<p>I really don’t wish to sound naive or neurotic, but can any current students offer suggestions on how to take full advantage of the Dartmouth opportunities, especially unique ones not offered by other colleges/ivy league schools? Parents are paying a bunch for me to attend, so I thought it’d be prudent to get a mental image of anything that can distinguish me as a true Dartmouth graduate in 4 years…</p>
<p>jchen…
As would be advised at any school, pursue what you like and be open to new interests. There are myriad ways to take full advantage of opportunity at Dartmouth -but not every opportunity will be one you are interested in. As a freshman, take courses in a wide variety of subjects that sound interesting - this will help fulfill distribution requirments and expose you early on to fields you might never have expected to have an interest in/passion for. Don’t look to join x or y program as a way to justify your choice/parents’ expense - find what interests you and explore it to the maximum and that will be justification enough. This will not only make you look good, it will make your experience that much more fulfilling. Do it for the right reasons - many of your peers will be out there distinguishing themselves as well, just because they have energy and an interest. This sounds preachy, but you WILL find opportunity to excel in anything that matters to you and you might find yourself making a positive impact on the world in the process.</p>