<p>I was recently accepted into both schools, and have no idea which one to choose. I will be studying economics whichever one I choose, and I also see upsides to both the city (Penn) and the isolated campus of Dartmouth. Is there any criteria (i.e. social/community/workload/facilities etc.) that differentiate the two schools that could help me make my choice?</p>
<p>You should visit both for their accepted students Days. It will help you I think. Both my S when visiting got an indescribable feeling when at the school that they ultimately chose. </p>
<p>As a Penn committed student for '18, I’m a little biased. Nonetheless, I visited Penn and a few other Ivies when I made my decision. If visiting isn’t possible, depending on your major, Penn might be where you have better opportunities! Dartmouth seems to be losing popularity as the years go by, but Penn is strong as ever.</p>
<p>People I have met are very happy at Dartmouth. That being said a very important thing in this consideration. Dartmouth is in a beautiful location, but it is in the middle of nowhere and is supposedly difficult to get to. If you like rural areas and nature and not big cities you will like Dartmouth. If you do want to be close/in a city, Penn is the better option.
While Dartmouth will provide you with a great education, I would also say if you want to do research Penn is the better option since Dartmouth is very undergrad focused. </p>
<p>Visit both. If you can’t, arrange to talk to 2-3 current students at both. Your college counselor may help you connect with alumni who are currently at these colleges.</p>
<p>My son was never interested in Penn, but he is a city kid. He visited both schools and ultimately accepted Penn largely based “he liked the feel of cement under his feet.” He did think Dartmouth was beautiful and offer a lot. In this situation it is imperative that you visit. Both will be great educational experiences, but your comfort level is important. Attend the accepted student visit days. </p>
<p>Really. Both schools will be fine for economics or any other mainstream major. (I assume you applied to CAS at Penn, not Wharton.) They are so utterly different in their physical dimensions – the look, the location, the feel – and that will swamp the comparatively minor differences in academic experience or prestige. You can’t possibly be indifferent between the two settings. Figure out which one is going to inspire you to make the most out of your college experience, and go there. It’s that simple.</p>
<p>(Also . . . lose the “I’m stuck” attitude. You are incredibly lucky. These are two great institutions. There is absolutely nothing you want to accomplish that you can’t achieve starting at either.)</p>
<p>Funny, I took her being “stuck” as stuck in her decision making process, not stuck with only those two schools to chose from. </p>
<p>@Supernova123 Can you please explain how Dartmouth’s “star is falling”?</p>
<p>Well for example, this is the first year that Penn is more selective than Dartmouth, and I see that continuing to be so for at least the next couple of years.</p>
<p>If you’re a white conservative guy who wants to feel superior for no special reason while being drunk most of the time, Dartmouth is the better choice.</p>
<p>If nothing else, Penn seems to be more popular these days.</p>
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<a href=“The New York Times - Breaking News, US News, World News and Videos”>Ivy League Ups and (Yes) Downs - The New York Times
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<p>Wow. Well at least now I feel better about being rejected ED. I think everyone saw the high acceptance rate from last year and rushed to apply (at least I did). But those things happen every other year I guess. (Shoutout to class of 2019 - Apply to Penn!)</p>
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What high acceptance rate from last year? You mean Penn’s 12% overall acceptance rate last year versus 10% this year? I wouldn’t call 12% “high.”</p>
<p>Yes, 12% isn’t high, and that’s not what I meant. It was just comparatively higher (compared to the schools above and below Penn on USNWR’s list). At least that’s what I noticed as I was browsing the list last summer.</p>
<p>^ I understand (although it wasn’t higher than Duke or even Chicago back then). The bottom line is that admissions at ALL of these schools are incredibly competitive, and a few points one way or the other in acceptance rate doesn’t really mean much (especially when you’re talking about rates that are all below 15-20%).</p>
<p>In any event, Penn’s overall acceptance rate is now down to 10%, and I can’t imagine that many future applicants will decide to apply there simply because of a “high” acceptance rate–compared to other top schools or otherwise. ;)</p>
<p>Penn acceptance in RD was around 7%. Unless you are applying ED, the RD acceptance rate is more important.</p>
<p>^ True, but absentions was referring to the acceptance rate that appears in the US News rankings, which is the overall acceptance rate.</p>
<p>I got my data from an admissions committee email…</p>
<p>^ And it’s accurate. The RD rate this year was 7%. But absentions and I were talking about the possible effect on potential applicants of the overall acceptance rate as it appeared in the US News ranking. But you’re right that overall acceptance rates are really kind of irrelevant for potential applicants. What’s more significant for them are the ED and RD acceptance rates.</p>