West Coast Ivy League

kelsey08
Wed, 01 Dec 2004 14:57:16 +0000

“Ask any Brown, Dartmouth graduate what is the best about their school. They will inevitably say ’ Oh the Ivy League pedigree’.”

Ummm…no. That’s ridiculous. People go to those schools for lots of reasons. Dartmouth has the D-plan, which makes for amazing study abroad opportunities, and some of the best language, science, and history departments in the country. Brown has an open curriculum (no general ed requirements) and a very diverse student body. Different things appeal to different people. What’s your beef with Brown and Dartmouth?

As a California native and a Dartmouth undergrad, I can say that prestige whoring has nothing to do with 99 percent of students’ decisions to come here. First of all, Ivy League or not, a lot of people haven’t heard of Dartmouth. I got into Berkeley, and going there would have impressed more people in California, because more people in the state have heard of it and know its prestige. I’ve been asked MANY times by Californians, “Dartmouth? Where’s that?” which is their polite way of saying “I’ve never heard of that school in my life.” I simply tell them it’s in New Hampshire and that I’m having an amazing experience there. Prestige really doesn’t matter; it’s about finding a school that’s a fit for you. NO ONE that goes here would say that the best thing about Dartmouth is it’s Ivy League pedigree. Most people would probably mention the school’s close-knit student body, strong undergrad focus, or amazing social scene. Why the need to belittle schools you obviously know so little about?