Dartmouth ...Oh the partying!

[Anonymous]

My friend's dc turned down Dartmouth because of the party culture and it was so isolated with not many other social outlets. They went to a state school instead that was more diverse socially. They did just fine, saved money, had other options for social entertainment, and is now at Stanford for graduate school.

[Anonymous]

Dartmouth alum here. There is a sense from Day 1 when you arrive for orientation, and get indoctrinated into Dartmouth life at Moosilauke and around a Homecoming bonfire, that you better just LOVE the place like those who have gone before, and you better LOVE the wild and crazy parts of it. Or you are just not a true Big Green student. Alcohol is HUGE at Dartmouth. You don't have to drink, and many people don't, but the alcohol culture is pervasive. Sadly, there are many alums who have battled alcoholism in the decades since graduation and began their excessive drinking as undergrads. Some of them have written about it in the College publications.

None of my DC's applied to Dartmouth. The nail in the coffin for the last DC, who might have applied, was an email letter to alums from the College president last spring regarding the significant problems with "campus climate." You can google the events that led to the President's letter. Not much has changed over the years.

[Anonymous]

Hey Dartmouth Alum,
Hanover called. The development office wants to know where it can send back the $50 you gave last year to the annual fund? C'mon, people, Dartmouth is NOT like the other Ivies that tend to be populated by large numbers of geeks -- thank goodness. Excessive drinking and partying has been an American college tradition dating back multiple generations. If that "scene" is not for you or your darling offspring, then you have a few choices available. I think Dartmouth is trying to balance a lot of interests and not just legislate away "problems" that may actually be learning experiences for the student body.

[Anonymous]

My nephew was at Dartmouth first year, left second year. The"culture" was not for him, he is as straight as an arrow really good kid and brilliant but did not find a lot like him there, he went to Princeton, a much better fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey Dartmouth Alum,
Hanover called. The development office wants to know where it can send back the $50 you gave last year to the annual fund? C'mon, people, Dartmouth is NOT like the other Ivies that tend to be populated by large numbers of geeks -- thank goodness. Excessive drinking and partying has been an American college tradition dating back multiple generations. If that "scene" is not for you or your darling offspring, then you have a few choices available. I think Dartmouth is trying to balance a lot of interests and not just legislate away "problems" that may actually be learning experiences for the student body.

How is drinking until you end up in the ER, risking death, a learning experience? How is being encouraged to drink until you vomit and then drink some more, a learning experience?

Alcohol poisoning is deadly. This is not typical campus partying. When the Rolling Stones article came out there were articles from other alumni saying that it was accurate (and some saying it was an exaggeration). I wouldn't send a DC there.

[Anonymous]

There will always be people who think that college is all about being wasted. Hopefully they will all go to Dartmouth and we can avoid them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dartmouth alum here. There is a sense from Day 1 when you arrive for orientation, and get indoctrinated into Dartmouth life at Moosilauke and around a Homecoming bonfire, that you better just LOVE the place like those who have gone before, and you better LOVE the wild and crazy parts of it. Or you are just not a true Big Green student. Alcohol is HUGE at Dartmouth. You don't have to drink, and many people don't, but the alcohol culture is pervasive. Sadly, there are many alums who have battled alcoholism in the decades since graduation and began their excessive drinking as undergrads. Some of them have written about it in the College publications.

None of my DC's applied to Dartmouth. The nail in the coffin for the last DC, who might have applied, was an email letter to alums from the College president last spring regarding the significant problems with "campus climate." You can google the events that led to the President's letter. Not much has changed over the years.


You are smart not to send your children there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey Dartmouth Alum,
Hanover called. The development office wants to know where it can send back the $50 you gave last year to the annual fund? C'mon, people, Dartmouth is NOT like the other Ivies that tend to be populated by large numbers of geeks -- thank goodness. Excessive drinking and partying has been an American college tradition dating back multiple generations. If that "scene" is not for you or your darling offspring, then you have a few choices available. I think Dartmouth is trying to balance a lot of interests and not just legislate away "problems" that may actually be learning experiences for the student body.

Nice attitude. It is called denial.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey Dartmouth Alum,
Hanover called. The development office wants to know where it can send back the $50 you gave last year to the annual fund? C'mon, people, Dartmouth is NOT like the other Ivies that tend to be populated by large numbers of geeks -- thank goodness. Excessive drinking and partying has been an American college tradition dating back multiple generations. If that "scene" is not for you or your darling offspring, then you have a few choices available. I think Dartmouth is trying to balance a lot of interests and not just legislate away "problems" that may actually be learning experiences for the student body.

Mean douche bag. I guess you are the other reason to avoid the place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey Dartmouth Alum,
Hanover called. The development office wants to know where it can send back the $50 you gave last year to the annual fund? C'mon, people, Dartmouth is NOT like the other Ivies that tend to be populated by large numbers of geeks -- thank goodness. Excessive drinking and partying has been an American college tradition dating back multiple generations. If that "scene" is not for you or your darling offspring, then you have a few choices available. I think Dartmouth is trying to balance a lot of interests and not just legislate away "problems" that may actually be learning experiences for the student body.

Mean douche bag. I guess you are the other reason to avoid the place.

Yes. We will want our kids to avoid his.

[Anonymous]

I think it is best to avoid a college with a strong Greek influence. Too much group think. Hazing is so stupid. Only drunk people would think it is a good idea. Who wants to pay $60000 a year and think their child will end up in this culture. There are plenty of colleges where Greek influence is weak and your child can make more independent decisions. Hazing and alcohol abuse are for idiots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey Dartmouth Alum,
Hanover called. The development office wants to know where it can send back the $50 you gave last year to the annual fund? C'mon, people, Dartmouth is NOT like the other Ivies that tend to be populated by large numbers of geeks -- thank goodness. Excessive drinking and partying has been an American college tradition dating back multiple generations. If that "scene" is not for you or your darling offspring, then you have a few choices available. I think Dartmouth is trying to balance a lot of interests and not just legislate away "problems" that may actually be learning experiences for the student body.

This is exactly why I want to pay 60,000 to have my DC exposed to this attitude? NO THANKS.

[Anonymous]

I truly believe that it is your loss to discard Dartmouth because the students party. I went to school with some of the most intelligent, accomplished, and well-rounded people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.

I never found the partying to be any harder or more pervasive during my 4 years there than at any other college my friends attended arounded the country. There was free-flowing alcohol combined with young adults making questionable decisions at every college I visited as an undergrad. Friends that went to Tulane put any drinking I thought I could do to shame.

It appears that you think that students who attend schools that are located in less isolated areas or have no/a smaller Greek scene spend their Saturday nights attending the theater or opera rather than playing the drinking game du jour?

[Anonymous]

Far more students die from traffic accidents than excess drinking - should college students be allowed to drive?

Tragedies are tragic, but many people survived Greek life and consider it an important part of their life - regardless of how repugnant drinking may be to some.

[Anonymous]

Basically a drunk fest with learning attempted to be sprinkled in. On the plus side you will make friends for life and business contacts after holding their heads up when they throw up to prevent asphyxiation.