things I have read about Dartmouth suggest that if you are not affiliated with a fraternity/sorority, you can feel left out. Is it common to be involved with and included in the mainstream social scene without being in a greek house? Is this reputation true? Do most people find friends, and is there anyone who struggles to make friends as a result of the school culture (and not as a result of their own social skills)?
1 Like
Dartmouth College is a very social & friendly school.
Great academics which require just 3 courses per trimester/quarter. Sophomore year summer session results in significant bonding with one’s classmates.
1 Like
So I spent a long time grilling a neighbor on this recently (they recently graduated Dartmouth).
You don’t rush until your 2nd YEAR, so bear that in mind. Social life starts in the first year and doesn’t entirely “break” when rush happens either.
There are several co-ed houses, and I got the impression that not all houses are all that “all encompassing” in terms of school life. Most members don’t live in their Greek house, either - they just aren’t all that big. Houses don’t have dining halls or anything in them.
It is a big part of school social life, though many ignore it entirely. It sounded very different from southern Greek life - first, as many houses aren’t nationally affiliated; there is no parent/mother stuff. A lot less fancy clothes and sounds less stressful. Lots of different vibes for different houses.
Take all with a grain of salt since coming from one person, they were in a co-ed sort of alternative house.
Personally, I am old, was never in the Greek system, and am inclined to dislike Greek life, but their take didn’t scare me off from having my 27 apply.
3 Likes
From a blogger posted on the Dartmouth website. One can always ask to speak with current students, both in and not in.
3 Likes
This was interesting!
I found more bloggers take too - I appreciate some honesty - one joined and dropped out,etc.
3 Likes
That’s my sense as well; that the houses run the gamut from traditional and very monied all the way to chill and self-selected. Bottom line: it’s the smallest Ivy League college but big enough for (nearly) anyone to find their peep.
2 Likes
Good point, it is an ivy, and I think one of those with the most 1%ers at that (though not sure there is a meaningful difference in the % between the top schools - they all have a lot of them)…so there certainly be some of that in Greek life too….I
have visited campus - students didn’t strike me as outwardly showing off wealth as much as some places….partially as vibe is outdoorsy and so casual…it may show up more in greek stuff..not sure! definitely something to ask if a kid gets in or is looking at ED, etc.
2 Likes
My son is a sophomore. He’s quite introverted and not part of Greek life. Yes, partying is a big part of the culture. No denying that. However, he has a couple of clubs that he’s particularly involved in that form the basis of his social life and he’s very happy. There is no judgment or pressure to participate in Greek and/or partying if it’s not your thing. You’ll find your people.
5 Likes
Yes, do not be fooled by the other commenters; I am an unaffiliated Dartmouth student (sophomore), and me and other unaffiliated students feel extremely alienated and othered. Keep in mind that although the website says only 60% are affiliated, freshmen can’t affiliate, so the true % is closer to 80%. Some unaffiliated people are very geeky or involved in the DOC, but everyone else (~10%), who is sociable but couldn’t get into a house, feels excluded and misunderstood by the rest of the school.
I am currently applying to transfer. A lot of my senior friends felt the same way and either applied and ended up not going through with it or wish they applied. If you were not popular in high school, Dartmouth is not for you.
I will say some groups help with this. Many of other Dartmouth groups are clique-y, such as acapella and team sports, so some can find community there. That’s another alternative. But the Dartmouth social scene is majorly dominated by the elusiveness of exclusivity, and it only continues senior year when societies start ‘tapping’ people.
3 Likes
Thank you for sharing your experience and perspective
This is important for people to realize, which isn’t obvious until one thinks about it.
Even at schools that rush freshman year, the greek life participation numbers only include students who have become full members, not the proportion of people who are in the pledging process…so the proportion of students affiliated with greek life is greater than the number one gets when googling percentage of greek life at a given school and taking that at face value.
Good luck with the transfer process.
3 Likes
If I understand, this means that you have not yet experienced Sophomore Summer/D-Plan quarter/session during which significant bonding with one’s classmates occurs.
P.S. Curious as to which type/which schools you are applying as a transfer student. Agree that Dartmouth College is not the best place for many. Thanks for sharing your thoughts & experience !
2 Likes
So you’re saying significant bonding with classmates does not occur until after sophomore year? That seems odd and also exactly the type of thing OP is concerned about.
1 Like
No, I did not write that.
Sophomore Summer provides a great opportunity to bond with one’s classmates.
This is what you wrote to a student who has written they are a current sophomore. And it still seems odd that no bonding of significance would take place prior to “sophomore summer”, whenever that is.
I am only applying to Brown and Penn as I worked very hard to get into Dartmouth and am not willing to transfer ‘down.’ I likely won’t end up transferring even if I get in since the D-Plan as well as quarter credits would make it very difficult.
As for sophomore summer, I haven’t experienced it yet, but I’m very worried. From upperclassmen, I’ve heard that it only gets more clique-y; many people live in their Greek house as there is space, and only taking two classes (for ~half the students) frees up more time for socialization in Greek spaces. I am worried that ‘bonding with the class’ is a perspective shared by people who fit in better with the social scene than those who have been systematically shut out of it. I am planning to join a mini acapella group over the summer to have some sort of social group, which I regret not doing as a freshman.
The OP posted a query about the social life of Dartmouth. Please keep the discussion relevant to the OP’s query.
Thank you all for your compliance.
Maybe we can spin the last post off then into another post - because it deserves feedback as well.
1 Like