<p>Hey guys. I browse these forums fairly regularly (particularly the Dartmouth forum, as it is my top choice), but don't post often. I see there's a thread known as "Why Dartmouth" where people spill why they love the school so much. Now, I love the school, but I want to be able to make the most fair and balanced decision (kinda like Fox News, if ya feel me ;)) when it comes to determining where to go for the next four years of my life.</p>
<p>I know Dartmouth students and alums praise the school highly, and for good reason, but there are always negatives. So in this thread, I'd like you guys to list any downsides there may be to a Dartmouth experience, and any personal anecdotes you guys have. I'm really looking for a whole picture.</p>
<p>its my dream school, but i know there are some downsides: its kind of in the middle of nowhere; it gets really cold/dark in the winter (which is a big downside for me, because im from FL); the D-plan means that you won’t always be out of school when all of your non-dartmouth friends are on break; there aren’t a lot of activities in hanover, especially if you’re used to a bigger city atmosphere…
those are just the biggest and most common complaints i hear about it. its still my #1 choice but i do agree that its better to know both sides of the school when making a choice :)</p>
<p>As another Floridian, I agree that the weather is the biggest negative for me - along with the remote location of Dartmouth. If current students could talk about what they dislike, it would be much more helpful haha.</p>
<p>One of my major annoyances is that there isn’t really a “meal plan.” You basically get money on a debit card, depending on whatever pseudo-plan you buy, and then everything you take at a meal gets charged a la carte. So if you get the fruit salad, it’s expensive, and if you get an apple, it’s cheap. At other schools, you get the meal, and your cost doesn’t depend on what you actually take.</p>
<p>For those of us paying the bills, it’s very very annoying. And for those of us with children with large appetites, it’s very very expensive.</p>
<p>And if you take lab sciences and studio art courses, there are “supply fees” for extra stuff. So there’s tuition, and there there are extra fees if you happen to major in a lab science. I understand that a lab science course costs more than, say, an English course, but I truly feel nickeled and dimed.</p>
<p>The weather this year was better than back home in NY for me. (But obviously NY is different than Florida.) This year we had a couple of bad days but it was nothing like the brutal Hanover winter I was warned about. (hopefully the next 3 years will be the same)</p>
<p>Student Assembly actually held a meeting with Dining Services on the meal plan system. They consider going all you can eat meals but they are afraid of people who eat less effectively subsidizing those who eat more. There was also a worry about wasting food since people will buy larger amounts of food. (As someone who eats in a lot small portions, I actually like the fact that I don’t feel pressured to order as much as I can)</p>
<p>My only real complaint is that it is easy to feel like you are in a bubble at times.</p>
<p>masonfactor, thats really upsetting because the lack of a meal plan was a big appeal for me. i always listened to my sister (who is in college) complaining about how she gets coffee and cereal for breakfast, but it still “costs” as much as the guys who load up on food. i love the idea of just using the equivalent of a debit card to pick whatever food i want, whether a full meal or just an apple.</p>
<p>Hey guys. Thanks for the responses so far. Weather is actually not a problem for me, as much as it would be for you Floridians. I’ve lived in Jersey my whole life, and we get our fair share of snow every winter.</p>
<p>That being said, I was looking more for responses that centered around issues with student/social life at Dartmouth. I am well acquainted with the fact that it’s a pretty frat-oriented social scene (which I have no problem with, as all my top choices have are Greek-centered). But have you guys ever had any problems with social or student life? Does its frattiness ever detract from the experience, or is it what basically creates the experience?</p>
<p>@augustagurrl The current debit system is here to stay for now. Any change would be made by upper administration. I strongly support keeping the current system.</p>
<p>I currently live in Massachusetts, but when I toured Dartmouth in the fall, I thought Hanover to be a nice suburbia to go to school in. Plus, it’s located smack between two major cities–Montreal and Boston, which means those trapped in the supposed bubble can still easily make trips to areas outside of New Hampshire. I grew up in New Hampshire before living in Mass, and I can say with confidence that it’s a great place to live, and snow is awesome if you love to ski!</p>
<p>hanover is still really far from Boston so it’s not like a quick trip and you’re there.
Dartmouth is known for their troubles with diversity. A lot of racial slurs have been thrown around and people have gotten in trouble.</p>
<p>We’re on the west coast and I am very concerned about D getting there and back. I can fly into Manchester and rent a car for a few days, but if D is admitted it looks to be a big hassle to get to an airport without a car. And then an 8 or 9 hour flight (with a layover). So coming home for Thanksgiving for example would be quite impractical.</p>
<p>nathalia, I think you are misrepresenting the diversity situation. My observation of D students is that they freely socialize across racial boundaries and do not cling to groups the way people do at many schools. My S’s friends include kids of all racial groups, and his friends who joined the same frat this year included Asians, African Americans, and Caucasians. I really doubt that he and his friends are an exception to the rule.</p>
<p>The only <em>possibly</em> self-segregating groups I’ve observed when I’ve been at D on various occasions are some Asian kids (not of Indian background, but Chinese or Korean). </p>
<p>There are always going to be a few jerks or people with no sense of where to draw the line in “humor.”</p>
<p>Most west coast kids do not come home for Thanksgiving as finals start a week after Thanksgiving. My son has gone to New York City both years for Thanksgiving. My son has not had any problems flying back and forth to Boston and then taking the Dartmouth Coach that leaves from Logan. The Coach is $38 one way. Sophomore Summer is coming up and so he will not be home for summer. He has become more detached from his friends back here although a few are flying out to see him for Green Key Weekend. We make a couple trips out to see him each year and enjoy hanging out in Hanover. We will see how the D Plan works out as he is working on getting a plumb international internship for next fall.</p>