<p>I am currently planning an east coast college trip, and due to time/money limitations I am trying to narrow down the number of colleges I visit to places where there is an actual possibility I might attend. So to be direct, why should I consider Dartmouth over HYP? (I have been accepted at Harvard, Princeton, and Dartmouth, while waitlisted at Yale)</p>
<p>Academics are not the difference--you'll have the same quality academics at Harvard, Princeton and Dartmouth (though you'll probably get more attention from professors at Dartmouth and Princeton).</p>
<p>What I'd focus on is quality of life. Students are happy here-just about everyone will tell you that they absolutely love it and couldn't imagine being anywhere else. </p>
<p>You also get opportunities, particularly in the outdoors, that you simply will not get anywhere else. Not many other colleges own tracts of 20,000 and nearly 10,000 within two hours of campus, that completely exist for your use. Not many other colleges maintain 70 miles of the Appalachian Trail (the AT was literally 100 feet from one of the dorms I've stayed in).</p>
<p>That's what I really think sets Dartmouth apart.</p>
<p>I'm a Dartmouth student who really loves the school, but I'm not so foolish as to lose myself in dogmatism. If I had the choices you did and had a limited travelling budget, I'd visit Harvard and Princeton and skip Dartmouth. You might (will) have less fun in college, but you'll walk away with a more prestigious degree.</p>
<p>half_baked,</p>
<p>I don't think I'm being dogmatic here. I can't imagine being anywhere else but at Dartmouth, and know that almost all of my friends think the same. When I talk to my friends at Harvard, Princeton, etc., they don't say the same thing. Granted, it's a limited sample size (about 10 and 5, respectively) but I think it says something. </p>
<p>You will get a more prestigious degree by going to Harvard or Princeton, but I personally don't think the academics will be significantly different. I'd rather have a better quality of life than a more prestigious piece of paper at the end of four years.</p>
<p>I heard many employers avoid Harvard/Princeton and go for Dartmouth grads cuz they're less cocky, etc. But then again, that's just heresay. And mostly only in the US, seeing as how HYP is obviously better known worldwide.</p>
<p>John Glass, if you're going to visit Harvard, you mind as well visit Dartmouth too.
You can get to Dartmouth from Boston on the Dartmouth Coach, which runs between the Dartmouth campus and South Station Bus Terminal in Boston. South Station Bus Terminal is literally a 20 min. subway ride from Harvard Square.</p>
<p>The bus takes a little less than three hours each way. The commute time is low enough that you can stay in Boston and visit Dartmouth for a day, or you can arrange for an overnight stay at Dartmouth.</p>
<p>Visit Dartmouth, its worth it.</p>
<p>if dartmouth owns tracts for skiing or w/e, can students use it for free?</p>
<p>It's free if you sign up for PE Skiing/snowboarding. The PE gym also includes transportation (15 min ride). This is what most people do if they really like skiing.</p>
<p>Otherwise, you have to pay when you go, but a season pass is only $150. </p>
<p>The bus there is $4 on weekdays, but free on Saturdays.</p>
<p>Occasionally, they'll be events where it's free (or $1) to go skiing.</p>
<p>can you be a first timer in skiing/snowboarding and sign up for that PE?</p>
<p>you most definitely can be a first time skier ... in fact, that is primarily who the PE class is geared to (I know, I taught it this year, and plan to for the rest of my time here)</p>
<p>Skiing (and, I suppose, snowboarding) is one of the best ways to enjoy nature, and it'll give you a reason to actually look forward to, and enjoy, the winter.</p>
<p>about half of my PE class had never been on skis before. its the same way in just about all PE classes</p>
<p>do most ppl bring their own stuff? how much to rent ski/snowboard equipment? (or is it free rental if you take PE?)</p>
<p>For the skiing/snowboarding, I understand it's a class. Are there rental snowboards available? I have skis, but I was looking into snowboarding more (I've only been twice and enjoyed it).</p>
<p>its pretty split between rentals vs. owning your own stuff. i rented mine. its not free if you take PE, but its a good deal. and yes, you can rent snowboards too.</p>
<p>For snowboards, do they actually have a decent set-up, do you know? I know that I've tried strap-ins and clickers, and I hate clickers.</p>
<p>So now we're considering giving up Princeton and Harvard in order to ski/snowboard for free?</p>
<p>Glad we have our priorities straight!! :)</p>
<p>Dartmouth is a perfect intersection of a great time and an excellent academic institution. Having said that, there are obviously schools that are more fun (big public schools, etc). On the other hand, let's not lose sight of the fact that there are schools that, if not actually academically better, carry far more prestige than Dartmouth does. There are a wide variety of reasons why, if you're willing to sacrifice the marginal increase in enjoyment that you would have had if you had come to dartmouth, you should go to Harvard or Princeton or Yale or Stanford or whatever. The one and only critique I have of Dartmouth people (myself being one of them) is that they have a tendency to deny that there are better schools out there. Especially in light of the fact that many of us are Harvard/Yale rejects, I find it odd that after a month or two at Dartmouth, people quietly edit their personal history and claim that Dartmouth was not only their first choice, but also the best possible school they could have asked for. The latter is probably true; it is for me anyway - it's the dream school I had never dreamed of (if you know what I mean). But let's be real here and drop the second-tier Ivy insecurity for a second - Dartmouth is NOT the best Ivy, or the best (ie, best able to get you a job/into grad school) college in the country. It's easily one of the very best, which is why I can only name maybe 2-4 schools that are better. However, if you're lucky enough to get into one of those few that are better than Dartmouth, then go there.</p>
<p>in all seriousness, skiing is a lifelong pursuit that many, many people enjoy and prioritize. I'll be perfectly honest, availability of skiing was a major criteria for me in choosing and applying to schools.</p>
<p>To say that the availability of cheap skiing/snowboarding nearby as a factor in choosing a school is "not having priorities straight" is pretty narrow-minded. Yes, we go to schools because of the academics, but let's not forget that these schools become your home for four-plus years. College is for exploring new things, doing things you've never had the chance to, and maybe never will again.</p>
<p>No, it shouldn't be a huge factor, but if in your mind schools are close, or close enough ... as most people seem to agree in terms of quality of education, if not prestige, I see no reason why this shouldn't be a part of a decision.</p>
<p>
<p>Glad we have our priorities straight!!
</p>
<p>Well, I'm most likely to go here anyway; and I did not get accepted to Princeton, just waitlisted. I'm currently trying to make the decision between Dartmouth and HMC, but I'm favoring Dartmouth 80/20 right now.</p>