I'm so happy to be at Dartmouth. It wasn't my first choice school, but I can't imagine a better place for me now that I'm there. Dartmouth people are some of the least pretentious and yet most talented people in the country, and they constantly amaze me and push me to amaze myself.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
To prospective students, I'd recommend visiting campus and attending dimensions. Although I didn't make it to dimensions, many of my friends cite it as the reason that they chose to attend Dartmouth. Dartmouth students are preternaturally friendly and excited to be there, and this attitude really shows during dimensions and during first year trips.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
The Dartmouth workload is intense, and the D Plan (a school year divided into trimesters rather than semesters) makes it such that finals and midterms come around often. However, it also allows students to focus themselves on really learning the material, since they only take 3 classes a term. The professors are amazing and accessible, and I have nothing but positive things to say about them.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
I live in McCulloch, which is a dorm in the East Wheelock cluster. It's the newest, nicest building in the newest, nicest cluster, and I love the whole building. There is a snack bar which takes meal swipes and a common room with a pool table and a fireplace, and the rooms themselves are large and comfortable. In other clusters, people cite the sense of community, the location, or the quietness as their favorite attributes. For me, though, my favorite thing about McCulloch is the people. Some of my best friends are my floor-mates, and I am very lucky to have met them.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
There are three major dining facilities at Dartmouth: 53 Commons, The Hop, and Collis. 53 Commons is all-you-can-eat, and it does a good job to incorporate foods of different ethnicities and offer vegetarian and kosher options. However, like at any university, the dining options get old, and there is not much to diversify with in the small town of Hanover. Food at the Hop and Collis is individually priced, and generally rather expensive.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
If we're being completely honest, frat houses do dominate the social scene at Dartmouth. Almost all sophomores rush, and since there is no nightlife to speak of in the surrounding area, the only place to go out is to the frats. However, there are many different ways to go out, and I haven't experienced any grief for declining to drink. I've actually been shocked by the lack of peer pressure. There are dance parties and other things to go to on weekends, and Collis After Dark makes a huge effort to bring shows and activities to the table for people who don't want to do the frat thing.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
The financial aid that Dartmouth is giving me was the happiest shock of my life. Not only do they give great aid themselves, but they will match the offer of any other Ivy League institution, so if you get in several places, you can start a bidding war between them! What's more, outside scholarship aid is applied towards the student and parent contributions first, then work study, and only after that used to reduce the aid the college gives you, unlike at other schools.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
My whole first two weeks at Dartmouth were a whirlwind of traditions, from learning the Salty Dog dance, to being pranked on trips, to singing the alma mater at commencement. It doesn't end there, either. During homecoming week the freshmen (not called freshmen at Dartmouth, actually. We're 16's. That's another tradition.) run laps around the bonfire at the center of the green, and I've never felt so united with such a large group before. Dartmouth's traditions really help to make everyone feel at home.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
There's a stereotypical Dartmouth student: Adventurous, outdoorsy, rugged, flannel-wearing, and athletic, but Dartmouth is, in reality, a place for everyone but snobs. We're the cool younger brother of the Ivy League, and we don't take ourselves too seriously. It's not unusual to see people in footie pajamas or tutus (we wear flair sometimes. You'll get used to it). While we're proud to be home to some of the world's smartest and most driven students, you won't really hear us say it.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
There are lots of great clubs and activities at Dartmouth. If you want to get involved with something, it's probably either there for you, or easy enough to start up. There are great, well established publications and teams, and some promising new start-ups. Our athletics, for the most part, aren't the best, but we're still proud to have them.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
I've personally never felt unsafe on campus. The area is very quaint and small town, so there aren't the same concerns that there would be at a city school. The blue-light system and Dartmouth Safety and Security do a great job monitoring campus and making people feel safe, even when walking home at four a.m.
I'm so happy to be at Dartmouth. It wasn't my first choice school, but I can't imagine a better place for me now that I'm there. Dartmouth people are some of the least pretentious and yet most talented people in the country, and they constantly amaze me and push me to amaze myself.
To prospective students, I'd recommend visiting campus and attending dimensions. Although I didn't make it to dimensions, many of my friends cite it as the reason that they chose to attend Dartmouth. Dartmouth students are preternaturally friendly and excited to be there, and this attitude really shows during dimensions and during first year trips.
The Dartmouth workload is intense, and the D Plan (a school year divided into trimesters rather than semesters) makes it such that finals and midterms come around often. However, it also allows students to focus themselves on really learning the material, since they only take 3 classes a term. The professors are amazing and accessible, and I have nothing but positive things to say about them.
I live in McCulloch, which is a dorm in the East Wheelock cluster. It's the newest, nicest building in the newest, nicest cluster, and I love the whole building. There is a snack bar which takes meal swipes and a common room with a pool table and a fireplace, and the rooms themselves are large and comfortable. In other clusters, people cite the sense of community, the location, or the quietness as their favorite attributes. For me, though, my favorite thing about McCulloch is the people. Some of my best friends are my floor-mates, and I am very lucky to have met them.
There are three major dining facilities at Dartmouth: 53 Commons, The Hop, and Collis. 53 Commons is all-you-can-eat, and it does a good job to incorporate foods of different ethnicities and offer vegetarian and kosher options. However, like at any university, the dining options get old, and there is not much to diversify with in the small town of Hanover. Food at the Hop and Collis is individually priced, and generally rather expensive.
If we're being completely honest, frat houses do dominate the social scene at Dartmouth. Almost all sophomores rush, and since there is no nightlife to speak of in the surrounding area, the only place to go out is to the frats. However, there are many different ways to go out, and I haven't experienced any grief for declining to drink. I've actually been shocked by the lack of peer pressure. There are dance parties and other things to go to on weekends, and Collis After Dark makes a huge effort to bring shows and activities to the table for people who don't want to do the frat thing.
The financial aid that Dartmouth is giving me was the happiest shock of my life. Not only do they give great aid themselves, but they will match the offer of any other Ivy League institution, so if you get in several places, you can start a bidding war between them! What's more, outside scholarship aid is applied towards the student and parent contributions first, then work study, and only after that used to reduce the aid the college gives you, unlike at other schools.
My whole first two weeks at Dartmouth were a whirlwind of traditions, from learning the Salty Dog dance, to being pranked on trips, to singing the alma mater at commencement. It doesn't end there, either. During homecoming week the freshmen (not called freshmen at Dartmouth, actually. We're 16's. That's another tradition.) run laps around the bonfire at the center of the green, and I've never felt so united with such a large group before. Dartmouth's traditions really help to make everyone feel at home.
There's a stereotypical Dartmouth student: Adventurous, outdoorsy, rugged, flannel-wearing, and athletic, but Dartmouth is, in reality, a place for everyone but snobs. We're the cool younger brother of the Ivy League, and we don't take ourselves too seriously. It's not unusual to see people in footie pajamas or tutus (we wear flair sometimes. You'll get used to it). While we're proud to be home to some of the world's smartest and most driven students, you won't really hear us say it.
There are lots of great clubs and activities at Dartmouth. If you want to get involved with something, it's probably either there for you, or easy enough to start up. There are great, well established publications and teams, and some promising new start-ups. Our athletics, for the most part, aren't the best, but we're still proud to have them.
I've personally never felt unsafe on campus. The area is very quaint and small town, so there aren't the same concerns that there would be at a city school. The blue-light system and Dartmouth Safety and Security do a great job monitoring campus and making people feel safe, even when walking home at four a.m.