<p>Hello everyone! I have a vague (and possibly incorrect) understanding of the D-Plan. I was just wondering if anyone could please explain it to me in its entirety? That would be very nice. Thanks! ;)</p>
<p>First, refer to this link:</p>
<p>Basically, it was originally conceived when Dartmouth first admitted women students but did not want to reduce the number of men students and hence was faced with a housing problem. By dividing the year into quarters and requiring all Sophomore students to be on campus during their summer quarter, it freed up needed housing.</p>
<p>So, the year is divided into quarters, giving you a total of 15 quarters in the 4 year span in which to take 12 quarters of courses and have 3 leave quarters. Some of the 12 course quarters can be spent off-campus. All students are are required to spend their Freshman and Senior Fall, Winter and Spring quarters on campus, as well as their Sophomore Summer quarter. That takes care of 7 of the 12 course quarters. The remaining 5 coures quarters and the 3 leave quarters can be taken within the 4 years as the student wishes. Some of the 5 flexible course quarters can be taken as off-campus programs for course credit, such as Language Study Abroad, or Foreign Study Programs in your major field (and that can be abroad or at another American college or university). The leave quarters can be taken as vacation, or used for internships or research. </p>
<p>It might be possible then, for example, for Sophomore to study language abroad during his or her Spring quarter and then come back for the mandatory summer quarter. Or a Junior might take the Winter quarter abroad in his or her major field and then stay abroad the next quarter. Or a Junior might be able to set aside a quarter for research</p>
<p>Within this plan, students who hate the Winter quarter have ways to be off campus in the winter. Students are also able to be more flexible in securing internships or research at a time when he or she is not vying for it with hundreds of thousands of students from other colleges. </p>
<p>Hope that gives you an idea.</p>
<p>Thank you very much! ;)</p>
<p>So... Dartmouth is on the quarter system?</p>
<p>Yes they are on the quarter system.</p>
<p>balance of the first year calendar for 2005 </p>
<p>Winter 2005
January 2, Sunday Residence halls open at 9:00 a.m.
January 3-5, Monday-Wednesday Winter term on-line check-in
January 4, Tuesday Winter term classes begin at 7:45 a.m.
February 11, Friday Carnival holiday
March 9, Wednesday Winter term classes end at 5:20 p.m.
March 12-16, Saturday-Wednesday Winter term examinations
March 17, Thursday Residence halls close at noon </p>
<p>Spring 2005
March 27, Sunday Residence halls open at 9:00 a.m.
March 28-30, Monday-Wednesday Spring term on-line check-in
March 29, Tuesday Spring term classes begin at 7:45 a.m.
May 6-8, FridaySunday Family Weekend
June 1, Wednesday Spring term classes end
June 3-7, Friday-Tuesday Spring term examinations
June 8, Wednesday Residence halls close at noon</p>
<p>thanks for explaining it sybbie and ohmadre, no matter how many times I visit their website, I could just never get exactly what the D-plan was</p>
<p>do you have to go with the D-plan?? can't you choose to stay on campus to study all the courses? is the D-plan mandatory?</p>
<p>It's one of the reasons darties fall in love with dart...if you don't love or at least tolerate the d-plan, dart probably isn't for you</p>
<p>SOme people don't take leave terms and just do all of thier study on campus, but I think that you will miss out on a lot of wonderful opportunities especially when you can begin yoru leave term, internships, LSA or FSA as early as your sophmore year</p>
<p>is it just me or does it seem like they go back to school early in january and get out late in the spring? there are still recent graduates from my high school wandering around so i know that at least some colleges arent back in school</p>
<p>yeah, dartmouth operates on a different schedule than other schools, so the timing will be different. one alumna i talked to said this was the only downside to the D-plan --she couldn't easily meet up with old high school friends since they were on different timetables.</p>
<p>and sophomores have to stay the summer.</p>
<p>Daughter left ot go back on January 2 because they began classes on tuesday the 4th. You must remember that on te quarter system they attend classes on 10 week cycles. In between for some classes there are 2 rounds of midterms and finals. This term she is taking a neuropsych class which has 7 quizzes all given on their X hour and a final exam. Her chem class meets 3 times a week and has a a4 hour lab one day a week.</p>