<p>I am considering Dartmouth and will probably go onto business, law, or medical school. All of which, I hear, really only care about two things: GPA and Test scores. Do you think the fact that the system is in quarters tends to HELP these two things or HURT them? With semesters, you get more time to learn the material and really study. On the other hand, with the D-plan, the material is more fresh in your mind before exams. </p>
<p>Also, what is grading like at Dartmouth? Average? Inflated? Deflated? The other school I’m looking at is Cornell which I heard tends to deflate… </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Did your daughter go to the admitted students days at either school? What did she walk away with? They are two totally separate environments. If you post on the Cornell forum they will say that Cornell is better. If you post on the Dartmouth forum, students will say that Dartmouth is better. What is your daughter looking for in a school?</p>
<p>You know that Dartmouth does not have a business major. many students go on to great medical and law schools from both schools. </p>
<p>The quarter system can be really intense as they are only 10 weeks long (i think winter term is 9 weeks). Everything is fast paced, you have midterms 3 to 4 weeks into the term, papers and finals. You learn how to manage your time, but it is doable.</p>
<p>For your D-plan you will choose what terms you will be in Hanover attending school and when you will be off campus (either doing a study abroad, working an internship or doing a leave term).</p>
<p>I agree with sybbie that the environment at each school is very different. Cornell is huge – lots of different undergraduate schools, and there will be many activities and students that you never even hear about. At Dartmouth, it is a much smaller environment with (IMHO) a more cohesive undergrad group. The focus at Dartmouth IS on undergrads. The focus at Cornell is on many different things.</p>
<p>Approx. 20% of colleges are on a quarter system, including Northwestern, Chicago and Stanford. The quarter/semester system really is a non-factor in the big scheme of things. A semester system has fewer finals, more mid-terms for example. The plus to the D-Plan is internships are available in your off-Q when they are less competitive.</p>
<p>Dartmouth (and Cornell) are not as generous at Brown and Yale, but much more lenient than Caltech and Swathmore.</p>
<p>btw: law school is (nearly) all about gpa+lsat. Med school also requires great EC’s, (just like undergrad admissions). Med-related EC opportunities are plentiful at D.</p>