<p>First off, I realize that in many ways these two schools seem like complete opposites. But I like both of them...obviously for very different reasons. I think I have a decent shot at getting into either. </p>
<ul>
<li>2240 SAT, raising it in the fall to ~2300. (800 cr 780 wr 660 math so math should be easy to raise.)</li>
<li>~3.7 (from my school, I know this is good enough to give me a good shot. we send the top ~20% to ivies etc each year and there is pretty heavy grade deflation.)</li>
<li>Putting together a pretty legit painting portfolio. </li>
<li>Have won ~$3500 grants from my school the past two summers. Only a few kids from each class get them and very few have gotten 2. </li>
</ul>
<p>Anyway. I'm wondering what you guys have to say about the big differences between UNC and Dartmouth. I'm looking for a few things: academics, prestige, opportunity to take more humanities classes than science/math, opportunity to take painting classes without being an art major, social scene, job opportunities living on the east coast, etc etc. You don't need to mention anything about the weather. I obviously understand the difference and am taking it into consideration.</p>
<p>ps. I'm also a big time legacy at Dartmouth which is part of the reason I'm relatively confident I could get in with only a "decent" application. I realize that both UNC (oos) and Dartmouth are very difficult to get into and that I could easily get rejected from either, or both. but if you have strong feelings about my chances, share them.</p>
<p>You are sure right about them being very different schools!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Both will prepare you well academically and offer a wide variety of humanities courses. Prestige-wise, Dartmouth wins hands-down. Dartmouth has the D-plan as part of its curriculum, UNC does not. This could be a positive or negative depending on your own personal opinion. Dartmouth is more like a LAC that attracts students from all over the country, while UNC is a large public university with the vast majority (80%+) of its students coming the state of North Carolina, so obviously it’s Southern in feel. Dartmouth’s social scene revolves more around Greek life and there are a lot of outdoorsy opportunities. UNC also has a very involved Greek life in addition to its top notch athletic program. Obviously, basketball (and to a lesser extent football) are a big part of the student culture. </p>
<p>Dartmouth is much more selective overall and the quality of students is higher; you’ll probably be challenged by your peers more at Dartmouth. At UNC, there certainly are very high quality students and professors; just on a sheer percentage basis, there are more “average” students (coming from in-state) than at Dartmouth. According to the Common Data set, the middle 50% range at UNC for CR is 590-700, writing 590-690, math 610-710. For Dartmouth, the CR range is 670-780, writing 690-790, and math 690-790. So, as you can see, somebody scoring in the 75th percentile of UNC’s student body would be at about the 25th percentile in Dartmouth’s student body.</p>
<p>UNC has strong ties to the region and is a very well-respected institution in the South. It’s national appeal and job opportunities on the east coast are also very solid for a public school, but it’s not a Wall Street feeder school on the same level of Dartmouth. I think if you visit both, you should get a better feel for what is a better fit.</p>