<p>Son is a '14, non-Greek, Science major, loves his classmates, learned how to ski and participates in many campus organizations. When asked about whether it was the right choice, he says “no doubts Dad.” Daughter is a graduate student in the MPH program at TDI, and after a great undergrad experience at Wellesley, LOVES it at Hanover. She has taken up snowboarding, hangs out at the various libraries and Hanover eateries. Saw Yo Yo Ma in concert at the Hop, loves Dartmouth Hockey, and is almost having too much fun, even in her MPH program if that is humanly possible. Our family now wonders why we even considered those other schools. </p>
<p>Have your D attend Dimensions. Dartmouth is rural and not for everyone, but for those who attend and embrace the traditions (and drink the kool-aid) the college experience doesn’t get much better than this.</p>
<p>@Sparky232 - first I’m going to say that I’m responding in the time that I should be using to pack for a parliamentary debate tournament. So please excuse my response for being disjointed. I’ve definitely enjoyed my time here so far. I’ve only been to two home games total in my time here. I’d say that the teachers are very accessible, not that I’ve taken full advantage of that. During Orientation week I went to a History open house - predictably, since History lacks the Wall-Street allure of the Economics department, there were more professors than students, and I spent the next few hours speaking to seven different professors. Undergraduate focus is pretty strong given our relative “weakness” in graduate schooling; the lack of graduate students in government-related fields means that, (using a pretty specific example) if you pursue a public policy minor you can work in the undergraduate-only policy research shop (think Brookings-reports produced by undergrads which you then present to either the Vermont or New Hampshire state legislatures - we benefit from the fact that both legislatures are pretty heavily understaffed. This opportunity simply wouldn’t be available to a Harvard student because A) the Massachusetts legislature is much better funded and B) if they needed this kind of work to be done, it’d likely fall to Harvard graduate students). If she’s interested in public health, the Geisel School of Medicine is pretty useful - apparently they’re doing leading research on improving the cost-effectiveness of healthcare provision - I’ve actually only heard this from guest speakers, and have never verified this for myself. While I don’t know that much from personal experience, I’m decently sure that the Women In Science Project might help her explore that interest by placing her in a hospital-related position. And before I end this post, since your Daughter is interested in Acapella, I recommend you search “Dartmouth Aires” on youtube and watch their Sing-Off videos.</p>
<p>@Fidelic - how has your freshmen year been? I’m still struggling to see if Dartmouth is the right ‘fit’ for me - given the social scene there. I understand that other people have posted that it is really up to you to decide who you hang out with, but are there many alternatives to choose from? </p>
<p>Also I was wondering about the research opportunities for undergrads - given that Dartmouth doesn’t spend as much on research as other bigger ‘universities’. Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>All in all, I’ve really enjoyed my freshman year; I was pretty lucky with my freshman floor. Granted, the floor I live on may not be a typical Dartmouth floor - I applied, and got, to live in the East Wheelock Cluster. Frats definitely loom large in the social life, but it does seem to me that there is a fair variety of different social scenes (coed fraternities, musical groups, etc…). I say ‘fair’ because, frankly, just as my experience with frats has been limited, my experience with those other groups has been limited too. I’m hesitant to give any clear cut answer to the question of whether there are “many alternatives”, as I can hardly claim to have comprehensive knowledge of Dartmouth; I will say that I’ve definitely enjoyed my time here so far, despite going to frats a total of 3 or 4 times. </p>
<p>As for research opportunities, I personally haven’t looked for any, but everything I’ve heard is that accessible professors and a general lack of graduate students translate into a pretty undergraduate-friendly research environment (as opposed to big universities where Professors are dealing with doctoral candidates and graduate students). Of course, the ease of doing research with a professor is going to vary depending on the popularity of that professor’s department and his or her own popularity. </p>
<p>I’ve had two professor-conversations in which the professor talked about Dartmouth’s undergraduate focus. The first professor (and head of the government department) said that before coming to Dartmouth, he used to teach at WUSTL. He went on to say that his best students at WUSTL were equal to his best students at Dartmouth; however, since coming to Dartmouth, he had become much “closer” to his students and gotten to know them better. When he taught at WUSTL, he had TAs grade tests and papers for him. Since coming to Dartmouth, he’s done all his own grading (incidentally, he taught the very first class I ever took at Dartmouth, an intro to comparative politics course). </p>
<p>I’ve heard another professor call Dartmouth the best undergraduate education in the country (during this conversation he stated that we have resources Williams and other LACs can’t match). He also talked about his own experience teaching at American University, where his best students were just as good as his best students here at Dartmouth. However, he went on to say that the best law schools his best American University students ever got into were used as safety schools by his best Dartmouth students. </p>
<p>My point here isn’t to prove that Dartmouth is the best institution from an undergrad-centric viewpoint. My point is that the Professors here truly do believe that Dartmouth is an exceptional undergraduate institution. (Though they’re certainly not above criticizing the institution; I’m pretty sure the faculty voted unanimously to end the Greek System a few years ago!)</p>
<p>@Sparky232 the social life at Dartmouth is the Greek system. There isn’t much to the surrounding area! She can ski at any of the three schools. My cousin went to Tufts for Public Health. She loved it. I don’t think anyone should go to Dartmouth if they aren’t into the Greek system. They try to downplay it, but students are isolated if they aren’t involved in it. Good luck!</p>
<p>^very inaccurate statement. Sure, the greek system is strong at DM. But there are tons of kids that stay independent and love DM. My D has many many friends that are not greek, and they are anything but isolated. They are all super involved with many different activities. Sure, DM is small. That is one of its best advantages. My D knows people everywhere she goes, but it’s not so small that she doesn’t meet new people every day. I don’t think DM kids are ever bored or looking for something to do…the issue is they don’t have enough time to do everything they want. And one thing to keep in mind about the greek system…it is not like any other school. All parties are open, and kids have friends in multiple houses and spend time in various houses. It is the most inclusive school I have ever seen. Many many kids that do not plan to go greek find that there is a house they feel “at home” in. Academically, there is a reason DM continues to rank tops in undergraduate teaching. The professors are really there for the kids, and they are accessible. Research opportunities are available starting freshman year. Sparky, good luck to your D as she makes her decision. She has wonderful choices.</p>
<p>I am graduating from Dartmouth this year, which is why I began weighing in. I thought I could help in ways I wish people had helped me. I am writing from my experiences, and from what my siblings and friends have experienced at other schools such as Cornell. At Cornell, you can really choose between being in the Greek system or not, and no one notices or cares. And girls can get into any fraternity party they want at Cornell and most schools, by the way… Dartmouth is so small, that the Greek system is really a part of the essence. My cousin went to Tufts. She is an Orthodontist now. Loved it! Good luck!</p>
<p>fredoliver91, are you really suggesting by the above reference to Cornell that girls at Dartmouth cannot get into any fraternity party they want? I am seriously questioning whether you are really a 13.</p>
<p>Also the whole point of fraternity parties is that girls are supposed to be able to get in - but usually because they’re ‘currency’ with which their male friends gain admittance. Fred’s observation is really deceptive.</p>
<p>can anyone describe what the dartmouth student body is like? is it pretty homogenous (prep school on steroids) or is there a good amount of diversity (both racially and economically)?</p>
<p>Lucy, take a look at the admission statistics on admitted students. It should pretty closely mirror the profiles of the kids that matriculate to Dartmouth. Over half of the student body is on financial aid (I think it is closer to 60%), so no worries there. One of the things I really like about DM is race, income, etc. does not matter. D went to a public high school, and although there was a ton of diversity, for the most part, kids ate lunch and socialized with kids that were “like” them. D is in a sorority at DM, and its members are very diverse. As a parent, I love looking at facebook pictures (one of the ways we parents stay closer to kids while they are away). Her friends are diverse, with regards to nationality, race, etc. Are you able to attend Dimensions this weekend? I hope so!</p>
<p>My message was in response to whether or not the prospective female student would or would not have a social life if she wasn’t part of the Greek system, and my response was that girls can get into any fraternity party they want at Cornell AND MOST SCHOOLS, BY THE WAY… I am a 13, and you need to read the entire sentence… The Greek system is overwhelming at Dartmouth over Cornell because it is so much smaller with a great percentage of people involved. Cornell is a big school with an active Greek life, but a great deal more people not involved than at Dartmouth.</p>
<p>If I follow you, Fred, you’re saying that you gave a non-responsive answer. The poster asked if she would have a social life at Dartmouth if she wasn’t part of the Greek system, and you replied that girls can get into any fraternity party they want at Cornell and other schools. Okay, I’ll accept that. I still don’t think it answered the question, and I dare not try to infer what else you might have meant because I would not want to misinterpret. I think the answer to the original question is “yes, you can have a great social life at Dartmouth without being part of the Greek system and many people have.” I’ll grant you that it may in fact be easier to do so if you are female, and I’m sorry that your Dartmouth experience has apparently been disappointing. Cheers.</p>
<p>Fred, the point is that in an oppressive fraternity system, it’s the MALES who can’t get in unless they meet ratio requirements and bring enough female friends as “currency”. This practice doesn’t exist at Dartmouth.</p>