<p>I'm a soon-to-be senior, about to start the college process, and I'm seriously considering Dartmouth for ED. I've been skiing my whole life, I'm looking to study engineering, which Dartmouth's new president is interested in (as far as my understanding goes), and I really want a rigorous academic experience, for those reasons among others. However, I've had a chronic issue with alcohol since I was very young. I'd rather not get into the specifics, since, to be honest, I'm not too sure about them myself, but in high school I've had to stop going to parties and school dances because I freeze up around drunk people. I've heard that the party scene at Dartmouth is avoidable, but I've also heard that about 70% of the students are involved in Greek life. Do you think it's possible for me to actively participate in DC's social life and still manage to avoid that type of stuff as much as humanly possible? And I guess I could join a dry dorm, although my concern is that most of the people there are going to be straight-edge hippies, for lack of a better term, since I know that my situation isn't the norm. My case is a little more severe than the typical posts I've seen here, which is why I decided to bother you with another one of these. Thank you in advance!</p>
<p>Actually around half of students at Dart are in Greek life. Which means you have half of the student body to choose from when it comes to finding friends/ social situations. I do not understand what you mean when you say substance free housing is full of “straight edge hippies”. I would not say that is so, they are just students that are not interested in mixing residential life with alcohol/ drugs. It does not mean they are lame kids that do not party or get out of their dorms. At the end it is your decision to apply and if you think that Dart has any more of a party scene than most other uni, you are mistaken. There is always staying at home and commuting to a local uni. That would help you avoid alcohol. </p>
<p>Cheers!</p>
<p>I’m leaning toward saying you should look elsewhere. I’m concerned with your statement that you “freeze up around drunk people.” Are you talking staggering drunks or people who have been drinking? Freezing up comes across to me as a rather severe phobic reaction, but I may be reading too much into your post. I can’t tell if you’ve really worked through or addressed your issues with alcohol use and abuse, and I’m not sure Dartmouth is the best place for you to do so. If your reaction is a behavioral one, it might be addressed by systematic desensitization. (Bees were what did it for me for years, and I’m still not in a warm and fuzzy place when they’re around, but I’m better.) You are likely in many different settings to run into people who have been drinking – maybe not on the ski slopes but, say, among the fans at a hockey game. That said, yes, it is possible “to actively participate in DC’s social life and still manage to avoid that type of stuff as much as humanly possible.” You just won’t be able to avoid it entirely.</p>
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<p>Concur. There are plenty of less-drinking engineering programs, but one with on-site skiing will be hard to find.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
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<p>Actually, you are mistaken. D definitely has more of a party scene than most other universities. Perhaps not more than other rural, wealthy colleges, with a large Greek presence, but more than most, particularly those schools with big eng programs.</p>
<p>@bluebayou, if the poster went to a state school such as Ohio State, UGA, Florida State, etc a party scene like Dart would be evident. I am not saying Dart’s party scene is light but choosing a school with a very small party scene would be quite difficult if what is he is looking for is a “rural, wealthy colleges” like Dart. And even if he looks into a state school, he will probably run into one with a big party scene as well.</p>
<p>I agree with bluebayou that it’s inaccurate to say that doesn’t have “anymore of a party scene” than most other universities. Various members of my immediate family have attend at total of five different universities. All of them had a party scene, sometimes a robust party scene. But Dartmouth definitely takes it to a whole other level. </p>
<p>That doesn’t mean that Dartmouth isn’t a terrific university. It is. But the parties definitely dominate the social landscape at a level beyond what I’ve observed anywhere else.</p>
<p>you used the word, “most”, notmeantforivy, and you are therefore just plain wrong. Most colleges are commuter colleges, and thus, they have a small or no greek presence. And since most colleges are commuter colleges, they have a minimal drinking scene.</p>
<p>Yes, Dart is like other wealthy, rural private schools (such as Williams, Midd, Colgate) in its drinking culture, but those colleges are rare – definitely not “most colleges”.</p>
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<p>Sure, but even THE Ohio State has a lot of students who live at home. So, even though big time partying may be available, it does not always dominate the campus environment, as it does at D and Williams and 'Gate… Cornell is rural and has a Greek scene, but it does not dominate the student social life as it does at D. </p>
<p>IMO, A student who should/wants to avoid alcohol – for whatever reason – should look other than Hanvoer.</p>
<p>The point to the OP, which your earlier posts glosses over, is that there are plenty of other colleges – even private ones – out there with a much smaller party/drinking culture than D. Now, the issue is that they may not have an onsite ski resort. :)</p>