<p>It’s not true that Ivies are about the same size. The range is from 4000 students to 12,000. Also, some Ivies emphasize certain sports more than others; UPenn, for one, is big on football. Dartmouth, not so much. The academic environment is also different; Cornell is known to be a pressure-cooker of a school with plenty of cutthroat competition if you choose to be competitive, whereas Dartmouth has a more collaborative environment.</p>
<p>Considering that college is a four-year commitment, and considering that as you study at X college, your life is also likely to revolve around the school (unless you are a commuting student), I’d strongly urge someone to look for fit. College doesn’t have to just be a stepping stone from high school to career; it can be an experience that opens your mind to new ideas and leads to the uncovering of passions that lay dormant before. It can be the best time of your life, but not if the environment isn’t conducive to that.</p>