Hi everyone! I was accepted into Dartmouth for the class of 2024, I absolutely loved the school when I visited but because of corona I won’t be able to revisit. I’m really worried because I’m from the city and not really into winter sports etc even though I’m definitely open to it. I was always counting on being able to go back and see if it was something I could enjoy for four years. So Dartmouth peeps from NYC, LA etc. (or people who have friends who are and know about their opinions/experiences), please tell me what it’s like for you at Dartmouth! Can somebody who absolutely loves city life be really happy there?
My gut is telling me to choose Dartmouth over Penn and Northwestern, but what I know about myself is making me hesitate.
Also, I place a huge value community and school spirit. So I guess I’m asking if that unique aspect of Dartmouth is worth four years in an environment that I’m not a perfect fit for.
My kid, senior at Dartmouth, was just saying that she has only gone on 2 hikes the whole time she was there and they were required. She loves the Greek social life and there is always something to do. She’s not an outdoors person. Very different from NYC but she has a lot of fun.
School spirit is really great, despite not really being a big sports school.
This article focuses on the darker aspects of fraternity activities, but may offer you perspective on the social environment of Dartmouth in general if interpreted with discretion:
This article is a fascinating read. It chronicles events that took place a decade ago. If you feel at all like it might influence your decision, I would suggest that you work hard to get more up to date info.
@merc81@gardenstategal thank you both for responding! I know a lot about the Greek life scene at Dartmouth and out of my current options I’m a big fan of it’s relative inclusivity. I’ve spoken to girls there who have told me its not the majorly unsafe Animal House vibe of the 80s/90s
If you enjoy fraternity life & drinking parties as your main source of social activity, then Dartmouth College will be an enjoyable experience for your first two years.
Both Penn & Northwestern offer vibrant Greek options, but also include big city life options.
The locations are a matter of personal preference.
Of more importance is what do you plan to study & what do you want to do after you earn an undergraduate degree ?
@Publisher thank you for responding! Can I ask whether you are a current student/alumni/etc (I totally understand if you aren’t comfortable sharing the information). Your comment about the 2 years makes me wonder if you have heard that students are tired by Greek life as upperclassmen? Also, I applied as a Government major but I am very open and excited to explore new things, however I am most interested in the NGO/political advocacy and film/theater spheres so all the schools I’m considering would definitely have great opportunities.
@merc81 re: your post #8 above. Not sure what point you are trying to make.
For the Collegiate School: Dartmouth College ranked 5th among Ivies for matriculation. (Harvard, Columbia, Penn, Yale & Brown & UChicago had more matriculants from Collegiate over the past 5 years.)
Dalton School shows that Dartmouth College was 11th for matriculations over the most recent 5 years behind:
The people I’ve known through the years who were happiest at Dartmouth were all extremely intelligent, one might even say, sensitive, white guys (one of whom became an ordained priest) who nevertheless enjoyed outdoor sports and nature of all kinds.
The people who were unhappiest were African-Americans who IIRC were from big cities.
There are dozens of schools in locations that are similarly as remote as Dartmouth’s. One of the reasons that colleges were located there in the first place - although not the only reason -was to provide a retreat from the world where one could develop and find themselves before returning to the world fully formed. If you don’t have an interest in such a retreat with your peers, then by all means go to school in Philly or Chicago and enjoy.
@Publisher: I wanted the OP to see that Dartmouth’s environment often appeals to city students (in the example cases, Manhattanites) similar in this way to herself.
@merc81: That was my impression, but I do not think that the point was made.
My interpretation was that students from both schools want Ivy, but matriculate at Dartmouth College reluctantly. Seems very clear for Dalton. Clear for Collegiate as well as the only lesser attended Ivies are rural, state college like Cornell & ultra-selective Princeton.
P.S. Thanks for posting the matriculation list website connections as both are informative, interesting, & helpful.
There is a lot of pressure from family & peers to attend an Ivy League school at both Dalton & Collegiate.
@Publisher: Regarding comparisons across colleges, I think it’s generally preferable to normalize for enrollment size. That is, smaller universities such as Dartmouth tend to enroll fewer students of any particular type.
Also considered that aspect when reviewing the matriculations lists. But Wesleyan University attracted more Dalton students than did Dartmouth College, and UChicago with respect to Collegiate.
Again, great post with very helpful, interesting matriculation lists, but the expectation & pressure to attend an Ivy is quite strong at these elite NYC prep schools.
Part of the college experience is trying new things and being at a Dartmouth type campus is like that for a city kid, one reason I think city campus hold a ton of appeal to non city kids. You visited it , you liked it go for it.
Publisher does not Like Dartmouth. I think that’s been clear for many years. My 13 had a great time. She could take or leave the Greek scene. Some quarters she went to more parties; others less. West coast kid from Berkeley enjoyed actually living in a more isolated area with real seasons.
