Dartmouth vs. UC Berkeley (Regents Scholar)

Woohyun
Fri, 26 Apr 2013 23:53:19 +0000

May 1st is fast approaching and I really need to make a decision soon. I have been leaning considerably towards Dartmouth but recently my parents have been very passive aggressive about the cost and have been hinting at their preference towards Cal. The difference between the tuition, over a period of 4 years, will total to about $80,000. My parents can afford it but it will take a considerably larger chunk of their savings. I plan on majoring in Economics and going into either banking or consulting. I know that Dartmouth consistently does well in placing its students into those areas but the fact that my parents will take a big hit on their savings worries me. I really want to go to Dartmouth because going to a completely new environment with completely new people for college is a big deal for me (I know many people at or planning to attend Berkeley). I also crave the undergrad focus and study abroad opportunities and the tight-knit community. The frat culture is not a major concern for me as I’ve been assured by current students who I trust that while it is a big part of Dartmouth, it is also very inclusive.

I know that the Haas School of Business is really good but the whole large public university environment does not appeal to me as much. Also, I want to end up working in NYC so I feel like although Haas is strong, it will not provide me with as many opportunities as Dartmouth would. My Regents Scholar offers priority registration and some faculty mentoring and membership in the Regents association but that seems to be around it. Is Dartmouth worth the extra money or should I start seriously considering Cal?