Dartmouth College Top Questions

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Dartmouth is a close-knit community with a lot of school spirit. Many students are involved in on-campus organizations and most rarely leave school on the weekends--> nearly all social life is on campus. Also, many students are interested in travel and different kinds of community service.

Intelligent student body is also willing to have fun and though they can discuss Socrates' The Republic, they are more likely to be shooting the breeze.

Great for job placement!

One of the most unique things about Dartmouth is at the same time the best thing about the college and probably the worst. With the "D plan", there are four 10-week long terms a year, and you must be on campus fall, winter, and spring of your freshman and senior years, and the summer after your sophmore year. The rest of the terms you can either take classes on campus, study abroad, do internships, stay on campus but not take classes and work, or do nothing... as long as you complete 12 terms of classes (and of course all your requirements). This is great in that you can get internships in the spring or fall when other students are in school, not be in Hanover in the freezing cold weather in the winters of your sophmore and junior years, and have many opportunities to study abroad. The ten week terms are nice too, since even though they're fast paced courses and finals are upon you almost as soon as midterms end, you get to change courses quickly and even where you live as people are coming on and going off each term. This also gives the chance to make friends with more people than might otherwise happen, since if most of your friends are off campus one term, you're forced to make new ones. The downside to all this is that your schedule isn't the same as your friends who go to other schools. They go back to college in mid August while you're stuck at home until end of September, and then they're out in early May while you're still at school until June. Also, when you find yourself in a great living situation, great classes, and great social situation one term, it will end shortly and new people, new classes, and new situations will be upon you soon. I would say you have to like almost constant change; I think it's exciting. Lastly, the very best thing about the D plan and probably Dartmouth in general is sophmore summer. This is the term after your sophmore year where your entire class has to be on campus taking classes. You think, summer school - ick! Oh no, this is AWESOME. It's all of your friends together (since most of them have been off various terms sophmore year), with no annoying upper or lower classmen, and takes on a vibe almost like summer camp. Classes and professors are more relaxed (many students take only 2 classes), much of your day can be spent lying on the green "reading" or hanging out at the dock by the river, and there is even more partying, hanging out with friends, and friendly spirit than usual. New Hampshire is gorgeous in the summer too, with swimming, camping, kayaking, sailing, berry picking, rock climbing and much more all available. Some of my best friendships were made or solidified sophmore summer, and it was definitely my favorite term at Dartmouth.

What I love about Dartmouth is that everyone here embraces their individuality while still feeling like one devastatingly good-looking, dysfunctional family. Where else can you roll out on a Friday night rocking a cheetah print spandex onesie and still feel completely comfortable in your own skin? Whether it be volunteering through Tucker, exploring nature with the DOC, studying in a different country or styling yourself with a bit of flair, Dartmouth students are “out there,” but in the best way possible. Dartmouth inspires us to be adventurous and step out of the box.

I should note that I have yet to see a wheelchaired student at Dartmouth. The school is very outdoorsy so he or she may feel a little left out in the cold, so to speak. Also speaking of cold, the winters here would be very tough for that individual.

This place is PARADISE. I couldn't be happier. Some friends are blown away that I'm loving college so much... but I couldn't see how this place could wear down on you. Sure, you gotta bring a warm coat ;) but scarves are cool and having your college own its own ski mountian is a nice way to offset the cold.

The cold. Consider it. It's essential. I haven't minded it, personally, but I am not really troubled by throwing on an extra down jacket before I walk to dinner. Winters are quite cold, but it's all worth it for the school-wide snowball fight that happens at midnight on the green during the first night of every term. Tradition is big. Homecoming is a big deal, where everyone is decked out in Dartmouth gear and stands around a giant bonfire in the center of the green, watching the freshmen run around it 100-some times, or Winter Carnival, Tubestock, and Green Key weekend. Those are the most defining aspects of Dartmouth life: it's setting, temperature, student body, and social life. But Dartmouth is wonderfully unique. You feel included from the moment you step on campus and have seniors dancing around in tu tu's and singing to welcome you.

I feel so fortunate to have had as great a college experience as I have had at Dartmouth. Dartmouth alumni are crazy! They come back every year for Homecoming, come out for athletic games held in their cities, help students get internships through the Alumni Career Network, and have donation rates among the highest in the country. There is a place for everyone here, and it will become part of your character: there is a reason why are alumni are so involved and passionate- this place instills something in you that will stay with you forever.