and visit before you withdraw. Its an interesting place, especially with the Greek life, because I think its 65% (or something around there, over a majority) of incoming students cite a dislike of Greek Life as their primary concern about coming to Dartmouth, but then once their here 60% of them end up affiliated. </p>
<p>The WORST reason to withdraw your app is b/c you feel bad about potentially taking someone else’s spot. Whether or not you apply has no impact on the strength on your classmates’ application. You should visit if you get in and see for yourself what it’s like! If you withdraw your app, you may be missing out.</p>
<p>I really don’t think that is true. Or at least, it may have no impact of the <em>strength</em> of a classmate’s app, but it MAY WELL have an impact on whether or not the classmate is accepted at a given school.</p>
<p>Since the OP has listed numerous reasons why she isn’t interested in D, and says she wouldn’t go unless it was literally the only place she got in, it is simply trophy hunting to apply unless the school is a safety for you, which I doubt D is.</p>
<p>If there is no way that you want to come unless hell freezes over… yes withdraw it</p>
<p>But that said I would say that there is bound to be a few things you will probably like about Dartmouth and considering you did all the work you might as well continue in the process. If you absolutely can’t stand it… cancel it but if you just don’t consider it ideal, why needlessly remove a cushion. (I really wouldn’t worry to much about taking someone’s spot… using that logic no one would apply to any safety schools)</p>
<p>Also make sure you try and visit before you make up ur mind. (esp. an overnight visit) College visits made all the difference for me.</p>