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I really dont understand how someone could apply to Amherst, Princeton, and Stanford and skip Dartmouth which is right in the middle of all of these in terms of size, student body, etc. My opinion is that its sort of out of the way on college trips.
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<p>While all of these schools have some overlapping qualities, a lot of times it often comes down to fit, personal choice, where a person feels they will be most comfortable etc. It could be a gut thing or any other subjective factor as it could have been raining on the day they came to visit. Coming from NYC, you know that you can get to Amherst on 91, so it is just a little bit further to Hanover.</p>
<p>As far as proximity we definitely live closer to Princeton than to Hanover, and D practically grew up on the campus of Columbia. My sister is a Columbia grad, and worked as a departmental director for many years. Our family still has a lot of good friends working at the university in both faculty and staff positions. She attended programs at Columbia from the time she was in J.H.S. until she graduated from high school. There was a time I would have bet the house that she would attend Columbia, but when she had to consider it as a choice senior year she said no way. It was a big shocker.</p>
<p>D was not remotely interested in Princeton despite her having an uncle on the faculty, cousins and friends who have graudated and are currently in attendance. She wanted to like Princeton but she just felt it did not click with her.</p>
<p>Stanford, she felt wasn't worth flying across country dispite the fact that one of her best friends is now there communing with the "Californian in his soul". </p>
<p>Williams acknowledges that it is about a 50/50 split when it comes to them losing students to Dartmouth or Amherst. Daughter was accepted to both Williams and Amherst othe absolutely great colleges where she would have gotten an excellent education. But ultimately chose Dartmouth. </p>
<p>She mentioned that if Dartmouth were to burn down the students would most likely be at Williams. Ultimtely for her she said it was something about the school that resonnated in her the first time she stepped foot on campus. She visited, came home and said this is the place.</p>