<p>Jenni,</p>
<p>I think the reason behind some of the posts here is this:</p>
<p>A great number of the questions you pose are not really issues. For example, does UChicago have name recognition beyond the midwest? Yes. Does Dartmouth have name recognition beyond the east coast? Yes. Do both schools provide amazing opportunities across all fields, and are pretty much comparable on these fronts? Yes. </p>
<p>For the other subjective questions, such as life on campus for a black female and the feel of the school, you really have to visit and talk to a wider swath of current students. You can’t really glean these answers from a message board. </p>
<p>In terms of the prestige and stature of these schools, they really are about equivalent - you need to go by fit. To figure out fit, go to the admit days, or, if not, contact prospective students offices and try and talk to as many students as possible. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>