<p>Yes. You can change each term, and I would actually recommend starting as cheap as you can and seeing how it works. The meal plans are ridiculously overpriced for the normal student and even for many athletes. Maybe the football players make out but not the others. $14.50 for a dinner swipe? [TheDartmouth.com:</a> Meal plan prices rise for fall term](<a href=“http://thedartmouth.com/2013/08/16/news/DDS]TheDartmouth.com:”>http://thedartmouth.com/2013/08/16/news/DDS) You can get a decent meal off campus about 60% of that. Or, cook one of you own for less than half. D saved me a lot of money her last two years.</p>
<p>Another way to save money is to opt out of the college health insurance. Student can still use Dick’s House (although incompetence seems to be the watchword there), but have his/her own doctor over at the medical center. For us, it was the Blue Cross Away From Home Health Care program – and a more intelligent & helpful group of people (at least in the California office) I have never met in the health care industry. D would go on and off (depending on when she was home or elsewhere and for how long), but they always put her back with the same doctor in West Leb. Carrying her on my plan was a lot cheaper than the Dartmouth plan.</p>
<p>Thank you so much, AboutTheSame! Very helpful.</p>
<p>We are also able to opt out of the college health insurance which saves a bundle! Since I already pay an arm and a leg for our Anthem family plan, I was very happy to learn that it is part of “Blue Access” and that New Hampshire of all places is in their network! I had no idea until I asked prior to Freshman year and I’m really glad I did. Thankfully, my daughter has had only minor health issues while at Dartmouth and used Dick’s House occasionally, but it is good to know that she could see a doctor up there if she needed to.</p>
<p>Who’s going to be in Hanover the weekend of September 14-15 and have time for a cup of Dirt Cowboy java?</p>
<p>Magnum, I’ll be in Hanover then! I would love to meet for coffee. I’ll pm you my cell.</p>
<p>Great! Dartmouth CC parents hangout at Dirt Cowboy on Saturday Sept 14. PM me for the time.</p>
<p>Parents of '17s, download the original size of this photo and I guarantee you will see your child with a big smile. [Move-In</a> Day & Orientation 2013 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!](<a href=“http://www.■■■■■■■■■■/photos/dartmouthflickr/9729148622/]Move-In”>Move-In Day & Orientation 2013 | The Dartmouth Class of 2017… | Flickr)</p>
<p>We are heading to Hanover today to move D in for her senior year. I cannot believe how fast these years went. We were talking last night, and D expressed how Dartmouth was the perfect fit for her. She has had an incredible college experience. To the parents of 17’s, enjoy the next few years! I’m trying to figure out how I can squeeze a couple more Upper Valley visits in this year.</p>
<p>Well, we’re two days home from move-in day! It poured but it didn’t dampen our spirit! My s is in a two room with two other roommates. I must say, that for my husband and I, the experience was surreal. We enjoyed every minute of it, that is until our s sent us packing, lol. I cried the whole 3 and 1/2 hours home from Hanover. My husband was fine until we pulled into our driveway and saw our son’s car sitting there. My S so far is loving every minute of it. I think it makes you more settled when you know they’re happy. Just my .02 on move-in day. We stayed the night before at the Days Inn. Probably wouldn’t return as it is on a busy highway and very hard at rush hour to get in and out of but clean and courteous. I hope these four years will be wonderful for our s. You were all correct about over-packing. We only brought a few things home but the dorms are not big. Thanks again for all of your advice. “Official” mom of a Dartmouth student. Wow! It feels great!! :)</p>
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<p>Just a warning that summarizes the 1430 posts in this thread. You think it feels great now, it will feel better next year and then the year after that. Unfortunately, by the fourth year, your enthusiasm gets replaced by regret (except from your accountant) that it is all going to end soon. </p>
<p>Use your four years wisely. Although “you can’t get there from here,” go out of your way to get to Hanover twice as often as you think that you should (work, finances, and distance being the variables). It may only be for a dinner with a bunch of dormmates who are always looking for a good meal, and you are on your own for the rest of the weekend with plenty to do at the college, but just the opportunity to get to know these amazing kids is worth the investment.</p>
<p>The great news for your child is that the granite of NH becomes part of their muscles and their brains. For most, you never really leave Dartmouth, it happily follows you everywhere.</p>
<p>Great post! Looking forward to the drive up to Hanover in the morning. I’ve used every excuse to visit. Where’s Magnum? He’s in New Hampshire again!</p>
<p>I once flew to Providence, RI on a business trip, and then when the meetings were over I drove for 3+ hours to Hanover at night in a bad snow storm - just to visit campus (and daughter) one more time for one more day.</p>
<p>Have to agree with ddpr03 as well. We traveled for all the “official” weekends, but my favorites were the two trips we made just for us’uns. Would have liked to do more but California to New Hampshire always seemed like a big financial & time burden. It was, but, looking back, we should have gone a couple more times at least. Gonna miss the Murph burger.</p>
<p>We’ll head up again sometime in October. Right now, I’d like for him to get used to College life. It’s his time to fly! We’re lucky that we’re so close (Ct) but we have to be careful to also give him his space. We hung around as long as we possibly could :)</p>
<p>Aloha Hanover! The town is jumping with all the returning students moving in. A lot of screams from old classmates meeting up again. First time at the Hanover Inn for me. Nice. Now off to dirt cowboy for coffee with Dumbo.</p>
<p>You guys are making me nostalgic…end envious! I was tempted to drive over: it’s only 3 hours! :)</p>
<p>Of course, now I have an excuse to go into Manhattan more often. I’m telling myself that makes up for it. :(</p>
<p>Enjoyed watching the acappella show tonight with Dumbo before a packed house at Spaulding auditorioum. 10 Extremely talented groups. Is there anything these kids cannot do?</p>
<p>^The show was great. It’s amazing how talented these kids are. I loved how supportive the audience was. Magnum, it was fun catching up, and thanks for the genuine Kona coffee.</p>
<p>Breakfast at Lou’s. Another timeless tradition. The line never gets shorter.</p>