The Social Scene at Dartmouth

<p>I was just curious as to how the Dartmouth social scene relates to the high school social scene. For example, is it imperative to have that six-pack or really great haircut or does personality weigh more heavily on campus? From what I've heard, Dartmouth is a very superficial and spontaneous place with a bunch of "hook-ups" and drunk sex in general--definitely higher than any Ivy League school. As a rather conservative person, I find this slightly unsettling, especially because Dartmouth has such a presitigious reputation for intelligent students. I would be very disappointed to see Dartmouth as a very fake and shallow place.</p>

<p>What does the prestigious reputation for intelligent students have anything to do with how the students spend their weekends? Yes, smart people do party sometimes. I can't comment on the school though, not going there</p>

<p>(wait, who cares about haircuts?)</p>

<p>dartmouth parties more than any ivy school from what i hear...they're big on beer.</p>

<p>yea we are</p>

<p>I love beer.
I love Dartmouth.
Dartmouth = beer.</p>

<p>lol beer and a great education...that's the way to go</p>

<p>in all honesty, ppl who have visited me from other schools do think that dartmouth is more "high school" than they would expect</p>

<p>So Dartmouth in essence lacks a lot of the college experience? I mean, high school wasn't bad, but it was really tiring.</p>

<p>not at all - Dartmouth is the ultimate college experience. Everyone who is there loves being there and, despite what the above posters say, as someone who is not a big drinker, I can tell you that there is plenty going on besides frat parties and pong.</p>

<p>Dartmouth is one several small selective schools located in snowy little towns in isolated corners of New England. Other examples include Middlebury, Williams, Bowdoin, and Colby. In general, it's probably true that students at such schools drink more than their counterparts in warmer, more cosmopolitan locations (just as they also ski more).</p>

<p>Dartmouth is unique, though, because it is the only one of these schools that has not banned fraternities. Many college adminstrators and faculty argue that Greek systems encourage immature, anti-intellectual behavior (although students and alumni often disagree). In any case, it's clear that Dartmouth has a very active Greek system, and that Dartmouth has the best parties of the New England "ski schools." </p>

<p>This hardly means that Dartmouth "lacks a lot of the college experience." After all, partying is certainly part of the college experience: the best-known college movie is probably "Animal House" (which was inspired by a Dartmouth frat). And if you don't want to party at Dartmouth, you don't have to.</p>

<p>If you like Dartmouth, but would prefer a social atmosphere without a Greek element, then you might consider the LACs listed above. Williams is comparable in selectivity and prestige to Dartmouth, and the others are close.</p>

<p>oops bad post</p>

<p>Yea, I was worried about this too. I was considering Dartmouth since I would be able to easily make their swim team, but from what I've heard it doesn't sound all that appealing. I met this kid who is going there, and he likes how it is a lot more relaxed than other schools, but it sounded like there was a lot of parties going on there. Of course I know there are parties no matter where you go, but it just seems like to me that there is less of an alternative here with a smaller student population in the middle of nowhere.</p>

<p>Is this all true? I know there is going to be parties everywhere, but as a non-partyer, would I be at a loss of things to do on the weekends?</p>

<p>erhswimming - no. I went to two frat parties all of this year (and both were big weekend themed dance parties), and many of my friends were similarly not big partiers. We always found fun, non-party-y ways to entertain ourselves.</p>

<p>At least come visit before you write it off based on a stereotype. Yes, partying happens, but its not that hard to avoid if that's what you want to do. I would recommend, however, that you request substance free housing, as there you will probably meet a higher proportion of like-minded people.</p>

<p>Do the graduate school kids come to the frat parties too are do they only go to their own separate parties or what?</p>

<p>i think they are over the frat scene
but they do go to a few of the biggest parties of the year</p>

<p>How about having an intellectual atmoshpere? It's what I really want, and drives towards a place like UChicago and away from Dartmouth, but I'm trying to seperate stereotypes here. Also, are there a lot of political junkies? :)</p>

<p>Are there political junkies? Of course. Dartmouth has a small but powerful alumni contingent in the policy field, especially with a lot of conservative policy organizations. I know a lot of people who have done internships on the Hill or in DC. You're also guaranteed a New Hampshire primary once within your four years. For '04, I met Dean (3x), Kucinich, Edwards, Kerry, Clark (2x), Moseley Braun, Lieberman (2x), and several people (Madeleine Albright, Bill Frist) campaigning for others.</p>

<p>For 2008, Feingold has already been to campus twice. In 2000, Dartmouth hosted debates for both parties; in 2004, they hosted a discussion forum. There are at least four on-campus political newspapers: The Review (paleoconservative/libertarian, and hugely influential both within the Dartmouth establishment and in the conservative community); The Free Press (liberal/progressive, less influential but still good); The Beacon (neoconservative); and The Independent (bipartisan though with a bit of a conservative slant).</p>

<p>That said, if Chicago is what you see as an "intellectual" campus, and you want something like that, you may not like Dartmouth. Dartmouth students know how to study, and are doing a lot of very interesting things, but are also much more willing to let loose with non-academic things.</p>

<p>dont you guys ever miss the city?</p>

<p>Axman,</p>

<p>I can only talk from my D's experience at Dartmouth. She is one of those "there's NYC and there's every where else" kind of people. When she first went up to visit, I joked with my family about how she would come running back home. You would be suprised that the largest contigency of students are from NY with the majority of those students being from NYC. Remember that the internet now makes the world smaller so it is not that you are cut off from anything.</p>

<p>For her there is a lot of stuff to do on campus and she is busy. She is there now for sophomore summer and you would be lucky to talk to her for more than 5 minutes as she is walking from point A to point B. For her, having gone to school in manhattan all her life, she did not want her college experience there and was looking for a school with a campus, grass, etc. She finds Dartmouth to bea really great break from the city. While she is glad to come home to NYC and be home in the city, she missed Hanover and her friends and in a little while she can't wait to get back. Is it to say that rural NH is for everyone? I think it is really important that if you get the chance to visit and spend some time there, you should.</p>

<p>She left home with the mindset of "You will have the rest of your life to live/ work in the city but 4 years of college".</p>

<p>(Hi WG. I hope that you are enjoying your summer)</p>

<p>What if alcohol isn't your thing? I've seen campus, and I fell in love with Dartmouth. It was my top choice before I saw the school, and I liked it even more after I saw it. The only think I'm worried about is how much of a part alcohol is with the social scene. I really would not like to be in a situation where I am forced to drink to have friends/a life. I'm wondering if it's possible to fit in at Dartmouth while staying substance free. Are there really other things to do? And I know there's substance-free housing, but I'm wondering if there's some type of stigma that goes against people who choose to live there.</p>

<p>This is my only concern with the place. I love everything else about it (the campus, the D-plan, the town, the opportunities it offers). Could someone please help explain?</p>