<p>Hey guys :)
I was thinking about applying to dartmouth, and I read about the d-plan. I certainly saw many people bashing it, so I wanted to know about it.</p>
<p>What are its pros and cons? and to all you current students/ alums, what is your opinion?</p>
<p>Thanks for helping me with this!</p>
<p>Personally, I really like the D-Plan, but it does have pros and cons:</p>
<p>Pros: You only have 3 classes at a time, so you really focus on those classes, studying abroad–I think 10 weeks is just about perfect for off terms, and you don’t feel so out of the loop when you get back, people are more encouraged to take off terms for internships, study abroad, etc, you hav the chance to get internships from, say Jan 1 to March 15…not many other people are looking for internships for that time frame. I also really like that classes are only 10 weeks long, it mixes things up. I think it also encourages people to be more adventurous, because going abroad for either volunteer work, a job, or studying can be scary, but 8-10 weeks is a lot less scary than the 4 months that constitute a semester. It’s also fun when its not all the same people on campus every term, it adds variety to the social scene (as much variety as is possible, anyway)</p>
<p>Cons: When you start something that has the potential to be a serious relatiionship but then he’s on a fsp fall and you’re off working winter and then he has an internship spring, it sucks. Its harder in terms of housing, if the person you room with fall is then not on winter and you’re not on spring, but that usually works out in terms of friends who will be returning from an off term and are looking to get pulled into a room. Midterms do seem to run from week 3 to week 8, which is frustrating. It hard in terms of fitting in material into 10 weeks, although most Dartmouth classes do acknowledge terms are shorter, and work with that. </p>
<p>Personally, I really like being on a quarter system. I like feeling like its a new term and a fresh start every ten weeks. I like its flexibility too…when an opportunity comes up, its easy to rearrange my schedule and still be set for my major (although I am in two majors with very few absolutely required classes, so that helps too). I’ve changed my d-plan several times. </p>
<p>Most people who bash the D-plan don’t like not realizing they have a midterm next week already, or don’t like the challenge of maintaining friendships and relationships long distance potentially for the long term. Or they feel like because terms are compacted, they cram material rather than actually learn it.</p>
<p>I think its a preference of personal style, and personal ability to flourish or struggle in that kind of environment. I’ve also never had the D-plan kill a relationship, so that helps my positive view. Right now, of course, I’m a little more anti- d plan than usual, because all my friends are done with summer jobs and back at school, and classes don’t start in Hanover for another week. It evens out though, when spring break is actually a break. Actually, that might be my favorite part–when Dartmouth goes on spring break, its the end of the term, and I don’t have any finals coming up or work to worry about, I can just relax.</p>
<p>^^^sorry, that was slightly incoherent, especially the bit about midterms. What I meant “People don’t like that it can come as a shock to find out you have another midterm next week already, when you hadn’t realized it was so soon.”</p>
<p>D just started so we will see; I think several schools have quarter system (Standford, Union, etc.). D thinks it will be good for study abroad, internships (when others are in school), etc. Also your not stuck in a class that was a requirement for too long. Taking too many harder courses at one time may be tough. We’ll have to see about roommates, since she has a single. She met several on campus for Sophomore Summer, most take easier electives like a PE class (required).
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Dartmouth also has no grade option for some classes, to encourage some to take a class in an area that they may want to try but don’t feel too confident. There are limitations on how often, and some classes, you may not be able to use that option (physics for engineering?)</p>