Dartmouth vs WashU vs Boston College Gabelli Scholars vs UF Honors

[neon canyon]

Schools: Dartmouth, WashU, Boston College (Gabelli Presidential Scholarship Program), University of Florida (In state, honors college)
Intended major:
Major for Dartmouth: cognitive science
Major for WashU Olin: organization & strategic management
Major for BC Carroll: Management
Major for UF: Business

Similarities: They're all pretty good academic choices with vibrant campuses and good career opportunities. I'm looking to go into consulting (or possibly entrepreneurship), and they all provide good resources.

Costs:
My family's income has increased a bit this year, so I'll have aid for my first two years and not for my second two. My family is able and willing to afford any of these without too many issues, but I feel quite bad asking my parents to do this, especially since it would be a bit tight.

Dartmouth and WashU: ~250k total
Boston College: ~80k total
Florida: I would gain about 10k

Dartmouth
Pros
-Amazing consulting pipeline and great alumni network, generally very prestigious
-Coursework is challenging but doesn't have grade deflation
-Small, but present startup culture, more so than the other options.
-D-plan allows for winternships
-2 hours away from Boston, where I'm planning to work/intern

Cons:

• Fratty and party-heavy (I wouldn't say I'm too nerdy, but I'd definitely prefer to be around a more studious group)
  -Cost is expensive
  -In the middle of nowhere, and I'm not a huge outdoors person
  -Weather will be rough

WashU
Pros:
-Amazing campus
-Highest ranked business school out of these, good opportunities with Olin
-Most ideal student body out of these options to me
-Weather is pretty nice
-This is a small one, and I don't want it to influence my decision much, but my girlfriend of nearly 4 years is going to UChicago, and I'd be pretty close to her.

Cons:
-Less prestigious outside of the midwest
-St. Louis isn't my favorite
-Expensive but provides less value than Dartmouth

(see next message)

Boston College
Pros:
-There are some cool opportunities as a Gabelli Presidential Scholar. There are about 20 of these admitted in each class, and it covers full tuition.
-In Boston, my ideal city
-Favorite campus out of the 4, absolutely love it there
-CSOM is pretty well regarded

Cons:
-Most conservative out of these, students seem pretty cliquey and privileged
-Not a target school for consulting firms, minimal startup culture
-Gabelli program requires me to do service in my first two summers, but I'd rather be doing internships.

Florida
Pros:
-Very cheap. I'd actually make money while I'm there.
-Weather
-Lot of club and student life opportunities since it's so much bigger
-Honors college allows access to the best resources and smaller classes

Cons:
-Very fratty and party-heavy. I really hate the culture.
-Close to home, and I also dislike the campus and Gainesville in general
-Not even close to being a target school for MBB consulting

Overall, I'm leaning toward Dartmouth, because I feel like I'll be able to make back the tuition after my first few years, since the MBB (especially Bain) consulting pipeline is so strong. WashU sounds like the most enjoyable experience out of these to me. I have kind of an emotional connection to Boston College, because they are my family's top choice for me, they were my first acceptance, and also because they took a chance and gave me the Gabelli scholarship even though my flights to the in-person interviews were canceled. I know that Florida is the most economical option, but I'm really just not a huge fan of the SEC public school vibe. Let me know your thoughts!!

[coarse wasp]

Always happy to answer dartmouth questions

[static zinc]

Likewise!

That being said I personally would have a hard time picking dartmouth over florida for 240k more

I would eliminate Washu from the conversation and probably BC too

Dartmouth truly is insane for consulting pipelines and that definitely can make a difference, but is it worth a quarter mil you’ll be paying back for the rest of your life? Plus the added pressure if you ever want grad school like an MBA