Dartmouth is more than a degree

To the Editor: Pattrick Mattimore '74's April 6 tirade sounded more like the upset parent of a denied applicant than a valid criticism of the value of Dartmouth's education ("High Demand, Unclear Quality," April 6). He offered little solid evidence to back up his argument that perhaps we (as in the collective field of applicants and parents, I suppose) should "...take our business elsewhere." Further, his analogies between Coca-Cola, the restaurant industry and a college education are shallow at best. They fail to acknowledge that the value of education at a selective institution like Dartmouth comes not only from the quality of college itself but from the quality of the students with which you share that education. And then there is the matter of the top tier professors, extensive resources, incomparable academics, the $492,000-per-student endowment, rich history, beautiful campus, famous speakers and more.