<p>Hi people,
I'm thinking of applying to Dartmouth ED. As I live outside the US, I cannot visit Dartmouth before the ED deadline so it would be very helpful if somebody especially the current students could give me some insights. :)
I am a petite cutie Asian type of girl. I love enjoying time with friends and would much prefer intimate relationships with professors and other students. I'm not too sure about drinking but judging from experience, I have pretty bad alcohol tolerance at the moment but that probably will change. I've lived in a pretty moderate city in terms of climate and temperature; it can get to probably 30 degrees C in summer and 10 degrees in winter. I have not experienced long-term living in colder areas so can you please give me some advice on this? Where I am from, the Greek system is really foreign and it seems a very big part at Dartmouth's campus. Are there a lot of bad things with sororities at Dartmouth? From what I see, it appears to be such an easy way to make loads of friends. The sororities have certain steoreotypes so I guess I can find one fit for me. Correct me if the viewpoint is too naiive.
A lot of people have been saying Dartmouth is really really rural. What's really bad about rural settings in America anyways?
I live in New Zealand so you know it can get almost uninhabited in some areas.
Are people at Dartmouth generally more conservative? Is the student body very political? I really dont know much about politics but would love to expand my knowledge on politics at college.
I'm an artist although I will not pursue arts as a major. Are there lots of support for students to showcase your artistic works/talents?
Sorry that I've been writing heaps. Any help would be greatly appreciated. :)</p>
<p>Dartmouth is rural in the sense that it’s not in or near a big city. It’s charming little town. Students are reputed to be on the conservative side; I’m not convinced that view is correct. There are many opportunities for student artists. The Greek system is pervasive, but a sorority can be a great source of friends. They are more like big clubs; i.e., very few members actually live in the house, but it can be a nice center for socializing, watching TV, even studying [gasp!]. It can get very cold and it snows. Warm clothes and boots will see you through. Our northern California weather is not much different from yours, and D survived [loved] her four years. </p>
<p>k</p>
<p>I really do not think that the majority of students at D could be called “conservative.” That whole reputation stems from the heyday of The Dartmouth Review, which was heavily supported by right wing pundits outside the college. It might possibly be reasonable to say that the center of balance is less far to the left than on most Ivy campuses, but that is probably as far as one can go in that regard. All of S’s politically-active friends at D were/are on the liberal end of the spectrum, but that is probably a function of who he knows and likes. When he came for Dimensions he stayed with a genuinely conservative student–ie, not a Tea Party/whacko type–with whom he got along very well, also.</p>
<p>S had an Asian GF who came to D on a year abroad from her Asian university. She is a very fashion-conscious, attractive young woman, and she joined a sorority for her time there and apparently had a great time. I see no reason why you shouldn’t have an equally positive experience, whether you chose to join a sorority or one of the coed houses or none at all.</p>
<p>You will be fine. Dartmouth is a small school but that doesn’t mean everyone is the same with the same interests. FYI, I know plenty of girls that would perfectly fit the description of yourself. They are thriving and happy. It really comes down to what you do - whether you approach friends and activities genuinely, whether you do enough activities, etc. </p>
<p>The “Greek system” is pretty diverse. If you want to be a stereotypical sorority girl, you’ll find that. If you want a close knit sorority of close friends who do things together and have a shared social space, you’ll find that. If you want to spend your Saturdays partying, you’ll find that. If you want to spend your Saturdays baking, you’ll find that. It is far, far from a homogeneous system.</p>
<p>Hi! I’m a current student at Dartmouth and I can relate to you a lot (I’m not a cute asian girl though sadly.) I don’t think people are conservative at Dartmouth. Yes, we do have conservative students, but most people are liberal or don’t worry about politics. I personally am liberal and I would say that I find myself conversing/agreeing/disagreeing with more super left wing people than conservatives. Conservatives are definitely in the minority on campus and therefore tend to keep their opinions to themselves (even though our campus is rarely tolerant of differing political beliefs.) I also don’t drink and it is not hard or awkward at all. I am in a sorority and I honestly feel that the greek life is played up too much by the public. Most of my friends didn’t even join a sorority or fraternity this year, and are perfectly happy. Some people are super involved in their sororities and fraternities and others are indifferent about it. It is really inclusive and anyone can go to the parties so their really isn’t even a need to join one if you don’t think it is for you. Additionally, when I read things about Dartmouth, the college always seems to be described as this boring rural campus. THIS IS FAR FROM THE TRUTH! There is literally always something to do that you can’t do them all! Additionally, Dartmouth is pretty close to Boston, and busses leave campus for Boston every two hours, so if you want to leave and get your fill of the city life for a day or two, that is totally possible! I typically go down to Boston about 2-3 times a term. I am from a major city in the South so sometimes I crave skyscrapers. However, I love going to school in a natural, unadulterated scenery. I often find myself admiring the beauty of the landscape and the sky at night (I have never seen so many stars!). Dartmouth’s campus is literally the picture perfect New England college. Being from the South, I thought I would freeze to death in the winter, but it really isn’t that bad at all–it’s actually beautiful! You just need a good coat, gloves, shoes with traction, and a hat! </p>
<p>Hope this helps! Sorry for any grammar mistakes–I’m doing this on my phone! </p>