Party school?

Almost all of the schools I have visited have been located in big cities or suburban areas (UChicago, Columbia, NYU, Brown, Tufts, Northwestern). I decided to visit Dartmouth because while I love cities, I am also an avid hiker, skier, camper, and mountain biker. Dartmouth, being located in the middle of nowhere, offers all of these things and the largest Outing Club in the country.

When I got home from the campus, a lot of people seemed surprised when I told them I loved Dartmouth. I asked them why, because they all knew I loved the outdoors. They all asked me why an introverted, studious kid like myself would even think of applying to a heavy-drinking party school like Dartmouth. None of these people were Dartmouth alumni.

I had no idea of this reputation until very recently. Would any recent alumni care to tell me whether these rumors are true? It could be the deciding factor in whether or not I apply to Dartmouth.

Father of recent alum. Yes, these are not rumors. They are facts, albeit often exaggerated and blown out of proportion (IMO). It should not deter you from attending the College for exactly the reasons you note in your first paragraph. That is, yes, it is a party school – for many. That does not mean it is a party school for all (or even that that the party-ers are not serious students or incapable of having fun in other ways). Trust your own judgment rather than people who may have nothing more than to read a certain Rolling Stone article.

@thebandmachine I was hoping students would chime in to answer your inquiry but they don’t seem to be. My daughter is a 19. She does not drink, lives on a substance free floor in her dorm and is loving her Dartmouth experience. She has felt no pressure to drink or join in the partying. She is very studious, the definition of a bookworm. She meets up with her fellow Trippees to socialise, does things with her floormates and has found activities and friends that mesh with what she enjoys. There is so much more to Dartmouth than it’s hard drinking, partying reputation. I would not let it deter you if you felt positive and enjoyed yourself when you visited.

Every school will have parties. It is an unavoidable part of every college. At the end of the day, almost every single school is to some extent a "party school. You will be able to find people just like you if you are a crazy drinker and a nondrinker, or somewhere in between almost anywhere you go. I just got back from my visit to Dartmouth, and I saw a student produced statistic that said 25% of student did not drink at the last party they went to and 74% had anywhere from 0-4 drinks. I am not a big drinker myself, and I think Dartmouth is much more than the drinking culture

Maybe I’m just naive, but I have to wonder how an Ivy League school can also be put in the category of “party school.” In order to get through the difficult coursework, especially with the intensive quarter system, how would it even be possible for students to party all that much and still be successful with that rigor, and competing against other top students who stay sober and focused? My son is a '19 and doesn’t report much partying, so my guess is that he has found a crew to hang out with that doesn’t go that route, and appears to be extremely happy! So whether or not Dartmouth is stereotyped that way is moot to us!

Hey! I’m a current '17 (aka junior) and I can tell you first-hand, that while there are a lot of people who go out all of the time, not everyone does. I probably go to the frats maybe twice a term (if any). Dartmouth really is what you make of it!
Also, no one will pressure you into drinking, so you wouldn’t have to worry about that! If you are into just chilling with a group of friends, you will definitely find that! In my experience, you will just navigate to people with similar ideas of fun and then you’ll have your group.

Be aware of the distinction between peer pressure and enculturation. The former will be an unlikely factor. The latter could be, so stay aware of it wherever you attend. Your reasons for liking Dartmouth seem like good ones. It is fair to say, however, that colleges can and do differ in the extent of their party cultures.

With respect to the Rolling Stone article (1), it was a combination of a profile of a college, a fraternity and an individual. Understanding its essential meaning can prove elusive as a direct result of this complexity.

fun parties nothing extremely crazy but regular college frat parties. Always other stuff to do though and not everyone wants to do that