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Dartmouth College Reviews

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Academic Rigor

See Dartmouth College reviews submitted by students. Find out what students have to say about various aspects of attending Dartmouth College. Read about academic experiences and campus life in these free Dartmouth College reviews, or contribute your own Dartmouth College review if you're a current student there.

  • 28 out of 28 people found this review useful.

    Jessica

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    I am continually impressed by the quality of the teaching at Dartmouth. Since it is a college, faculty members really do focus on undergraduates as opposed to solely pursuing their research. However, that is not to say that there are no research opportunities available. As a freshman I participated in the Women in Science Project internship program, as a sophomore Howard Hughes Medical Institute fellow I will continue doing research, and as a junior one can continue as a Presidential Scholar.
    Since we are on the quarter system, classes are fast paced, but it is nice that you only have 3 per quarter. As much learning goes on outside of lecture as does during lecture. Plentiful office hours, study groups, and labs enrich one's learning experience. Professors truly care and want you to do well, so they offer help whenever possible. They also want you to learn how to think and problem solve as opposed to simply memorizing. Exams are designed to test thinking skills by applying concepts learned in class rather than just regurgitating information.
    Am enjoying being here

    I love the atmosphere of the college. Hanover is a very pretty, quaint town with extremely friendly people. The general population of the college itself is a little more moneyed than I am used to, coming from a public magnet school in the Chicago suburbs. Mostly, people are extremely open and actively involved in school activities.
    Social life is a bit monotonous because it is such a small town. The social scene mainly centers around Greek life on campus, but there are definitely plenty of other things to do on weekends besides party. The Hopkins Center for the Arts screens great movies several times a week. There are also plenty of live performances and workshops to keep anyone occupied.
    Bang for the buck

    The price tag is pretty standard for a private school, but it is more than I can afford. Luckily, financial aid is pretty great. All financial need is met by scholarships (as opposed to loans) and work-study eligibility. This means you never have to pay that money back!
    Tips for prospective students

    Be yourself when applying. Dartmouth values students who are very academically strong, but also are actively involved in extracurricular activities they care about. Dartmouth students tend to be personable and holistically capable.
    Great for these types of students

    Social, well-rounded, academically and extracuriccularly ambitious, environmentally conscious

  • 5 out of 5 people found this review useful.

    '14 from MA

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    I'm learning as much outside class than inside. I've found that in humanities or social studies classes, it's much more common to just agree with the teacher's ideas than to formulate our own, and our grades improve because of it, which is a shame. I don't know if this is a result of the general liberal leaning of the students here, or just a survival strategy we've developed in a time when college degrees are increasingly commodified and manipulated, but I'd like to hear more balanced discussions in the classroom. Regardless, the professors I've had have all been brilliant, very organized and great lecturers and speakers, and generally very approachable. We really do have the air of a small college - it seems like in two months I've gotten to know enough people that I always see people I know walking on campus on any given day.
    The D-Plan also allows me to take more classes than at other colleges and allows pre-meds (gasp!) to study abroad, possibly twice! This is almost unheard of at other colleges.
    Am enjoying being here

    I've found that the most enjoyable time is on quiet weekend nights when many people on our floor stay in and we play board games or just chat until the wee hours of the morning. It's the epitome of college life. The impulsive fun usually doesn't start until 10pm, and living on an all-freshman floor makes all the difference. I've found it easy to make friends and find my niche, even though I'm not a social person. The only thing is that Hanover is tiny, and I'm afraid I might run out of options later on. The Greek/drinking scene could easily get out of hand and seems like the only entertainment option sometimes, but it's really not true if you find the right group of people (like my floor). This is about the only complaint I have about the school.
    Bang for the buck

    The financial aid office is extremely helpful and approachable, and it's relatively easy to talk them into giving a more generous offer. Overall I feel the experience I've had here is incredible and is well worth the money.
    Tips for prospective students

    Don't let the Greek scene intimidate you. It's really not the only thing out there, and you don't have to drink and you don't have to enjoy it. There are plenty of people who don't go out regularly or who do and don't drink. I think it's way more intimidating to prospies than to current students.
    Great for these types of students

    chill, laid-back, hardcore drinkers - but not a requisite!, economic majors and pre-meds (just the most popular), outdoorsy types, ambitious high achievers, selfless servers, studious

  • 4 out of 4 people found this review useful.

    Alannah from Westerville, OH

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    Dartmouth's quarter system has a way of packing you full of a lot of information in a short time. I have found that the ten week terms combined with the smaller number of classes being taken let's be do better work in the three classes I do take every term (as opposed to a semester system where I would take approximately 5 courses every term). The shortcoming of this is that every class period is important and it can be hard to recover if you get sick for a long period of time. This is a top notch school with great professors who hold a lot of office hours and are very accessible. Like any school you'll have a bad professor here or there, but majority of the professors are great.
    Am enjoying being here

    Everyone at Dartmouth is active outside of class, which can be overwhelming at first, but it means there is a vibrant culture at the school. There are endless non-varsity sports and and extracurricular opportunities. The Dartmouth Outing Club is a unique aspect of Dartmouth's extracurricular programs which I have fallen in love with. They do hiking, rock climbing and kayaking. They also help maintain the Appalachian Trail that runs through campus. The social scene is also very active. There's also somewhere to hangout any night of the week. The one warning I would give is be ready to deal with the greek system. It's totally up to you if you want to join a fraternity or sorority but whether you join or not the greek houses will still affect and help define your Dartmouth experience.
    Bang for the buck

    Even during tough economic times Dartmouth gives abundant financial aid. It's definitely a top notch education and for as reasonable a price as you'll get for a school of its caliber.
    Tips for prospective students

    Visit. Dartmouth is very welcoming, but the energy the student body has can get overwhelming.
    Great for these types of students

    Active, outdoorsy, open, passionate, hardworking, versatile, wide interest, diverse.

  • 4 out of 4 people found this review useful.

    Dartmouth '13

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    While many people believe that an Ivy League school is just all in the name, that's not entirely true. While I can't personally compare it to any other school, I can tell that the education and the teaching is top-notch. I come from a rural public school in Connecticut, so it's definitely a leap, and the students here are definitely motivated and intelligent (which can make it rough on a student that has never been with so many smart people before). The professors also make sure to make office hours accesible and are generally available to meet, even if you can't make it to their office hours. There are also plenty of opportunities to do research and have other experience outside the classroom such as helping professors do research and working in labs.
    Am enjoying being here

    The campus is probably best described as quaint. It's a small campus and quite rural, so there's definitely a trap of being in a Dartmouth bubble. It's often difficult to think of a world outside of Dartmouth while you're there, so that could be troubling to some people. The social scene is also clearly centered around Greek life, and there is little else that goes on in Hanover. However, even most of the people that are initially turned off by the Greek scene eventually do warm to it, and the upperclassmen are generally very welcoming to freshman.
    Bang for the buck

    Dartmouth is first a private school, so you the cost of tuition and room and board is going to be high. It's no higher than many similar schools (Cornell, Brown, etc.), but that doesn't mean that it's affordable either. It's a great education, but I can't say that you really get your bang for the buck. Financial aid is decent - although it helps to know how to work the system to get better financial aid.
    Tips for prospective students

    Be yourself and get lucky - applying for these types of schools is never easy and there's a certain amount of luck involved. Don't be discouraged if you get rejected at any school, since there are plenty of worthy students that don't get in (or are wait listed); that isn't just a way of the admissions office to make you feel better.
    Great for these types of students

    Outdoorsy, social, motivated, ambitious

  • 1 out of 1 people found this review useful.

    Kellie- Shanygne from Philadelphia, PA

    Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has been to campus.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Will learn a lot

    I only took two classes there, and they were molecular bio and stereochemistry. They were okay and the professors moved at a reasonable rate, but I cannot attest to how wonderful they were. I heard that the chemistry exams are intentionally very had. The professors make it so that the highest score will be around 60%, and they curve the grades. Again, this is what I heard from a friend also in the program.
    Will enjoy being here

    The campus is very isolated, and within two days I was bored. However, I felt extremely comfortable there, which means a lot because I am a shy person and I come from a big city. The student body is TALENTED!!! Their acapella, improv, and dance groups are amazing. From their performances and my interaction with the current students there, I can tell that the students are welcoming and vibrant, not dry and stressed out. Also, the admissions officers are very friendly. I got to hang out with them for the entire program, and if they didn't look older, I would have forgotten that they were admissions officers. Loved it!
    Bang for the buck

    Dartmouth seems like a great experience, but it does not have the best financial aid. Its financial aid packages for low-income students only range up to full tuition, minus room and board and other fees.
    Tips for prospective students

    Know about the D- Plan before you apply!!! I cannot stress this enough. Know the plan and figure out what it means (in terms of pros and cons) for you. It is a central part of the Dartmouth experience. Some students love it; others hate it. As a disclaimer, if you love this school, don't let your opinions of the D-Plan deter you from applying ( unless you feel strongly). If you are on the borderline deciding whether or not to apply, the D- Plan can make or break your decision.
    Great for these types of students

    Great for students that want to study language! Dartmouth has an amazing language professor, who makes class very active and interesting. Also, the D- Plan might allow language students more time to study abroad or improve the skills in another way.

  • 0 out of 1 people found this review useful.

    Daisy from Buckeye, AZ

    Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has been to campus.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Great for these types of students

    Recently attended the Dartmouth Dimensions weekend and was greatly impressed with the enthusiasm and quality of the school. I felt like I was really wanted. The current students were positive, social, and encouraging. Dartmouth is perfect if you want a school with a strong social life, high quality education, and a small town location. Hanover is truly beautiful, and if you love the outdoors, you will love Dartmouth (they have a great outing club!).

  • 0 out of 2 people found this review useful.

    William from Mclean, VA

    Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has been to campus.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Tips for prospective students

    Students of Native American descent who are accepted attend for no cost.
    Great for these types of students

    Outgoing, friendly, intellectually curious.

  • 3 out of 33 people found this review useful. 2 people found it offensive. 6 people found this inaccurate.

    Prospective Student

    Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has not been to campus.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Will enjoy being here

    Havent been there but the campus looks great in pictures

    Bang for the buck

    its a pretty expensive ivy league but again its ivy league

    Tips for prospective students

    Research scholarships whenever you have time and as soon as possible.

  • '14 from CA

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    The classes here are super intense- especially if you take several lab science classes- since we are on the quarter system. The class sizes are relatively small and most professors are very caring and personal. Most professors try to learn all their students' names and answer any questions about the material or even about subject matters outside of class.
    Am enjoying being here

    The community is very tight knit and the students and professors are awesome. There are a ton of outdoor nature activities to do around the college town, from canoeing to hiking to rock climbing. There is always something to do with someone...except maybe around midterms and finals week.
    Bang for the buck

    The overall cost of attending the school is very expensive, but it is an ivy league with amazing faculty. In the long run, it is probably worth the money.
    Tips for prospective students

    Develop good study habits before you get to Dartmouth, and learn to manage your time well. In your application, be true about yourself. Don't be afraid to try new things, take a random class, or try a sport you've always wanted to try but never did.
    Great for these types of students

    The motto is: work hard, play hard. Students who are ambitious yet love to take advantage of all the fun things to do around campus. Students who love the outdoors. Students who wish to explore themselves and interests they never had the chance to explore before. Students who like to work hard and who love a close-knit community. Students who like the cold.

  • Kiara from Alameda, CA

    Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has been to campus.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Will learn a lot

    Dartmouth is ranked the number one school in undergraduate education, so you can definitely expect to learn a lot while you are there. Their language programs are supposed to be really good and they have tons of opportunity for study abroad.
    Will enjoy being here

    The town of Hanover is absolutely adorable. Even though there is not much off campus, the school seems have have tons of fun things to do, and Dartmouth is known for partying!
    Bang for the buck

    The tuition is pricey, but they give the best financial aid I've seen from any school.
    Tips for prospective students

    Go to Dartmouth!!!
    Great for these types of students

    those who are smart, but are laid back and like to have fun.