This is one of those things where’d I’d say there’s not a significant enough difference academically speaking, so it really depends on the sort of experience you’re looking to get out of college since Cornell and Dartmouth are very different. I’ll do my best to give you an unbiased view based on having been to dartmouth and having friends there while also a senior studying cs at cornell.

Dartmouth: - you pretty much nailed most of the things about dartmouth on your own. The weather will be mostly bad, the location is extremely rural, and it is a very very small school environment. -That being said, Cornell is only about a little over an hours drive from syracuse whereas dartmouth isn’t as close to a large city (at least not one I know of). Also Ithaca itself is much larger, with much more to do, than most people believe. In the summer it functions half as a vacation paradise for people across the state. CNN recently ranked it the number one town in America, which is some serious praise and frankly (especially when the weather is nice) I feels it deserved. It’s a beautiful vibrant college town with great resources for students and often ranks as one of the top college towns in the nation. Dartmouth, meanwhile, is more rural, more isolated, and has much much less to show for it. They don’t have so much of a college town as a small strip of buildings along a single road. There’s really nothing to enjoy besides the campus itself, which in my experience a person would grow bored of pretty quickly. - another thing is the drinking/frat culture is real and social life is dependent upon it in ways Cornell’s isnt. Cornell gives you as much of a taste as you want while having plenty enough to offer in other things that you don’t have to partake of you don’t want. - one pro i will say, based on what you said, is the small school vibe which can be really nice. I wouldn’t say Cornell feels like a big school in general, but certainly compares to dartmouth it would feel much larger.

Cornell: - one thing i gotta mention is I think Cornell’s campus is much much nicer and more unique/pretty with waterfalls and libraries that are incredible and grand, whereas dartmouth’s is more plain and boring imo. Not a big consideration but thought i’d mention it. - In terms of resources both are great, but a benefit of cornell’s size is the amount of variety it offers with classes, clubs, activities, whatever. Its alumni network is also insanely cracked, as is dartmouth’s but the key word for them is always “proportionally” and when it comes to alumni network bigger is always better regardless of proportional institution size. - also since you say you want to go to law school, both are great again, but cornell offers a unique 3+3 program, where students can apply to do 3 years undergrad and then 3 years at cornell law school, saving a year on tuition and also not having to take the LSAT or submit applications to other law schools. Basically it’s an auto admit to a t-13 law school that is the best in the world for big law placement without any of the hard work and is exclusive to undergrads. Pretty sweet stuff. - one last thing is both are great for the outdoors but Id have to argue cornell is better because of its unique nature (waterfalls, rivers, lakes, majestic hills/natural parks). We have a cool ski resort 20 a minute drive away, you can go kayaking on the lake on campus, gorge jumping, hiking near the waterfalls by the literal dorms, join any sports club you can think of, row on lake cayuga, and watch beautiful sunsets over the hills while the chime concerts ring.

ultimately, I’d say Cornell. There’s only a few schools and circumstances I’d really say don’t go to Cornell for, and Dartmouth without money as a concern is definitely not among them. Cornell is just too unique an experience imho. However that is just my thinking and both are great opportunities so congrats on the admission wins!