<p>I am attracted to Dartmouth, becuz of the strong bio program and the fact that profs teach all courses.</p>
<p>but i am kind of afraid of its rural location and feel like im gonna hate it too much. Did any of you have trouble getting used to the location/atmosphere at first? what about the harsh winters? did you get over this initial shock as time passed by? i feel like i might try to transfer out after a year or something</p>
<p>What would you do in a city that you can't do here?</p>
<p>Shop? Can be done online
Go out to bars/restuarants? We have restaurants here, and frats (where drinks are free).
See shows? That's what the HOP is for. And how often would you actually go if you had to leave campus anyway? Also, the movie theater in town is $4 for Dartmouth students</p>
<p>Things you can do at Dartmouth that you can't do in a city: ski 20 minutes away, go hiking at any hour (including sunrise hikes!), spend the summer with your entire class, study abroad 3 times, take your vacations during the winter instead of summer if you REALLY hate the cold, live in a three-room double as a freshman :D, etc.</p>
<p>It's certainly worth an application.</p>
<p>Good answer, Garrr! I'm married to a Dartmouth alum and now the mother of someone who'll be attending next Fall. (Yippee!) My understanding is that Yes, it gets cold, but you're only going from dorm to class, etc., not camping out overnight. And as the Scandanavians say, "There is no bad weather; there are only bad clothes." In other words, if you dress for the cold, you'll be fine. Bring a hat and some gloves.</p>
<p>If you're coming from SoCal or FL or HA, that might be something else again. But if you're coming from a normal 4-season climate, you'll be fine.</p>
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And as the Scandanavians say, "There is no bad weather; there are only bad clothes."
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So true (says the Swedish girl). ;) I actually miss the cold from when I lived in Stockholm; the skiing is one of the many reasons I want to go to Dartmouth, and I'm not even applying anywhere south of Swarthmore.</p>
<p>Dartmouth's location?</p>
<p>Frankly it is hard not to love it - most of the time, it is simply gorgeous. As for the winter - it is cold and it is long, but it can be endured much like anyplace else, especially because there is little need to drive in it. Also, as mentioned before if the idea of spending your daylight hours skiing while you are at school is appealing to you....</p>
<p>HOWEVER</p>
<p>Dartmouth IS isolated and in that regard not anything like going to school in Boston. Definitely you should visit the campus, especially in the winter, and make sure you understand what you would be getting yourself into. While most students and alumni love the place, it is not for everybody.</p>
<p>I agree with Tigger. Coming from Central New York (ever heard of lake-effect snow?), the worst part about this type of weather can be driving--brushing off/de-icing a car, starting it up, thawing the interior, and then there's trying not to crash the whole time you're on the road. I think, with weather like this, Dartmouth might be better than a city.</p>
<p>If you're coming from SoCal or FL or HA, that might be something else again. But if you're coming from a normal 4-season climate, you'll be fine. </p>
<p>I'm coming from Texas, where it's probably 80-degrees-plus for 9 months out of the year. I've never even been anywhere north of Virginia, and so obviously I have no perception of...actual winter (it was about 84 on Thanksgiving this year, to give an example). If I couldn't visit during winter, is there any way of determining if I could "handle" the winter?</p>
<p>I think you'll actually enjoy it. And look at it this way -- if you don't, you can re-jigger your schedule so you're not there for all four winters. If you really hate the cold, at least you will have experienced it, and then you can run back to TX and brag to your grandchildren about how you survived New Hampshire winters back in the olden days . . . </p>
<p>I left the NorthEast to go to Chicago for undergrad, didn't like it, and came back to the NE. It didn't kill me. (But boy, was Chicago COLD!!!!!)</p>
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And look at it this way -- if you don't, you can re-jigger your schedule so you're not there for all four winters.
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</p>
<p>Sorry you have to be on all freshman and senior year (unless you have not taken any leave terms and the school will require you take one senior winter). Otherwise, you can opt of of 2 winters.</p>
<p>With the wind chill, Chicago sets the standard for COLD. Heck, many winter days it's colder than Anchorage.</p>
<p>I know. That's why New England seems downright -- balmy. (Well, especially this year.) It does get cold, but without that awful wind. I spent my four years as an undergrad being sick.</p>