<p>I've been kind of stuck on one school for a while, and i realized i should be looking into other schools too..</p>
<p>Could you guys please help me and tell some of the great aspects that you personally like about Dartmouth? thanks!</p>
<p>I liked the size a lot. It was big enough where I didn't know everyone, but small enough that there was a strong community feel and connections with professors. Plus, most everyone who goes/went there loves it. (I haven't heard the same from Harvard or Columbia alums)</p>
<p>I went to Dartmouth. I'll give you a list of why Dartmouth is so good: academics (!), faculty accessibility (students call profs in their departments by their first names), strong campus community, unparalleled study abroad programs, great emphasis on undergraduate education, the flexibility of the "D" plan (if it's still called that), and a beautiful, safe campus. Plus, the campus spills right into Hanover, a small town. If you want a pizza, say, you can walk there in two minutes. </p>
<p>Don't let the cold weather and isolation dissuade you. I hate the cold - and I made it through the winters. As for the isolation, don't worry about it. Most students have no need or time to go beyond what the college offers. A lot of students are outdoorsy types, although a significant fraction have no interest that kind of activity.</p>
<p>I wouldn't go there if you need the stimulation of a big town or city, though.</p>
<p>What is the "D" plan?</p>
<p>D plan - Dartmouth has 4 quarters a year, in Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer. You are required to be on campus Freshman Fall, Winter, Spring, Sophomore Summer, and Senior Fall, Winter, and Spring. Since you take classes (at least) one summer, you get to take your vacation, or off-term, some other time during your sophomore or junior year. This allows for great opportunities for internships and such, since there is much less competition in the other three seasons.</p>
<p>dartmouth is great because of...all of the more obvious reasons stated above, but here's pretty funny personal story...when i applied, i sent a satirical newsletter i started at my school as a supplement. i felt this newsletter was pretty indicative of my writing, but after i sent it, i thought maybe it might rub admissions officers the wrong way because it was entitled "zigzag papers" and had many innuendos referring to marijuana, along with a lot of other slightly politically incorrect statements. i felt kinda stupid after the fact, and worried that i might botch my chances of admissions. however, i ended up getting a likely letter, and i wasn't even that strong an applicant. so basically, i love dartmouth because at least the school has a sense of humor.</p>
<p>first of all, dartmouth is a great school for the education, the prof-student relationships, the amount of money the school is willing to spend on the kids both academically and otherwise (tons of money if youre looking into non-profit internships or community service stuff during your offterms), the small classes, THREE CLASSES PER FREAKING TERM (translates into between 9 and 11 hours spent in class per week and much less pressure when youre cramming), etc, etc, etc</p>
<p>(but there are a lot of other great education schools)</p>
<p>and it's just a great freakin PLACE because.... iono, read the other threads on this board or something. it's impossible to explain how awesome dartmouth is to someone.... and there's no way this can be parallelled. you'll be hard pressed to find a D alum that doesn't rave about D. and this is definitely not true of alums of other schools. even folks who were born and raised in the middle of the city cherish their four years in the woods like their left testicle. of course, there are exceptions everywhere. but you'll see that these are mostly kids that didn't wana be at D in the first place and never made an effort to be a part of the D community. it's like trying to explain why your girlfriend is freakin awesome. you can say she's hot, smart, plays a mean violin, gives good head, whatever. but there's always other girls who are like that, and maybe exceeds it. but hell, you just know that this is the one, you know? for all the little things that you can't explain about her, all the small random things....</p>
<p>basically, go visit. and go with your gut feeling. there was an article in the globe, too. bigger the decision, rely on your gut more.</p>
<p>I really like the bustle of a BIG city, do you think i's like Dartmouth despite the fact that it's rather isolated?</p>
<p>Most students spend so much time studying and hanging out with friends that they don't miss the city. The strong sense of community at Dartmouth comes from the fact that all the students live, eat, and study together, without many forays off campus. (Parking is a hassle and far away, so not many students, not even seniors, have cars on campus.) A college/university where students frequently disappear from campus won't have the same kind of unity.</p>
<p>If you need that bustle every day - I mean, if psychologically you don't think you can live without it - then no, Dartmouth won't be for you. </p>
<p>I had two close friends who lived in NYC. While they missed the city, they never regretted their choice to attend Dartmouth. They went to D for the education and for the community.</p>
<p>I highly recommend seeing the campus and, if possible, arranging for an overnight.</p>
<p>We are from NYC and D loves being in Hanover. </p>
<p>Looked at it this way; She did not want to spend her entire educational life on the island of Manhattan. </p>
<p>She wanted a true campus with green grass under her feet and a strong sense of community. </p>
<p>She has lived in NYC her entire life and would most likely live in the city after college.</p>
<p>College is 4 years where she really wanted something different.</p>
<p>Don't get me wrong, she loves NYC feels you can't get a decent slice of pizza or chinese food any where else although the best sushi she has ever eaten is at Yama's in West Leb. The the largest segment of her class are from NY and the majority of the NYers are from the city. </p>
<p>She went off to Hanover, never looked back and never waivered in her decision to attend becaue of all of the things that Mom mentioned.</p>
<p>Dartmouth is great because... Tard Ho Tum is an anagram</p>
<p>But see I'm from a smalltown, and i kind of want the novelty of a city. i suppose i can sacrafice that for the education and community life--i dunno, it's such a hard decision. Does anyone relate?</p>
<p>Dostoevsky, I definitely relate. I'm sick of the suburbs and kind of want the hustle and bustle and access that comes with living in a city. But I can sacrifice that for four years... just don't know if I want to. MEH!</p>
<p>I definitely relate. I'm falling in love with Dartmouth...but I feel that if I attend, it will be as isolated as where I live now (even less probably!). Also I'm worried about the weather... I'm from Florida and the sun and heat are sources of my happiness, lol. And I know that people say that there is so much to do on campus, but I dont know.. maybe I'll enjoy all the nature that Dartmouth and Hanover have to offer. The city seems so much more appealing though.</p>
<p>Its worth it - there is a great chance you;ll be in the big city after college and the community attributes trump the benefits of a city in my opinion. You never feel bored at Dartmouth - I didn't have a TV for much of my time there! Just so much to do. Plus its likely you'll be in a big city during college because of internships/ study abroad. I lived in Barcelona, Washington D.C., Boston, Oxford England all during college!! Dartmouth students are far from isolated.</p>
<p>But, on a typical friday/saturday night... what's there to do besides drink into oblivion?</p>
<p>My first year at Columbia I realized all the kids did was drink too, except in a much less cohesive environment. When I transferred to Dartmouth, I found the community was what I loved most. In terms of parties has tons of options. But the campus itself also has tons of other activities like the Lowe theater film pass (20 indy movies for $20), cultural stuff is always going on, stuff like acapella, special events, outdoor stuff (ranging from ice skating at occum pond (hugely popular), to hanging out at the river ranch (on the connecticut), poetry nights, etc.</p>
<p>I have friends who didn't drink or weren't drinking focused and on a weekend night they might make a bonfire and make food. Not my thing persay, but are plenty of subgroups.</p>
<p>Let me ask another question. What is there to do in Boston besides drink yourself into oblivion? You aren't going to the opera every weekend night. I found Dartmouth to be its own little world, but with lots of great sub communities as well. Its not for everyone, people who need clubs and hookah bars won't like it that much, but if you like a more laidback form of entertainment its awesome.</p>
<p>Yeah but at least in Boston you can go see a band or something. I dunno, it just kind of weirds me out that if I need something at Best Buy, that's a two hour drive away :o</p>
<p>hmm that kind of wierd me out too...</p>
<p>No I get that. Dartmouth is rural, but in terms of stuff you want there might not be a best buy, but there's pretty much everything you need in Lebanon. The upper valley still has something like 75,000 people so you can get everything you need. Its nothing like alot of other LACs that truly are in the "middle of nowhere."</p>