<p>drownindreams: The vast majority of my friends love it here, but they agree there's nothing to do. It doesn't take long for everything that's exciting about this place to wear off. But I don't think most of the students come here predominantly because they expect "things to do." If so, they are making a grave mistake. Common reasons to come here seem to be the education, the prestige, and that they like the whole old small town feel, or they want to get away from the city, or something related. I'll even admit it's quite picturesque here, if that's your thing.</p>
<p>sybbie719: You can only make something out of what you have.</p>
<p>Could it be that you have cabin fever as seniors because you must be in residence? Or is it because many of your cohorts are also bogged down in the process of applying to grad school/professional school or lining up that job after college.</p>
<p>I would think that unlike other schools you have the resources, to create clubs and events that pique your interest. Is the school supportive in your doing so?</p>
<p>One advantage of Dartmouth's location is the opportunity to participate in winter sports - apparently a big deal for many students there.</p>
<p>I don't think it's wrong to apply to quite different schools (e.g., Dartmouth and Columbia). While the experience will be very different, that doesn't mean that the same student might not enjoy and benefit from either one.</p>
<p>I've never been a good "rural personality"...unappealing, makes me insult all the cute folksy types...but I thought applying to such a quintessentially cozy and small college would give me more of the "college experience" than say, Columbia.</p>
<p>sybbie719: You can create clubs here that pique your interest if you have 7 (I think) other people to sign a form saying it's a good idea. However the bigger problem is trying to find people that will actually make the club work. There are plenty of tedious meetings and paperwork involved, but the school will let you create anything as long as it's non-exclusive. I have no idea how this compares to other schools.</p>
<p>Also, We actually don't have to live on campus as seniors, although it's more of an inconvenience to live off campus, since Dartmouth essentially is Hanover. I don't think that everyone looking for jobs or applying to grad schools is what's making it uninteresting, either. It gets boring before the senior year. I think it's that going to the same events every term, walking down frat row or into Collis Commonground every weekend, going to the same movie theater every time, etc, gets grating after awhile. For some people it takes longer than others though.</p>
<p>babybird87: If you want the quissentential cozy and small college feel, then this place works. You'll have to weigh that against other factors though obviously. I get the sense there are four main groups of people here (though for sure there are some that fall in between):</p>
<ol>
<li><p>People from big cities that wanted to get away for awhile and/or that like small towns. This place is perfect for them.</p></li>
<li><p>People from small towns that like small towns and want to stay in the comfort of a similar setting. They, of course, also like it here.</p></li>
<li><p>People from big cities that are true city-kids. Would this be you? Overall, I'd say a majority of these types like Dartmouth well enough also, as long as they can tolerate an outdoorsy setting. For many of them, it's okay to go to college in the middle of nowhere because the quality is good enough and they can go back home to the city during breaks. However some of these do get dissatisfied and end up leaving or staying and being miserable.</p></li>
<li><p>People from small towns that have seen and like what the city has to offer. For them, the lack of a city is definitely more likely to get in the way of the fact that they're getting a traditional college experience than for the other groups. This type is sparse for obvious reasons. Most of them are smart enough to go to college in big cities in the first place.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I'm a #4. When I was deciding where to go I had my serious reservations, but unfortunately let myself be swayed by overly enthusiastic but well-meaning '04s who convinced me that there are things to do all the time and that I could go to Boston anytime I want (oh, how un-true that is.) So, as you've probably gathered by now, I'm more glass-half-empty than your average Dartmouth student.</p>
<p>Thanks for taking the time to lay out the situation. My daughter is a #1, after being in NYC her whole life (with the exception of vacations) she looks at this between camp and a vacation because in the end she knows that she will be right back in NYC. </p>
<p>In addition, she is close enought to get back home when she feels the walls closing in. It's funny that when making selections, she purposely went for smaller more intimate settings.</p>
<p>I've moved everywhere, lived all over, and the places I felt most at home were in NYC and a suburb in Texas. Very contrasting...so I'm not sure which one I'd be. I love the city, and I'm moving back to NYC when I'm done with college....so if I'm brave, I could do well at Dartmouth...</p>
<p>Are you kidding dcd? I didn't even go there my freshman year and loved it! The best party I ever went to at Columbia was worse than an average Dartmouth weekend. There are parties everywhere, outdoors, cultural stuff, etc. Its awesome!</p>
<p>Oh wait, the overnights in Nov. are only Monday-Thursday, and DC will be in the Friday night band thing, right? Ah well, I saw them in Norfolk last fall anyway.</p>
<p>You can totally not drink and have fun. Its just people hanging out, like they do everywhere. You'll find this at every college, when people meet up they most likely will drink, but its by no means a pre-requisite.</p>
<p>Do you have any friends who are currrently attending Dartmouth? You can always ask them to put you up for a weekend visit. BTW, the weekend of Ocot 31 is homecoming</p>
<p>Sybbie, I only have a friend-of-a-friend and a friend-of-a-friend's-sister. I was worried about doing things outside of the posted dates, but then I realized that they have to be open to scheduling things like interviews and tours at all times because not everyone is going to need to stay overnight.</p>
<p>Don't worry about it. Since most of the Dartmouth poeple are some of the nicest that you come across, don't be afraid to ask. They may have something on saturday since they are in the mist of application season.</p>
<p>All that can happen is they say no and you are no worse off. My D & roomate just hosted one of Daughters of my CC friends just last night because she was able to schedule an interview for this morning.</p>