Day three and 1,000 miles later (Did I mention we drove from Chicago?), we arrive at the collegiate town of Hanover, New Hampshire, home of Dartmouth College. We missed the last tour, so we roamed around the campus and adjoining town of Hanover for a few hours. Dartmouth is a nice mix of new and old architecture, which fit together nicely to create an impressive array of buildings at the foot of the White Mountains. The first thing one notices is the famous Dartmouth Green in the center of campus, which is where many Dartmouth traditions take place. When we were there, we saw a lively soccer game. It truly is an impressive space.
Due to its setting and reputation, Dartmouth is the most rugged Ivy, at least in terms of the type of students it attracts. Also, it is the Ivy with the largest Greek system, which has had a reputation for its wild party atmosphere and is rumored to be the inspiration for the classic movie “Animal House.” The school claims it has taken steps to shed its frat-boy reputation as well as its reputation for being a difficult place for female students. With an almost equal number of male and female students, the gender issues are bound to change. Rumor has it that the school is also cracking down by requiring fraternity and sorority parties to be more controlled.
Assuming these changes are taking place, then Dartmouth would be a terrific place to attend, for those very few that gain admission. The town and school fit together seamlessly, with the campus and town virtually connected. Hanover is a true campus town. Though one might be deterred by its geographic isolation, small town life and harsh winters, its close proximity to Boston and winter sports create many opportunities for diversions from the intense academic atmosphere.
Though I am admittedly not well versed in the curriculum, I’ve read that Dartmouth has a unique system called the “D Plan” which is based on four terms per year and requires students to attend the summer term following sophomore year. Apparently, this creates a lot of unique opportunities for students to study abroad and get really cool internships. For more information on the D Plan, click here.
Check out my photos of Dartmouth on Facebook.
