Son visited Dartmouth with a friend and his family last weekend and loved it....I am not enthralled

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't like Dartmouth for other reasons. Namely I think it is overpriced and in the middle of nowhere. If he gets into other Ivy leagues it should be at the bottom of the list. Make sure he visits other campuses too. Also make it clear weather or not he'll have a car while he is there (I wouldn't recommend it!)

Most students don't have cars and if they do they don't regularly use them as they have to be parked fairly far away. Out of curiosity what is the concern with cars at Dartmouth?

Drinking and driving. It getting towed for snow or street cleaning. I had friends in Boston with cars that would get at least $1000 tow & ticket charges a year.

[Anonymous]

Don't think they drive much as there is little going on around Dartmouth hence why they "party hardy".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't like Dartmouth for other reasons. Namely I think it is overpriced and in the middle of nowhere. If he gets into other Ivy leagues it should be at the bottom of the list. Make sure he visits other campuses too. Also make it clear weather or not he'll have a car while he is there (I wouldn't recommend it!)

Most students don't have cars and if they do they don't regularly use them as they have to be parked fairly far away. Out of curiosity what is the concern with cars at Dartmouth?

Drinking and driving. It getting towed for snow or street cleaning. I had friends in Boston with cars that would get at least $1000 tow & ticket charges a year.

Hanover isn't Boston. Freshman can't have cars and fewer than 20% of all students have them. It's a small town and a small campus with not much parking. There is nowhere to drink and drive to. I think you aren't even allowed to park on the stree downtown overnight. Students with cars have to park them out by the stadium I think, or there used to be a student lot down by the river. Not at all convenient.

Plenty of things to criticize Dartmouth for but cars on campus is really not even on the list. Such an odd concern to raise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't like Dartmouth for other reasons. Namely I think it is overpriced and in the middle of nowhere. If he gets into other Ivy leagues it should be at the bottom of the list. Make sure he visits other campuses too. Also make it clear weather or not he'll have a car while he is there (I wouldn't recommend it!)

Most students don't have cars and if they do they don't regularly use them as they have to be parked fairly far away. Out of curiosity what is the concern with cars at Dartmouth?

Drinking and driving. It getting towed for snow or street cleaning. I had friends in Boston with cars that would get at least $1000 tow & ticket charges a year.

Hanover isn't Boston. Freshman can't have cars and fewer than 20% of all students have them. It's a small town and a small campus with not much parking. There is nowhere to drink and drive to. I think you aren't even allowed to park on the stree downtown overnight. Students with cars have to park them out by the stadium I think, or there used to be a student lot down by the river. Not at all convenient.

Plenty of things to criticize Dartmouth for but cars on campus is really not even on the list. Such an odd concern to raise.

No it's not. You are on a campus in the middle of nowhere. No car = no way to leave.

[Anonymous]

How many other schools has he visited so far? If its not that many & you take him to visit some other schools, he may forget about his love for Dartmouth (or at least move it down on his list).

[Anonymous]

Well, if he is that serious about the school, I'd advise you to go visit it yourself and see what you think vs. relying on articles about the school. Personally, after touring it, I could tell it would not be the best fit for my son and our family, but that doesn't mean it might not be right for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't Darthmouth a bastion of conservative douchebaggery?

Good Lord, no. It's the opposite, which is why we aren't even thinking about applying.

[Anonymous]

Hi its OP here, we have visited quite a few schools, he thought he loved Duke but no is crazy about Dartmouth. We have toured about 8 schools and I think we have seen enough.

I am skeptical, as it seems the more I look into this the more I do not like it. Then i think could it really be that bad? I mean who are these kids? How can these kids be getting a school like Dartmouth if they are drinking and snorting their brains out...somehow it defies logic that they can stay afloat. Am I the only one wondering this?

I know my son would crumble from that kind of pressure, he just could not do it. I realize there are some very savvy kids who can and make it look glamorous which is the kind of kids that scares me most, and somehow Dartmouth seems to really attract that type.

You simply do not hear the number of stories in other schools (except maybe UVA) that you do with Dartmouth, why? Are the girls equally as rowdy?

Lastly if I did make the trip there, there is no way i am going to see the "real" Dartmouth whats happening in this fraternity basements and the degree of partying that is occurring. I will see pristine lawns, smiling kids and a perky tour guide, come on, by now we all know the drill.

[Anonymous]

Lastly if I did make the trip there, there is no way i am going to see the "real" Dartmouth whats happening in this fraternity basements and the degree of partying that is occurring. I will see pristine lawns, smiling kids and a perky tour guide, come on, by now we all know the drill.

You are just ridiculous. First of all, after 8 schools, you've "seen enough" even if you didn't see the one school you say your child is most interested in attending? Ok. If you have it so set in your mind that it would not be the right place for your child due to the fraternity culture, just tell him he can't go there and be done with it. If you are not interested enough in what is going on there to go see the place, what do you think you are going to get by posting repeatedly here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi its OP here, we have visited quite a few schools, he thought he loved Duke but no is crazy about Dartmouth. We have toured about 8 schools and I think we have seen enough.

I am skeptical, as it seems the more I look into this the more I do not like it. Then i think could it really be that bad? I mean who are these kids? How can these kids be getting a school like Dartmouth if they are drinking and snorting their brains out...somehow it defies logic that they can stay afloat. Am I the only one wondering this?

I know my son would crumble from that kind of pressure, he just could not do it. I realize there are some very savvy kids who can and make it look glamorous which is the kind of kids that scares me most, and somehow Dartmouth seems to really attract that type.

You simply do not hear the number of stories in other schools (except maybe UVA) that you do with Dartmouth, why? Are the girls equally as rowdy?

Lastly if I did make the trip there, there is no way i am going to see the "real" Dartmouth whats happening in this fraternity basements and the degree of partying that is occurring. I will see pristine lawns, smiling kids and a perky tour guide, come on, by now we all know the drill.

Honestly this sounds so immature I call troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi its OP here, we have visited quite a few schools, he thought he loved Duke but no is crazy about Dartmouth. We have toured about 8 schools and I think we have seen enough.

I am skeptical, as it seems the more I look into this the more I do not like it. Then i think could it really be that bad? I mean who are these kids? How can these kids be getting a school like Dartmouth if they are drinking and snorting their brains out...somehow it defies logic that they can stay afloat. Am I the only one wondering this?

I know my son would crumble from that kind of pressure, he just could not do it. I realize there are some very savvy kids who can and make it look glamorous which is the kind of kids that scares me most, and somehow Dartmouth seems to really attract that type.

You simply do not hear the number of stories in other schools (except maybe UVA) that you do with Dartmouth, why? Are the girls equally as rowdy?

Lastly if I did make the trip there, there is no way i am going to see the "real" Dartmouth whats happening in this fraternity basements and the degree of partying that is occurring. I will see pristine lawns, smiling kids and a perky tour guide, come on, by now we all know the drill.

Honestly this sounds so immature I call troll.

Probably a troll, yes, but I've got to say that when we toured Dartmouth, a frat house lawn on the edge of campus was littered with beer cans -- looked like the set for Animal House.

[Anonymous]

For Petes sakes.....my D and I only saw 2 schools mostly because I was always nagging her and finally gave up, realizing it was her experience not mine. She applied to 11...we didn't see any of the 11 she ended up applying to. NO BIG DEAL. I hate when parents have a fit over this nonsense, and yes I agree you go to these campuses and they show you what they WANT you to see. You never see the real personality of the school but just pretty grounds, happy students, cohesive classrooms...they all look the same. I think for the most part college visits are a huge waste of money.

Now once a kid gets in, thats a different story, thats when you want to go and check things out. The frat scene admittedly scares the hell out of me. I never had any interest though it was huge in my school, and thankfully so far my kids do not either.

[Anonymous]

We too visited the school and are aware of the negative press. I would say that if you have influence over DS to go elsewhere...try to steer him away from the place. It is true the school is taking steps to address the excessive partying/hazing etc. but even they admit they've got a ways to go. Its simply not worth the price and the potential damage to DS notwithstanding the degree to which he has the ability to say NO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi its OP here, we have visited quite a few schools, he thought he loved Duke but no is crazy about Dartmouth. We have toured about 8 schools and I think we have seen enough.

I am skeptical, as it seems the more I look into this the more I do not like it. Then i think could it really be that bad? I mean who are these kids? How can these kids be getting a school like Dartmouth if they are drinking and snorting their brains out...somehow it defies logic that they can stay afloat. Am I the only one wondering this?

I know my son would crumble from that kind of pressure, he just could not do it. I realize there are some very savvy kids who can and make it look glamorous which is the kind of kids that scares me most, and somehow Dartmouth seems to really attract that type.

You simply do not hear the number of stories in other schools (except maybe UVA) that you do with Dartmouth, why? Are the girls equally as rowdy?

Lastly if I did make the trip there, there is no way i am going to see the "real" Dartmouth whats happening in this fraternity basements and the degree of partying that is occurring. I will see pristine lawns, smiling kids and a perky tour guide, come on, by now we all know the drill.

My DC absolutely loved Dartmouth after their college visits as well. Yet, in the end that is not the university s/he chose to attend after college decisions came out. Dartmouth is a wonderful school, a relatively small university community, with an excellent academic history, and a beautiful campus; and despite some social issues (which the school - to its credit - has addressed), I would have been very proud if DC had attended Dartmouth.

In short, do not worry now about decisions that are still one year away. Anything can happen between now and then, including that your son is not admitted to Dartmouth.

[Anonymous]

Nothing like visiting the local school papers website to get a grip on whats happening

http://thedartmouth.com/category/news/

A friend who was an admissions officer at Harvey MUdd told me years ago to check the campus polices bulletin online for recent events to gauge the campus's drinking problems or lack of.