<p>Ran across this thread today and wanted to add my 2 cents… </p>
<p>To me, Dartmouth is a really fascinating school to examine, especially now when univs are in such flux. </p>
<p>On the one hand, what posters like slipper1234 and others say is right on - Dart grads tend to have a lot of loyalty to their alma mater, the school exists pretty much completely to serve its students and give them as many opportunities as possible, and Dartmouth enjoys a strong and supportive alum network. </p>
<p>At the same time, I think one of the reasons Dartmouth is facing a bit of an identity crisis is because, at least of late, large research universities (especially urban ones) are really rising in popularity and standing. </p>
<p>I think earlier on, especially during most of the 20th century, Dartmouth may have enjoyed a more rarefied air than it enjoys now. LACs were still very much in vogue, Dartmouth’s endowment wildly exceeded anything offered by its most immediate research-univ peers, and the alums and the administration were on the same page when it came to overseeing the College. </p>
<p>In the past 15-20 years, it looks like urban research univs have really caught on in the college marketplace. For example, Columbia, Chicago, and Penn have all enjoyed a boom in applications and, just as importantly, a boom in financial resources. These three schools all struggled with somewhat negative student experiences in the 1980s and 90s, but that’s improved considerably of late. </p>
<p>With all this in mind, it’s hard to say whether Dart is underrated or overrated. In a certain light, it’s a leading member of the LACs, and still offers a heck of a lot to a potential student. On the other hand, large-scale research universities seem to be gaining more and more dominance in the college marketplace, and it seems as if Dart may be making some changes in the coming years to keep up.</p>
<p>Also, a quick note to those who question the benefit of going to a research univ as an undergrad as opposed to a LAC (slipper1234, danas as well seem to be pretty big supporters of the LAC-environment):</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Many LACs offer a very particularized environment, and for many, a large urban univ can offer a more varied college experience. I attended the polar-opposite of Dartmouth for undergrad (Univ of Chicago), and I really enjoyed it. I never applied to the Dart/Williams crowd because I really wanted a city and just felt that rural New England would be too isolating.</p></li>
<li><p>While close contact to faculty members is great, and probably leads to a more “personal” educational environment, again, it all depends on what you want from your college experience. For me, and maybe this sounds rude, I cared a lot more about exposure to superb leaders in a certain academic field, and oftentimes preferred their lectures to what some of my classmates had to say about a certain topic. Urban research univs tend to have the most high-powered faculties, and if that’s what a student wants, it becomes a draw over the rural LACs. </p></li>
</ul>
<p>On another unrelated note, my parents both did their undergrad/grad school in Europe, where the research-model of universities completely rules the day. They always scratched their heads and laughed when we took a college trip and visited some LACs. They could never understand why an institution would devote so much time and so many resources to a group of 18-22 yr old kids.</p>