For my final New England college visit this summer, I got the chance to head up to beautiful Hanover, New Hampshire. My last stop:
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth Hall was originally built in 1784, then rebuilt in 1904 after the original burned down.
Why is this school awesome?
Olivia: Dartmouth is unique among the Ivies for a whole bunch of reasons: it’s the smallest, the most remote of the campuses (Hanover is home to only about 8,000 residents), the only one that uses the quarter system for its academic calendar, and the only one that calls itself a “college” rather than a “university” (which is intentional). Not to mention it’s home to the largest and oldest outdoor adventure club in the country. For a nature lover with a passion for a wide variety of academic interests, it’s the perfect choice!
Favorite spot on campus?
Olivia: We only toured through a small section, but from that area I’d say my favorite place was the Food Commons (or FoCo), the all-you-can-eat dining hall on campus. It strikes me as a cozy, homey space to share a meal with friends!
The Class of 1953 Food Commons (or FoCo) is a cozy space for all-you-can-eat dining.
5 words to describe campus?
Olivia: Wooded, Welcoming, Broad, Quaint, Remote
The Rooke Reading Room is a beautiful quiet study space in the Rauner Special Collections Library.
The "typical student" is...
Olivia: Outdoorsy, or at least open to exploring new adventures/sports that they’ve never tried before; has a wide variety of interests and enjoys being busy; is supportive and engaged in the community.
Also, the typical student is involved in Greek Life — 70% of the study body participates. Greek Life tends to dominate the social scene, though students say it’s a very different, more inclusive, experience than “traditional Southern Greek Life.”
International perspective?
Olivia: My tour guide, Kyla, was an international student from Jakarta, Indonesia, so she was able to offer a great international perspective. She felt welcomed into the Dartmouth community right from the start. Though she grew up a surfer in a large, warm, tropical city (basically the polar opposite of Hanover), she has really grown to love New Hampshire and has enjoyed learning to ski and ice skate through the Outing Club. She also joined a sorority and is now an executive, which she said she never would have expected to do.
One thing to note: Dartmouth uses a unique academic calendar (called the D-Plan) where they have quarter terms (Fall/Winter/Spring/Summer) instead of semesters, and they require every student to spend one Summer term studying on campus, which facilitates taking off a Fall, Winter, or Spring term to pursue a full-time internship, research, or travel opportunity. International students are exempt from the Summer term requirement, however, due to visa requirements.
Kyla told us the D-Plan can be frustrating for some students, as can the House System that dictates where and with whom you can live on campus. There are some students who love these unique aspects of Dartmouth and others who are pushing to change them.
Kyla, our tour guide, discussing the pros and cons of Dartmouth’s House System.
Special programs/offerings applicants should consider?
Olivia: The D-Plan is definitely a unique program and something I recommend all potential applicants learn about before deciding whether or not to apply to Dartmouth.
The other academic offering that stood out to me is the opportunity to do a Modified Major, which allows you to modify an existing major with courses from other departments in order to hone in on a more specific topic or issue. For example, Kyla is majoring in Film and minoring in Computer Science, but she is considering instead modifying her Film major with Computer Science to focus specifically on animation.
Entering the Baker-Berry Library.
Tips for the application process?
Olivia: As I said before, Dartmouth is unique to the Ivy League in many ways, so the best way to set yourself up for success is to learn all you can about what makes Dartmouth Dartmouth, then show them (through extracurricular engagement, writing, interviews, etc.) how they are a perfect match for your goals and you are a perfect match for their community.
Dartmouth especially values students who demonstrate responsible leadership, a commitment to the liberal arts, an appreciation of nature and sense of place, and a global mindset. (Dartmouth has the highest study abroad statistics in the Ivy League.)
They also strongly encourage you to submit a peer recommendation in addition to your teacher and counselor recommendations, to “get a better understanding of your interests and character from another perspective.” Be sure to choose a peer who is a strong writer, and who can share details or a side of you that your teachers and counselor may not see!
The Collis Student Center is the hub of student life on campus!
Fun facts?
Olivia: The Dartmouth Green is “the physical and metaphorical heart of campus,” according to Kyla. It’s a great space for students to hang out and hosts several of the college’s most beloved traditions, including the 3-story Homecoming Bonfire, the Winter Carnival, and the Dartmouth Powwow.
The Dartmouth Green is home to many of the college’s most beloved traditions.
That’s it for now, but stay tuned for more college tours coming in the fall!