I know that this topic has already been exhausted for years now, but I think that people are just pushing it under the rug. I have some serious concerns about Dartmouth’s social life, especially Greek life. Of course I don’t think it’s as bad now as it was with Animal House, but I’ve read some pretty scary articles from just a few years ago about hazing and rape.
I did the info session/tour at Dartmouth this summer and loved it, except for the homogeneity and preppy, frat-like aura I got. I saw about 4 nonwhite students in the cafeteria out of over 20, and most of them were dressed and acting very preppy/rich. On the tour, three cars, 2 full of girls and 1 with guys, passed us (at different times, not together) screaming the name of their frat/sorority and some other things I couldn’t understand. Then I found out that over 60% of students are in Greek life, and I saw by the sidewalk next to a Greek house a pile of beer cans and alcohol bottles.
I am trying to understand if a large part of Dartmouth students are like that- that is, into frats and binge drinking, hooking up, crazy parties, etc. Of course there will be people who aren’t, but if say 40% are like that, then I wouldn’t like it
I am looking for a top LAC with intellectual people who have deep discussions about science and art and stuff but who also drink/party a bit on occasion in relaxed settings, like in dorm rooms with a group of friends. I don’t want a party/drink culture, but I wouldn’t fit in with a bunch of people who just sit in the library and study all day and night, not talking to others or socializing.
Can people please comment on what I saw at Dartmouth and whether or not you think it would be the right fit for me? My top schools are Amherst, Middlebury, Brown, and Harvard if that helps at all.
Thank you!!
Yes, I was already thinking of crossing Dartmouth off the list, but I really loved the location, campus, and D-plan. Thank you for your feedback! I just want to see what current students say as well.
I would suggest that you read through some of the past threads on this topic for a more balanced view. I think the past consensus is that you can drink or not drink. You can party and drink or not drink. The Greek community at Dartmouth is known for its openness. I.e., you do not have to join a house to go to parties (except for some closed events, of course). And there are plenty of students who do not party. You do realize that Animal House is fiction and was never at Dartmouth? You are correct that it is a beautiful campus, and you should not overlook its reputation for undergraduate education and the close relationships that students develop with professors. Good luck in your search.
The academic/social balance you seek is probably the norm with fortunate students who have gained acceptance to an elite New England college. I know one young man who has completed his freshman year at Dartmouth and two on their way soon, including my daughter. They are all excellent students, and none of them are party animals-at least not yet. Actually, none of them are drinkers, to my knowledge. The current student does report that despite efforts by the school to integrate students of different ethnicity, kids do tend to hang out pretty much with their own. In other words, Hispanics with other Hispanics, etc. I suggest you focus on the things you want out of a school, rather than what you don’t want.
With Dartmouth, the draws for me would be the location, opportunities for outdoor activities, and the school’s strong commitment to undergraduate studies. Best of luck!
‘I am looking for a top LAC with intellectual people who have deep discussions about science and art and stuff but who also drink/party a bit on occasion in relaxed settings, like in dorm rooms with a group of friends’. You can find this at any of the schools you listed. You need to search out this group, by meeting as many classmates as possible, joining relevant clubs, etc. I do think that it’s easier at some places than others, you seem to have a good read on Dartmouth, and maybe a less frat-oriented school would make better sense for you. Having said that, admission to any of these top schools is for from guaranteed no matter what your credentials, so you might keep Dartmouth on your list and see where you get in. Good luck - with your great attitude and desire for learning I think you will enjoy college no matter where you end up.
I would not disagree with you on the second one, Tom, and I have made my displeasure with the administration’s response known in many places, but it’s not really responsive to OP’s question. And your first comment remains irrelevant to 2016.
If you really want to know what a Dartmouth student is, just Google “abbey d’agostino” - a 14 who made everyone proud today and showed the true Olympic spirit.
You might also consider Williams if you like Dartmouth’s small college appeal, top notch teaching, and rural setting. It has the social environment you described as your ideal. Williams has no frats and a very inclusive environment which begins with small freshman ‘entries’ (a housing entity of about 20 first year students and two junior advisors) designed to be a microcosm of the college.
So much virtual ink has been spilled on this that I don’t have the energy to enter the fray once more.
I will say that I think that at any elite LAC/university you will find what you are looking for…and you will also find a good number of dedicated partiers. You will also find a number of rich kids who spend money like water on clothes, trips, and eating out, as well as kids who have on-campus jobs to defray their expenses. My S, who was the epitome of non-frattiness going in, decided to pledge a house where several of his equally non-fratty friends had. His brothers at that house were a mixture of all races and ethnicities on campus. It included wealthy kids and kids on full FA, kids from public high schools and kids from prep schools.
I’ve known kids who did overnights at places like Middlebury and Bowdoin, which do not have Greek life, and had hosts who got blind drunk and vomited copiously. When S visited D for Dimensions, his host was a conservative black philosophy major who contributed opinion columns to regional papers.
Apply, don’t apply. Any of the schools on your list will be great.
I don’t think that you would be happy at Dartmouth. From what I have seen first hand on my tours with my kids, Williams, Middlebury, Swarthmore, Brown and Tufts would be better choices. If you want a larger frat-free school, check out Boston College.
I would seriously consider tufts as it’s probably the school with a culture most like brown’s, which is among your top choices. If you’re willing to look in the Midwest, Carleton is very much what you describe you’re looking for in a college. And macalester might be a good match or safety school, depending upon your stats.
@bluebayou Why do you say Harvard is less LAC-like? Of course, I know it isn’t actually an LAC, but so is Brown and you didn’t mention that one. What makes Harvard different? Is it just the large number of grad students or something else?
^^Absolutely, Harvard is first and foremost a Research University. Teaching undergrads is something that they just have to do. No one attends H or Stanford or MIT or [fill in the name of top research Uni]…for undergrad teaching.
In contrast, LACs have no/few grad programs, so all teaching is focused on undergrads. Of course, that does not mean that faculty at top LAC’s do not also conduct research, and lots of it.
Brown is more like Dartmouth in that it is a little more undergrad focused than Harvard.
@bluebayou I’m surprised you say that because I’ve heard many others say that the undergrad teaching at Harvard (and Brown, etc.) is excellent, as good as it is at top LAC schools like Amherst. Do you know this firsthand?
Actually, none of them are drinkers, to my knowledge. The current student does report that despite efforts by the school to integrate students of different ethnicity, kids do tend to hang out pretty much with their own. In other words, Hispanics with other Hispanics, etc. I suggest you focus on the things you want out of a school, rather than what you don’t want.