<p>Stereotypically, Dartmouth students are of the outdoorsy-type, who enjoy mountain biking, skiing, kayaking, camping, etc.</p>
<p>To what degree is this true and prevalent, versus other similar-caliber schools like Duke, Columbia, UPenn, Brown, etc?</p>
<p>Also, any other comments related to campus culture, especially compared to other similar schools, would be appreciated. Thanks</p>
<p>Dartmouth is amazing. Very laid-back and welcoming atmosphere. Definitely visit if you have a chance.</p>
<p>Haha, well that didn’t answer OP’s question, but good plug I guess.</p>
<p>That stereotype is true of a segment of Dartmouth’s population (the minority). Although almost every Dartmouth student will try some outdoorsy stuff at some point in the four years. This culture is more noticeable at Dartmouth primarily because we’re basically in the middle of nature…right on the river…between a bunch of mountains/hils, a skiway etc etc.</p>
<p>That said, after DOC trips, the campus culture is similar to most other schools, though the opportunities for outdoor activities are always available.</p>
<p>Aha thanks. I’m really asking this because I will not have the opportunity to visit, and am trying to keep my college list below 10 schools. Dartmouth is not on my list, and I really want to make sure it’s not for the wrong reasons, so that I do not miss out on a possibly great college experience.</p>
<p>Personally, I love nature although I have never been very outdoorsy. I’m moderately athletic, although you won’t catch me swimming in a river anytime soon. I definitely don’t mind rural environments, as I’m planning on applying to Williams and Amherst as well. Those two schools are very similar to Dartmouth, yet for some reason I prefer them instead. How do any of you think their cultures compare to Dartmouth?</p>
<p>You sound like you’d fit in fine. </p>
<p>I’ve never been to Williams or Amherst so I really can’t speak to that.</p>
<p>Again, though, as with most schools there is no prevailing culture…the culture is just college, meaning people do a lot of different stuff are in to a lot of different things.</p>
<p>You could say Dartmouth has an outdoorsy culture, a drinking culture, an ivy-league culture, an east-coast culture…all of these are true to some degree but can’t truly define the college</p>
<p>I’m just curious vincere (I don’t want to bring up an argument, I’m just curious): Why are you intentionally vague in your descriptions of the college? Dartmouth is many things. “Normal” is not one of them (in fact, I would be more concerned if that was so!).</p>
<p>I don’t think vincere is necessarily being intentionally vague; I actually think he answered your question pretty well. It’s impossible to describe Dartmouth (and any other college) with any single defining characteristic. There are all types of students and cultures at any college. Trying to limit all these different types of people into one category is exactly what you said in your OP - a stereotype. The “outdoorsy” culture does exist on campus - as do many other different kinds of cultures.</p>
<p>hey flyingllama,
One year ago, I was applying to Williams,Swarthmore, Pomona and other LAC’s as well. And when came acceptance time, I was basically split between Williams and Dartmouth. Actually, I was leaning towards Williams and likely going there . . . until I actually visited both schools. It was a major viewpoint-changing event. Dartmouth people were really friendly and they really wanted you to come to their school. They didn’t see the hordes of pre-frosh as an intrusion; upperclasspeople would kindly walk us to our destinations when we were lost and even random students we never knew would encourage us to go to Dartmouth when they spotted us on the road (lol). The school atmosphere was astoundingly open and everyone I talked to seem to genuinely love the school. Plus, there was a lot more going on socially than any other college I visited. I also visited Williams, but there was a lot less of the school spirit/students didn’t seem to be as open and friendly as the Dartmouth ones. One current student actually admitted to me that the hordes of pre-frosh were kind of irritating to have. After the visits, I chose Dartmouth, mainly for the reasons I listed. That’s why I recommend you at least to think about applying to Dartmouth…until I actually visited, I never knew that I would be choosing Dartmouth, but here I am, a proud member of class of '13. :)</p>
<p>I wasn’t being vague, defining a college is necessarily vague as you’re essentially attempting to identify thousands of people with a defining characteristic.</p>
<p>Overall there may be some prevailing tendencies of the student body but nothing singularly defining. I know everyone likes to think of their school as unique…“my school has the nicest people” or “my school drinks more than other schools” or simply “my school is so special and unique” but come on…all of these will necessarily fall short.</p>
<p>I will say that I think Dartmouth brings out the best in lots of people, but I can’t say that other schools wouldn’t do the same. If you want an idea of a school, then go visit…spend some time…talk to some people and go from there.</p>
<p>would you say that dartmouth is more “fratty” than amherst/williams?</p>
<p>Undoubtedly. Do those two have frats?? </p>
<p>Dartmouth is fratty in the sense that the majority of people join frats, but that’s a bit deceiving as most of Dartmouth’s frats are decidedly un-fratty in the traditional sense of the word (big school frat life)</p>
<p>would you say that Dartmouth, and maybe Cornell, are the only real frat-type Ivys?</p>
<p>Just watch this, I keep putting it up: [YouTube</a> - Dartmouth By Air](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GIXESEjfqo]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GIXESEjfqo)</p>
<p>Dartmouth frats are just places to go and meet people. They are open. The older guy next to you may be a Wallstreet headhunter. Williams is a great school, but I don’t think may choose it above Dartmouth.</p>
<p>Cornell in many ways resembles a typical state university - the percentage of students in Greek Life (not a majority, but still enough to define a niche), the size of the student body, and the supposed high variance (with a higher median of course) in the intelligence of the students there.</p>
<p>Same with Penn.</p>
<p>None of those schools are particularly fratty in the traditional sense. Though, we do like to try hard.</p>
<p>^ alright but I’m guessing that when comparing Cornell, Penn, and Dartmouth… Dartmouth has the biggest Greek life going around? maybe more similar to Cornell than Penn? and thanks IvyIsGreen for the video link</p>
<p>well, what I hear is that – I know this is hearsay, but please hear me out – Cornell and Penn has a much more closed frat life than Dartmouth. I haven’t been to Cornell and Penn so I wouldn’t know, but Dartmouth when I visited really did seem to have an open attitude on frats. All the frats are open to public, anyone can basically go to any party/frat, etc. I hear it’s a bit different with Cornell and Penn frats, where they tend to be more closed. That way I think Dart is different.</p>
<p>Exactly, the culture is different. Frats at Dartmouth are incredibly different than traditional “frat” culture</p>
<p>I think Dartmouth’s frat culture is alot like the one at Tufts. Frats are open on weekends for parties and considered more like a social club and place to live for people who don’t want dorms but still want to be on campus.</p>