I’m a very rigorous academic student (top 5 percent at my high school), and I’m looking for a college where I can thrive. Although I have gotten into several more prestigious schools, dickinson has given me a lot of money, and I haven’t gotten aid from anywhere else and I’m probably not going to. Because of this, it seems likely that I will end up at Dickinson, but I’m worried that I won’t be happy there. Dickinson doesn’t really have a reputation as an intensely academic school - from what I’ve heard, it’s kind of a party school with a strong greek presence. I’m worried that I’ll be surrounded by students who aren’t as passionate as me, and that I’ll be bored (which is basically what high school has been like). I’ve also heard that it’s kind of of preppy and a bit conservative, which is not really what I’m looking for. Are these misconceptions? How do you think the quality of the academics compare to other, more prestigious schools? Do Dickinson alumni generally go to top grad schools and have successful careers?
also, does dickinson have a strong biology/environmental science/ overall life science program? I think I want to purse a research career in conservation biology
D also received a decent package from Dickinson and intends to major in the sciences, most likely biochemistry. We did visit during our tour of PA schools and loved the campus. I think its about 25% greek and we were trying to avoid schools with greek life. It didn’t really have a an air of “preppiness”, more affluential maybe? I have never heard of it considered a party school, but I haven’t done a whole lot of research just yet because we thought for sure something more local would come in more affordable.
Where else were you accepted?
Thanks for your reply! I also got into Skidmore, Maccaulay honors, SUNY geneseo, Middlebury, and I got waitlisted at Vassar. I’m still waiting to hear back from Wesleyan, bard, and Cornell (I didn’t apply to that many schools). Where else did your daughter get in? Also, do you know if Dickinson has a lot of research opportunities?
Honestly, we don’t know alot about Dickinson because it was a “safety” so to speak and we’ve yet to do the research on it. I do know that study abroad is very good there and the campus/town is very nice. D was rejected from Vassar today and that was pretty much her #1 choice. She is expecting to hear back from Skidmore tomorrow. Wait listed at Middlebury and Bates. Accepted at Smith with the STRIDE research program scholarship, MoHo, ClarkU and several safety schools. Waiting also on Barnard (tomorrow) and Amherst (Friday). Good luck!
We have a friend at Dickinson who just did a semester in Turks and Caicos, where she worked on a marine turtle conservation project (she is studying marine biology). Really happy there. We have another friend who turned down bigger name schools b/c of the Merit & Financial Aid package. She has managed to have a semester in Spain, another in Argentina and one in DC- all with some work experience/internships, and all covered by her Financial Aid package. Also really happy there.
It is very much the kind of place that is what you make it to be: it is certainly less intense than Vassar or Cornell, about the same as Middlebury, and imo more academic than Skidmore.
Hi. Dickinson has an EXCELLENT environmental science/studies program and the campus and farm are completely on board with an environmentalist’s way of life. They have a farm and they have a club that collects frying oil from all of the local restaurants, makes biodiesel out of it, and then uses it on the farm! Middlebury also has an excellent environmental studies program, though, and it is top ranked–one of the best in the country. The typical Middlebury student will have significantly higher stats than the typical Dickinson student, as you know. Very few people get into Middlebury! But Dickinson’s program is excellent, active, and cutting edge, classes are small (the largest classroom has 60 seats, and there is only one of them, I believe, on the entire campus), and the professors care. A friend of mine who went there credits it with making her an excellent writer. She went to BU for grad school and says compared to Dickinson, BU is kind of (word that rhymes with bitty) as far as how the professors care about you. Exact quote: “So not worth it. I miss Dickinson.” My own D got the Rush scholarship but a better package elsewhere and is having a hard time forgetting about Dickinson. If you are sure about environmental science, you can’t go wrong with either D or Middlebury. The others are definitely behind these two as far as that one major. I don’t know anything about biology. Good luck in your choice! Visit the campus!
Oh wait, Cornell is also top notch in ES. Sorry I missed that on the first reading… Between the three, Middlebury, Cornell, and Dickinson, Dickinson would be the “hidden gem.” You can definitely get into a good grad school if you do well at Dickinson (and you probably will!).
Middlebury’s environmental studies program is considered one of the best in the country.
Middlebury is also the oldest, I believe. If not the oldest, one of the oldest. They were doing it way before it became trendy. If it were me, and cost were no object, I’d go there. But if the scholarship is that significant to you, then Dickinson is not a bad choice by any means.
One thing is that you should ask yourself if you want environmental studies, or environmental science. They are different.
I’d like to add that Dickinson’s greek life is not dominating on campus, and that the students consider themselves roughly 50/50 on politics but leaning left. If you’d “peeked” at the schools yik yak yesterday and the day before (and maybe a lil today) youd see that the rn big debate is on gender neutral bathrooms, to be put to a vote soon. Friday there is going to be “Queer Prom” (thrown by the LGBT society on campus), and many of the students are plenty earthy. The president is not well liked by the students (“ice queen”), but she and her wife are very liberal, as are most of the profs.
The science programs are really strong, and I think that overall the school is academically minded. There are parties for sure, but for the students academics come first.
I’d also add that Carlisle is a great town. The students and the town don’t have a perfect relationship, perhaps you can be the one to change the fact that Dson students never wave to thank cars as they take full advantage of the cross walks that cut through the center of blocks as well as corners in the area of town where the campus is.
(pretty much no college and its town have a perfect relationship…)
@redpoodles lol yes I know but it seems that Dson students can be particularly arrogant when it comes to Carlisle.
My son is a freshman at Dickinson. He’s very liberal, not an athlete, not in a frat and extremely happy with his choice. He and his friends frequent the Carlisle restaurants and enjoy being part of the town itself. There are a lot of parties, but I don’t think there’s any pressure to partake. It’s a strong academic school, with an engaged faculty and plenty of study abroad, global/eco awareness and internship opportunities. The political and science programs are fantastic. There also seems to be just as many athletes as there are “preppy” kids. Hope this helps!
Did you end up going?
Yup, I’m currently I student here, and I love it! Everyone here is insanely nice. There is a greek presence/party culture on campus, but there is absolutely no pressure to participate. The most popular frat is actually one that revolves around doing community service. I have had no problem finding amazing friends who are very similar to me. The area of Pennsylvania that Dickinson is in is pretty conservative, but the school itself is very liberal. As for the academics, I have found them to challenging and interesting. There are definitely people who slack off, but the majority of students I know are intensely passionate about the work that they do. I have also formed close relationships with many of my professors, who go above and beyond to make sure that their students get the full academic experience they want. Also, Dickinson seems to be growing more and more prestigious; they had record numbers of applicants this year, and have subsequently lowered their acceptance rates.
@iwearthecheese , thanks for your update. Your initial post was alarming, becasue one of the reasons my D applied was to not be near too much Greek life and partying, yet have strong academics, close relationships with professors, and a tight knit community. Dickinson is a match for her, and I really hope she gets in, but she will hear in a few days I guess.
Yeah, I’m glad to say that my initial fears were completely off-base. Good luck to your daughter!
@iwearthecheese , any idea if they had record numbers of EA applicants? My D is well up in the top 75th percentile, but you just can’t tell these days who gets in and who doesn’t.
I’m guessing so, I think the number of applicants has risen all around