<p>... because I haven't posted in a while. Collegeconfidential- sybbie, suze, dartmom, and others was SO helpful for me when I was applying to college and I really want to help out future "cycles," especially as I'm approaching another round of grad. school applications.</p>
<p>Anyways I'm a Dartmouth student and I can provide information on Dartmouth for anyone who is a prospective student or just curious. Am a premed who has done research on campus, have completed a Foreign Study Program (FSP) in Beijing and looking another one in Germany next year. This coming winter term, I'll be volunteering in India, so I can give some information about college funding/research as well. </p>
<p>I'm no good with numbers or predicting chances or anything, but I'd be happy to give some perspective on Dartmouth or college for those who'd like some. Congratulations, ED '11's, we're SOOO happy to have you with us, and good luck to everyone else who's applying!!!</p>
<p>The long answer is, Dartmouth intellectual life is out there, but you'll have to find it- and it comes at the most unexpected times. I remember visiting places like UChicago and Swarthmore and being put off by how EVERYTHING had to turn into an ethical debate. Everyone seemed so eager to challenge everyone else and drop big names, like Kant and Rousseau- it seemed a little pretentious to me. Obviously though, if you're very intellectual and need to be in an environment where that is around you all the time, then those schools are the way to go.</p>
<p>Superficially Dartmouth students might seem really laid-back, or outdoorsy, or just "super sweet frat brothers." But if you give them a chance, they'll surprise and please you. I have many of my best 4...5... even 6 hour conversations at the most unexpected times: late at night during finals week, in the hop on a sunday morning, even over blitz. My roommate and I just recently had a wonderful, lively impromptu discussion on sexism and the old-boy subculture at the fraternities on the way back from- yep, you guessed it- the frats on a saturday night. It's easy to forget that fun-loving, hard-drinking, Dartmouth students are fiercely bright unless you give them a chance.</p>
<p>Of course, some people get put off by this: they think it's some kind of overly modest show, or people pretending to be dumber than they are. I guess I disagree... I think that Dartmouth students are bright, but have a lot of other interests besides the classroom and don't feel like they have to advertise those six-syllable SAT words all the time.</p>
<p>DD just got accept and I think it's great, but I am a bit worried about the ever so present mention of drinking. Even you had to use the expression "hard-drinking." Can you tell me a little more about that?</p>
<p>Hope that you had a good fall term and you enjoy a well deserved break. D just finished up her FSP and left this morning for Copenhagen to hang out with one of her friends before coming home next weekend. She is also off this winter (will be taking the LSAT and doing an internship).</p>
<p>Sure. I will be honest: Dartmouth's reputation for drinking is not unfounded. A large part of the social life centers around the Greek system, and a large part of that involves drinking.</p>
<p>However, that being said, I have never ever EVER felt pressured to drink at Dartmouth. All you have to do is smile politely and say, "No thanks," and people will shrug and not give it a second thought. The college works hard to provide other forms of entertainment- shows, talks, concerts, cookouts, parties, and the like. And of course, nobody ever said you can't go with your friends to the frat parties sober.</p>
<p>Also, I like to think that Dartmouth is different from other places in that it really emphasizes health and responsibility instead of "punishment." I think Dartmouth students for the most part, are intelligent and responsible and look out for their friends. Even when S&S (Safety and Security) gets involved, they are there to look out for your health and not play surrogate "Mom/Dad." One of the problems with many colleges- in my opinion- is that they have a rigid, unforgiving drinking policy. And just anecdotally, from my own experience with college-age peers, in this environment the drinking is even more covert, more unregulated, and people don't feel comfortable getting help even when someone is in danger.</p>
<p>I hope that answers some of your question. All incoming freshmen are required to take an online alcohol awareness course, and I'm sure you'll talk to your daughter too, but I think one important part of the college experience is learning to make an informed decision and refusal by herself.</p>
<p>PS- Hi Sybbie! Sounds like your daughter is busy, good for her! Hard to believe grad school is looming....</p>
<p>My son got accepted at Dartmouth and I'm very concerned about the "hard-drinking' reputation as well. I have a question of Smoothie- are the "substance free" dorms considered to be "uncool" by the average student? From what I read on the website they seem like a good option but I'm wondering what the real feeling is among the students.</p>
<p>Nope, not at all. I lived in Brown (non-substance free) in the Choates freshmen year. It was connected to Little, which is-incidentally, substance free, and I honestly did not even know Little was substance free until sometime around January. One caveat: although substance free housing will undoubtedly be quieter than normal freshman housing, it is not always entirely substance free. There may be some (less than other dorms) drinking there. But either way, nobody will pass judgment or probably even know which dorms are substance free. </p>
<p>Now living in East Wheelock, well that's a different story... ;)</p>
<p>You know my kid lived in EW freshman year :).</p>
<p>EW is quiet but she loved her space (lived in a 3 room quad). She had great roomates, who she is still tight with (one is staying with us now as she finishes up her internship), lot of friends both in and outside of EW so for her it was the best of both worlds The biggest draw back is that it is far from everything. </p>
<p>Then not to be out done, she was a RA living down in the river sophomore year and her sorority house sophomore summer. Who knows where she will live when she gets back. However, she feels she has paid her dues and hoping that she gets good room draw number senior (she hasn't decided who she wants to live with).</p>
<p>The consensus among parents of freshmen that I know is that hard drinking is occurring at alarming rates on every campus. Across the board, the problem seems worse than what it was when we were in college. I made sure I questioned parents of kids attending any of the other top schools S turned down where I suspected the drinking might not be as bad, but the reports from their kids were identical. While Dartmouth might have a party reputation, I would agree with Raspberry that more covert drinking can be worse.</p>