I’d suggest you consider Vanderbilt. They take in a large transfer class each year and host a fairly extensive and well planned transfer orientation for that cohort. Greek life is there but doesn’t dominate as much as a more rural school like Dartmouth since there’s all that Nashville offers for those uninterested in Greek life.
As far as ECs go, how were your HS ECs and stats? Since you’re basically a freshman from a college class standpoint those will carry more weight. Also taking a gap year to preserve your college experience and working is fine. Take this semester to get to know your professors for LORs.
Thank you for suggesting Vandy. I had looked at it when I was applying to Dart. I feel like it’s still pretty heavy on the Greek stuff.i don’t want to be “surprised” again. Really wanna be at school where we don’t have these Greek / fake forced gatherings dominating our lives. And then some random ppl in power decides our social lives… I want to be around like minded people who don’t think Greek life is everything. I guess like adults? I am social, empathic and overall a fun person to hang out with… I do like all sports, hanging out, biking, climbing, skateboarding, surfing, snow skiing, camping, waterskiing and just feel these past 4 weeks have been all about meeting people and pretending you like them so they can have you join Greek life. It is so unappealing to me and I feel like I really misjudged the amount of outdoorsy people who would be attending this school.
I had asked this above, but what other schools were you accepted to your senior year? Are any of those still appealing to you? If so, I would contact them sooner rather than later.
Are you interested in an LAC? There are many good ones that have many of the characteristics you are seeking.
Funny, I know someone who transferred out of Vanderbilt because it was too Greek. Granted, that was in the 80s, and I would imagine a lot has changed at Vanderbilt since.
Thanks for explaining. That is tough. I know they had some who deferred as well. I did not realize they had first years in the “taking leave” category, too. They should have remembered to include those in that group on campus for the first time.
It sounds like some colleges handled that well and others struggled as numbers were rising in August in some areas and canceled or scaled back events.
I agree, the applying/trying out for clubs at the ivys was never mentioned in any info session we attended.
Finding a job on campus or off campus may help.
Talk to an advisor about suggestions for classes which may be interactive or project based for next semester and how your schedule needs to look to graduate in 3 years. That still seems odd, but they must have a plan.
I’d still recommend Vandy because of the way they handle transfer orientation. You’re in Nashville so there’s plenty of other things to do. Weather is fabulous. And the students are very friendly.
My D just transferred in. She’s not interested in Greek life and so far she’s made lots of friends, a couple joined sororities, but the majority did not/have not.
Genuinely frustrating how people here keep insisting that it’s possible to find a supportive niche at Dartmouth. I don’t think other commenters quite understand how all-consuming Greek life/the social hierarchy is at Dartmouth, and how so few (if any!) spaces are really free from that. I will say that all the people I know who have transferred out of Dartmouth have had a few things in common:
-Politically progressive (this is the big one)
-Independent, non-conformist types
-Artistically inclined
-Interested in learning for the sake of learning and not just for a high GPA
-Tend to be open/non-judgmental people
This Rolling Stone article has been around for a few years and has been the subject of justifiable criticism. Nonetheless, in a general sense it comports with what the OP and @bloomington019 have said:
I am uninformed about the accuracy of Dartmouth comments but I would not base my opinion on a Rolling Stone Article…
Two things are consistent. 1) Rolling Stone frequently reports sensational and negative stories about fraternities. 2)These stories have been discredited in very public ways.