<p>Hi. </p>
<p>I'm considering Dartmouth for my Early Decision school and just want to know what there is to do off-campus. I know that there's a very vibrant on-campus community, but it's having little to do off-campus that I'm worried about.</p>
<p>I know that this has probably been asked already so any infomation will be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Also, what specifically goes on on-campus at Dartmouth?</p>
<p>On an unrelated note, is there an Academic/Quizbowl team at Dartmouth?</p>
<p>hanover is an incredibly small town with really not much to do, so therefore there's a lot of drinking</p>
<p>The campus community is so vibrant that the town isn't the focus. "casual outdoors" stuff is huge, lots of swimming in the river sophomore summer, sledding in the winter, etc. Its like a campy playground. The social scene on campus is terrific so the town doesn't really function that way. But there are lots of restaurants considering the size of the town (two indian restaurants, thai, a few pubs, etc).</p>
<p>I believe there's a College Bowl team (though I did quiz bowl in HS, it's simply not something I can fit into my schedule).</p>
<p>As far as stuff to do...as slipper mentioned, most Dartmouth students (myself included) have a great love of the outdoors, and many are involved with the DOC. Whether your forte is hiking, canoeing, biking, etc. there are divisions of the DOC that specialize in each, and are a good way to get off campus--if not back to civilization. There are a few small shops in town, and West Lebanon/White River Jct offers some semblance of a large town atmosphere. Another way to escape the bounds of the "Hanover Bubble" are to travel to away games and support the team (football aside, many of our teams are actually decent).</p>
<p>On campus, the fraternities are the obviously dominant social scene, though not the only one. EWers, DOCers, and others have their own social circles to some degree.</p>
<p>The thing though is I think alot of people are casually into playing outside (snowball fights etc) but not hardcore hiking and DOC stuff. I spent alot of time outside, but more just playing rather than in the DOC capacity.</p>
<p>What is EW?</p>
<p>East Wheelock, one of our living clusters.</p>
<p>Is there a convenient way to get to, say, Manchester or Boston from Dartmouth?</p>
<p>There's not really a convenient way to get to Hanover from Manchester, but the Dartmouth Coach (google it) runs twice a day between Boston & Hanover and drops you off right in front of the Hop.</p>
<p>In response to your original question...
If it's off-campus action you're looking for, I'm sorry to say that besides exploring the great outdoors (hiking, biking, kayaking, skiing), there isn't much to do off-campus. However, most people don't feel the need to get too far off campus. Many <em>will</em> take one weekend trip in a term to Montreal or Boston or something like that. But like you said, the campus has vibrant activity. There is alway ssomething going on, and you never have to be "drinking all the time", like was suggested above. Most of my favorite and most memorable evenings have been hanging out with friends in the dorm, chatting, listening to music, or watching a movie, or walking out to the golf course late at night to see the stars. In addition, the College puts together over 500 sports- and arts/music- related events every year. That's saying something, considering how many days a year has. And that's not to mention all the impromptu stuff, like just chilling on the Green or going to the movies or restaurants in Hanover.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, if you still don't feel that Dartmouth can provide enough entertainment for you, then I fear the College may not be a good fit for you.</p>
<p>Vermont transit runs from Manchester to campus</p>
<p>However, Dartmouth Coach has more frequent service from Logan to Campus</p>
<p>I am afraid that another thread running today on the Dartmouth board shows all too well what there is to do at Dartmouth:</p>
<p>You can't assume assume that one article is representative of and speaks to the over 4000 undergrads in attendance at Dartmouth because it does not. There are plenty of students who are not drinkers and find plenty of things to do on campus that does not revolve around drinking.</p>
<p>I did not mean to give offense, sybbie719, and while you are quite right that one article certainly does not speak to over 4000 undergraduates, the article is fairly representative of Dartmouth. The blame for this, I believe, can be laid rather squarely at the feet of past administrations. For years the college did very, very little to grow viable alternatives to the fraternity scene, and did almost nothing until quite recently to physically structure dormitories to encourage residential social interaction.</p>
<p>Not offended, just don't think that everyone should be painted using such broad strokes. </p>
<p>I don't think it was hazing but we must also keep in mind the fact that many students are drinking heavily before they even arrive to college. I would be hard pressed to think that many involved were first time drinkers.</p>
<p>I know my D, currently junior is in a sorority at Dartmouth (not the one mentioned) and I know that has not been her experience. We did end up talking about what had transpired on campus at the end of rush (I e-mailed her the the article because she is currently off campus doing a study abroad program), she shook her head and gave her thoughts.</p>
<p>She is not a drinker (lived in EW freshman year and was a UGA sophomore year) and has plenty of friends both in and outside of the greek system who are also non drinkers. In addition, she has struck a balance in maintaining all of her non-greek realtionships and does not feel pressured to drink when she goes to events at the frats or things that are thrown by her own house.</p>
<p>Yeah and at Columbia five of the kids on my floor got arrested for underage drinking during orientation. Drinking happens everywhere.</p>
<p>if you read other posts by shelf life you might conclude he has issues with dartmouth. i would say for the vast majority of students if you had all the facilities offered at dartmouth (library, recreation center, etc.), all the cultural events offered at dartmouth (i see sonny rollins and mccoy tyner are scheduled to appear there this year) all the political/current events offered at dartmouth, all the sports/games/contests that take place on campus at dartmouth, all the outdoors activities that are available to you at dartmouth/hanover, all the social events (homecoming, winter carnival, frat parties, etc.),and, oh yeah, all the educational opportunities available to you at dartmouth you probably would not need much more to stimulate you during your time in hanover.</p>
<p>shelf-life, I am in a sorority (not that one), and while there are usually drinks available at events, a lot of people do not drink, and there are ALWAYS non-alcoholic beverages available. At bid night, after the organized period, some girls went to the basement to play "social," a group variation of pong. About half of the girls used beer, and about half used water. I used water, and it was totally a non-issue.</p>
<p>A few years ago I was invited to come to Dartmouth for a term to teach a course in my field of expertise. The class was scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday mornings. I noted a pattern; the students were bright and lively on Tuesdays but many appeared lethargic with eyes glazed over on Thursdays. This puzzled me. I had certainly heard of "thirsty Thursday" but the class was not held on Friday, so I asked my colleagues about it. The answer -- oh yes, this is a common problem, you see the Greek houses have their house meetings on Wednesday nights so the students are often hung over on Thursdays!</p>
<p>There is a great deal that I found to like at Dartmouth -- the beauty of the setting, the bond I observed among students, and the focus on undergraduate teaching. The students I had at Dartmouth were among the brightest and most engaged students I have ever taught. I realize that not every student engages in this behavior. I also realize that drinking is a problem at every institution, and I have certainly seen it at every single college that I have been associated with, but anyone who refuses to see just how deeply rooted the drinking culture is at Dartmouth is at best delusional and at worst dishonest.</p>
<p>A Whole lot of skiing in winter
and drinking to keep warm</p>
<p>There's just alot of casual hanging out, and alot of parties on the weekends. Part of the reason I transferred from Columbia is because I realized Columbia students drank the same amount, Dartmouth students just had alot more fun doing it.</p>