<p>Did most people get their first choice of trip? If you didn't, please post and indicate whether or not you applied for financial aid for the outing.</p>
<p>yes and yes (although I guess I shouldn't have answered the second part, according to your "If you didn't" lol). I doubt there's any correlation though. Some trips are just more demanded.</p>
<p>Thanks, actually it's much better if people answer that either way. So, even if you did get your first choice, please note if you applied for and received aid. Also, please note whether you're going the first or second week.</p>
<p>I admit to being a bit cynical and suspicious in general, so I can't help but wonder if maybe there is a correlation. A while back I googled our last name trying to find an article about my D and accidentally came across the DOC's trip list which was up on the web (it got taken off shortly afterward). It indicated who registered for what trip and the date and time they registered, and my student did register pretty early. Also, a friend who didn't apply for aid registered for the same trip within seconds of when my child did and the friend did get the trip. Doesn't mean anything necessarily, and Dartmouth certainly has the right to give full paying students first dibs if they want. But if that's the case, it would have been nice to know in advance since not getting your choice may not have been worth the small partial scholarship.</p>
<p>TheGFG, my daughter did not apply for aid, and did not get her first or second choice trip - I'm not sure she even listed the trip she ended up taking as one of her choices. It is extremely random, and I suspect the selections are done by a bunch of upperclassmen active in the DOC, after a long evening of socializing (or perhaps hiking). In fact, I heard a rumor last year that during the 08s' trips, one trip was populated entirely by girls named Emily - don't try to tell me that was random! We felt paranoid too, she ended up on organic farming, and the whole family laughed and said it was because we're from the Deep South - what else would Alabamians know but farming?, after all we don't wear shoes ;). Stereotyping run amok!</p>
<p>Anyhoo, she had a great time organic farming, and later learned that they slept rougher, and had more contact with wildlife (an unfortunate skunk incident) than many of her classmates on more ostensibly "wild trips".</p>
<p>I suspect that the trips requiring skills or experience they fill after actually reading the apps and assessing abilities, and the others are pretty random.</p>
<p>I got my first choice trip (rock climbing--anyone else out there?), but didn't apply for aid (for the DOC trip, anyway--I am getting College financial aid).</p>
<p>My son ('09) did not apply for aid and did not receive his first choice trip, although he applied early. Nevertheless, he had a wonderful time and I would encourage all freshman to attend, if at all possible.</p>
<p>There is a greater likelihood at a student will be placed on a hiking trip than any other trip because multiple hiking given in each session and there are probably more people in a hiking section compared to something like horseback riding which is only given in section B and E and 5 people in each of those sections. </p>
<p>Also, the trip office tries to balance the trips as fare as male/ female and location. Trip sections A & B are ususally filled with people from the NY, NJ, CT, MA area (as those are the trips where you can also take the bus that stops in NYC, CT, MA). </p>
<p>
[quote]
It indicated who registered for what trip and the date and time they registered, and my student did register pretty early. Also, a friend who didn't apply for aid registered for the same trip within seconds of when my child did and the friend did get the trip.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>The largest group of students on trips A & B come from NY with most of these students coming from NYC followed by MA. IF placement is based on anything, they try not to group students from same area and schools on the same trip because one of the main purposes of the trips are to meet other first year students. For example: it would be very unlikley if you attended Stuyvesant in NYC (for which sends a lot of students to dartmouth) that you would be placed on a trip with a large number of other stuyvesant students. </p>
<p>I agree with Cangel's statement: that the trips requiring skills or experience they fill after actually reading the apps and assessing abilities; which is one of the reasons they ask students to give an assessment of their ability on their questionnaire. It could be that when putting together a trip there could very well be a bunch of students who have a lot of experience when it comes to advanced hiking, or whatever so they could be placed together.</p>
<p>One thing I could tell you for certain. After 5 days unwashed, getting off that bus; they all smell, but they all will have a big smiles on their faces and talk about what a great time they had.</p>
<p>Cangel, we did laugh and say that it could have been worse--the assignment could have been organic farming! The other weird thing was that along with the trip info. S got a notice about seeing the health people about the medical condition he indicated on the form. Problem is, he didn't indicate any medical condition! He's one of those people who is never sick. We wondered if since they were mistaken about that detail, they may have decided kayaking was too much for someone with his "condition." Oh well, I'm feeling better now.</p>
<p>I didn't apply for trip financial aid, and I didn't get my top pick -- which was MODERATE HIKING, of all things. I got placed in easy hiking instead, but oh well, I'm really looking forward to it anyway.</p>
<p>xine, you can probably get that changed if you call. There is a lot of flexibility between hiking trips.</p>
<p>My bf applied for Aid and got into a trip that he didnt like. He wrote to the office and they immediately changed his trip. I believe it was one of the HIking trip</p>
<p>haha i don't even remember what type of trip i selected when i did it. i actually don't think i put a "first choice"; i think i just put prefer on a few of them. i really don't care at all; i could really do anything. but i got leisurely hiking, which was one of the few i put "prefer" on, i believe. i am in section J (september 8) and doing leisurely hiking, so feel free to IM me if you by chance are on that: Mailman253, or e-mail, <a href="mailto:James.C.Keaney@dartmouth.edu">James.C.Keaney@dartmouth.edu</a></p>
<p>Leisurely Hiking is the best if you're looking for a relaxing trip...</p>
<p>i didnt get my first choice trip and didnt apply for fin aid. i was kinda bummed when i found out i got leisurely hiking, but after reading the above post my spirits are lifting... :)</p>
<p>well, he got a leisurely hiking trip but he figured that he was looking for more of adventurous beginning to dartmouth so they moved him up to Easy trip(which is really relatively the same). haha</p>