<p>So from what I've read of the D-plan, I believe it is a program which allows you to stay on and off campus. I don't really understand the specifics, though. Off-campus, as in you can study abroad and earn credit or something? Please help!</p>
<p>Okay, so…Four quarters a year…fall, winter, spring summer. You have to be on campus taking classes freshman fall, winter spring, the summer after your sophomore year, and fall, winter spring senior year (although not being on senior spring is actually really common). Then, you have to have three terms you spend off campus, typically this will be summer after freshman year, summer after junior year, and some other term during either sophomore or junior year, which is nice because internships are less competitive when its not every college student in the country on summer break looking to get one. Students spend off terms working, doing internships, doing research, volunteering, really whatever you want to use it for. Studying abroad actually counts as an on term if you do one of dartmouth’s many, amazing study abroad programs.</p>
<p>For example, My plan: on fall winter spring as a freshman, off freshman summer, on fall and winter sophomore, abroad sophomore spring, on sophomore summer, on junior fall, off junior winter, on junior spring, off junior summer, and then on for all three terms senior year.</p>
<p>Wow thank you! That clears things up a lot. It’s great that you have more access to internships. I really like that about Dartmouth.</p>
<p>Hmph, the more I think about the D-plan, the more overrated it seems. Students in other colleges have 3 summers off whereas Dartmouth students typically have 2 summers off and a school term off, so it isn’t really all that much different (unless you take two school terms off and study abroad during summers, etc, in which case you do have the flexibility, but most students don’t do that).</p>
<p>Also, just adding to what Green99 said, the terms are 10 weeks long and you take 3 classes a term, so classes go by faster, but at the same time, you don’t have to manage 4 or 5 classes simultaneously.</p>
<p>Sounds as if you have not set up or done your D-plan. </p>
<p>People set up their d-plans differently for a variety of things during their D-plan. Some people start at different times. Some people do a study abroad as early as summer following freshman year, and use their time doing internships, research, study more study abroad opportunities or just being home chilling.</p>
<p>Others use the leave term to study for LSAT, MCAT and GRE exams. </p>
<p>One of my D friends did back to back IB internships, fall and winter junior year, came back spring and worked IB summer.</p>
<p>D used her D plan to study abroad, junior fall and study for the LSAT junior winter.</p>
<p>Best friend did study abroad LSA sophomore spring (mexico), on sophomore summer, FSA junior fall (Copenhagen) home winter, returned spring.</p>
<p>I think one of the biggest advantages of the D plan (especially for those considering IB/Consulting) is that you can plan your internships. You can participate in resume drop and on campus interviewing the summer, fall and winter terms.</p>