Tess Hunter

Making a Decision

To the Class of 2030: Congratulations! Your hard work has paid off, and you have earned the peace of mind that comes with your acceptance letter. We at Dartmouth can't wait to welcome you in September, seeing the new perspectives, talents, and knowledge that you will bring to our community in the woods. 

For those of you who are in a fortunate position to be making a decision about where to attend, I was in a similar position two years ago. I had gotten into my first-choice school in December during the Early Action process, and was convinced that was where I was going to spend my next four years (I was so mentally committed that I put the college's sticker on my computer…). On a whim, I submitted my Dartmouth application, and come March, was shocked when my computer screen displayed confetti and 'Welcome to the Class of 2028!' I, of course, was feeling extremely validated in my acceptance, but was still convinced that my original university was the place for me. In the end, I chose Dartmouth. This blog post is not why I chose Dartmouth (for that post, take a look here), but rather how I made this hugely difficult decision. Here are five tips that will hopefully help with the task.

Picking the highest apples

1. Talk to people

Yes, you can get a feel from a school by looking at their website, brochures, social media, but this isn't exactly the same as talking to  (or emailing) current students, getting your specific questions answered. Even if you're not sure even where to begin, connect with a current student to get their perspective, and questions will arise from what they share with you. Dartmouth has, as well, I'm sure, other universities do as well, an amazing resource, Connect With a Student. Reflecting the diversity of the Dartmouth community, there are students from everywhere, with all sorts of interests and majors, that you can be put into contact with. For me, it was extremely helpful to talk with someone that came from a similar background to me, and would understand the hesitations as well as excitements that I had about Dartmouth. Remember, no question is too small. This process is intended for you to be content with a decision, so airing all your thoughts out to potentially resolve your concerns and questions is necessary.

Exploring Dartmouth's off campus programs

2. Liberal arts, or not?

A big factor in my decision was looking at whether I was committed to a liberal arts path of study. Liberal arts, as I'm sure those who applied and were admitted to Dartmouth know, is a broad approach to learning that focuses on the development of an entire suite of skills, rather than knowledge and training for a specific job. In practice, this means the ability, and sometimes the necessity with distributive requirements, to take classes from a wide range of departments, not simply the ones related to what you are looking to major in. Even if you are certain in your chosen path, pursuing a liberal arts education can be hugely beneficial. For me, the ability to take classes across a myriad of departments has led to me declaring a major different from what I went into the college search, and Dartmouth, with.

3. Visit

Now, looking at whether a school is liberal arts or not, closely examining course catalogues and major requirements will only get you so far. If you have the ability, go and visit your schools. Even if you have gone before, now that you are admitted, you will have a completely different view, with a whole new set of questions. Admitted students' days, or as Dartmouth calls it "Dimensions" (check your admissions pack for your invitation), are wonderful ways to experience campus from the eyes of current students.

Beyond the questions, physically being on campus will give you a sense of the 'vibe' of the school. Ask yourself: Can I see myself chatting to friends, on my way to class? Can I see myself spending late nights in this library? Can I see this place as my home for the next four years?

If going to your schools isn't possible, virtual tours are available online, and can provide a similar experience. Have a look here for Dartmouth's.

An area you can't visit in the Spring: the Dartmouth Skiway

4. Make pros/cons lists

One thing is for certain, I made my fair share of pros/ cons lists—my GoodNotes is still full of them. I divided them up into sections, such as 'academic path,' 'location,' 'opportunities outside of the classroom,' 'study abroad'… The list goes on. I tried to be as specific as possible, carefully comparing elements of each school. I knew what I was looking for, and what would suit me. Laying out the facts was crucial in determining what each school would be able to provide me, and how I would be able to carve out my own place and world in their communities.

Supporting the Big Green in Boston

5. Go with your gut

At the end of the day, I made my lists, I reached out to people, and got all of my questions answered. I truly believe that I would've been happy at either one of my top options, Dartmouth or not. My final decision was not based on the difference on the number in the 'pros' column or any national ranking system—but this feeling in me. I knew that Dartmouth was the place for me, not only for four years, but beyond that. Obviously, it is extremely hard to reject a school, especially after you have put incredible amounts of effort and time into their application, but throughout the process, the end goal has been ending up where you are going to be most happy.

Once I made my decision, I stuck with it. I unfollowed the other school on social media and even took their sticker off my computer. I scrolled through the Dartmouth admitted students Instagram page, looked at potential classes for my first term, and even looked at dorm floor plans.

Be confident that you will find your place, and your people, anywhere. You put the effort in getting here, and now it's time to enjoy the experience