<p>UPenn
Dartmouth
University of Chicago
Carnegie Mellon - Safety
Rice - Safety
Syracuse - Safety</p>
<p>Still haven't heard from Northwestern or NYU.</p>
<p>I think I've narrowed it down to UPenn, UChicago and Dartmouth, but all the (great) schools are completely different from eachother. I'm from San Francisco, so I'm a lifelong city kid. The rural location is what is turning me off about Dartmouth. I have a quirky personality, and that's why I applied to UChicago, but I've since heard that the students there are weird. I've encountered a LOT of wierdoes in SF. There's a reason all of my schools are over 2000 miles away from home. UPenn is great, but so far I haven't heard any negative things about it. It seems almost too good to be true.</p>
<p>I'm amazed that I'm the only person from my school who got into any Ivies (and three 'new ivies'), especially with my mediocre test scores (630-580-580 and 25 ACT) so making this choice carries a lot of extra weight. Can people please offer their insight?</p>
<p>*I want to get an MD/MBA for Grad school, but I am unsure of what my major/minor will be (most likely Biology and Econ)</p>
<p>Alston PENN is almost too good to be true. On the other hand if you are an urban person likely Dartmouth might be the only time in your life to experience that bucolic campus. Do you ski? Like the ourdoor activities available in that location?</p>
<p>I have only been to the snow a handfull of times in my whole life, so I've never been skiing. I've been on hiking and camping trips. Hating the camping and hiking part, but loved the social interaction with the people on the trip. If Dartmouth is that outdoorsy, then maybe I should narrow it down to UChi and UPenn. </p>
<p>It's all about where you feel more comfortable. Personally, I was just faced with a very similar choice and based upon atmosphere, academics, student body and reputation I chose Dartmouth... if you want to get a look at your student body, i would suggest going to facebook and checking out the groups for those colleges admitted students.</p>
<p>I'll plop myself here and listen too. I'm picking between Dartmouth and Penn but I'm pretty sure on Penn > Dartmouth for me because of the big city too (big thing for me because I've never lived in a 200k+ city and I think the best time to take advantage of enjoying the big city life is during undergrad studies -but that's just for me personally b/c I wouldn't let myself get swept too far into it-).</p>
<p>i think if you have the opportunity to visit during the admitted student's days that you should visit all 3 to see where you fit.</p>
<p>
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And yes, I'm as bad as city kids come.
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<p>You would be suprised to find out that the largest group of kids at Dartmouth are NYC kids, followed by Californians, so can and will find your niche.</p>
<p>In addition, they have their own ski slope, you can learn how to ski (and get gym credit)</p>
<p>I'm a New Yorker, that's a big a city kid as you can get. I had to choose between Dartmouth (middle of nowhere) and Columbia (center of the universe) and I chose the middle of nowhere. Everyone kept telling me I made a stupid move because I cited my main reason for choosing Dartmouth being the atmosphere. If you seriously want to persue an MD (I'm persuing one too), then middle of nowhere might not be so bad. Less distractions can lead to more serious study time. Also, I have lived in a huge city my whole life so I don't have a clue what it is like to live in a rural area. I thought it might be a good experience and who knows? Maybe it turns out that I am suited for that kind of lifestyle. That's how I made my decision and I wish you the best of luck in making your decision.</p>
<p>UPenn is overall a great school, esp in Business, but i don't know about the others. I would probably pick UPenn, but thats because its an ivy....<em>shrugs</em></p>
<p>I'm actually very surprised u got into any of the schools u just named (No offense at all) I have a 630-650-700 and most people have said i will not get into any of my top choices (UMich, UTexas-Austin, UNC-CH, Emory and NYU!) </p>
<p>i'm a junior...but i was wondering if I could see your specs and stats..</p>
<p>please.. =) </p>
<p>best of luck and congrats on all your acceptances.</p>
<p>Seriously, Philly is an awesome city, you'll love it there. The section it's in (university city) is all colleges too. Upenn, University of the sciences, drexel, and some culinary and beauty schools. so pretty much that whole area is overrun with college kids. There is so much to do in Philly, and upenns campus is so nice, especially being a city campus. Even the surrounding town is nice. but i'm biased, I love that city. plus Penn is kind of my dream school</p>
<p>Shub, Dartmouth is also an Ivy. But you're a Junior, who should just be beginning the college process, so that mistake is allowable.</p>
<p>Alston, Congrats on those schools. Your SAT scores must not be the defining part of your application, though.</p>
<p>And I can identify with you (being from NYC), I didn't want to go to a school in NYC (Columbia), but I still wanted that city feel. Which is why I applied to Penn, and why I'm going next year. </p>
<p>But UChicago is also a great school, and you shouldn't rule it out because you heard the students were weird... Go for a visit, if possible, and you'll see for yourself whether or not you would like those people. Dartmouth, on the other hand, it not a matter of hearing something... It's a matter of knowing something. If you know you won't like to be in a "middle of nowhere"-esque environment, then don't go to Dartmouth. And I hear Dartmouth isn't really as outdoorsy as the brochure makes it out to be, but that's a matter of hearsay...</p>
<p>Overall, I would say Penn, but I'm severely biased in this matter, so hear what others have to say.</p>
<p>I actually applied for Huntsman but then had a massive change of heart around February about the career I wanted to pursue (and whether or not I wanted to succumb to the Wharton stereotype). Coincidentally, I received a friendly phonecall from one of the admissions officers and he suggested that I rescind my app from Huntsman and apply to either Wharton or CAS, but strongly suggested CAS due to the fact that I haven't taken Calculus. Needless to say, I followed his instructions and got in!</p>
<p>Lol - thought the same thing, there must be tons of kids who applied to these schools who are kicking themselves that you got in with those. Especially Rice - it tends to be a hotspot for texas kids, but since they have their pick of practically every bright texas kid - its hard to get into from inside of texas, I've heard its easier from other states though.</p>
<p>If you are an African-American, this should be a factor in your decision making.
I live on the University of Chicago campus and unfortunately there are many poor, black areas near the campus. I've often thought that if I were the parent of an African-American student, particularly male, I would not want my child to come here. Too many suspicious glances. Please understand that this is a phenomenal school and offers a great education. I don't think that the students or administration are racist. I'm just talking about social reality, as I see it. I'm ready to be fried for this.
My son went to Dartmouth and this may or may not be more like what you've experienced in San Francisco. Not a huge African-American presence and a general spirit of goodwill. Believe me, if you are African-American in Hanover, New Hampshire. people will ASSUME you are a Dartmouith student. Couldn't be anything but.
I know much less about Penn. I sense that this is the school you are leaning toward. I wish I could give you more of an impression there!
Good luck!</p>