With the population of Hanover at 10K and nearby Lebanon at 15K, there is just not a lot of non-Dartmouth activities in the Upper Valley. The beauty of Dartmouth's isolated location is that it offers one of the most close-knit campus environments in the country. The downside of that isolation is that social life, by necessity, is dominated by the Greek houses. It's always struck me as the quintessential New England college. But Hanover is tiny and there just aren't many cultural / entertainment outlets, hence the primacy of the Greeks. The weather is pretty rough from early Nov to late March, but I have to admit that those 4 weeks from late-September to late-October are awesome -- crisp air, leaves changing, and Big Green football.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:80% of kids are in frats. We just toured and this was the figure given to us straight by admissions.
My senior son is a party-hard, work hard kid and it one of his dream schools based on who he knows who attends. They are all heavy partiers.
He has a twin who is not this way and she is totally turned off.
I know this isn't everyone at the school (of course!) but it's a culture that flourishes there.

They misspoke or you misunderstood. That would 100% of eligible students. Last I saw in writing it was about 60% of Sophomores - Seniors. First years are not allowed to rush. I think that’s about 45% of the student body; 60% of those eligible. Still too high in my opinion but 80% is incorrect.

I think you are incorrect, two different posters were told 80.

She corrected herself later and said it was 80% of eligible students. 80% of all students would be impossible since 25% (all first years) are not permitted to join.

Anonymous wrote:Is it still as fratty and hard drinking as it was a generation ago?

YES!!

Whatever your thoughts, it's a crapshoot getting in.

Anonymous wrote:My DC was a recruited athlete who chose Williams over Dartmouth, but it was a tough call that mostly came down to issues related to their sport. DC, who loved Williams, has a few friends who went to Dartmouth and had a good experience there. I've noticed that several of the Dartmouth grads DC knows are getting engaged very soon after graduation to other recent Dartmouth grads. This might, of course, be just anecdotal, but does anyone know if it's more typical of Dartmouth than other schools?

It’s high, but I think Princeton is higher. I was a tour guide back in the day and I think we used to cite a 14% number. I have attended 9 weddings from Dartmouth (if you count my own) and 4 (including my own) are Dartmouth/Dartmouth marriages. My broader sample of Facebook friends shows a 31% rate of Dartmouth couples among those who are married.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I swear they told us 80% of eligible to us. We all heard it (mom, dad and kid).

Well, IMHO 50 and 80 are not that different when you are talking about the dominant social life on campus and a kid who does not want a Greek heavy campus.

But their Greek system isn't like other Greek systems. They don't allow you to rush until Sophomore year, they don't have national sororities or fraternities and the organizations welcome non-Greek students to their events.

May seem different to you, but a kid who wants to avoid Greek culture won't be swayed by this. They don't care who is "allowed" to attend parties; they want a place that doesn't revolve around those parties.

Again, Dartmouth might not be for your kid, that
fine, look elsewhere. There are some kids for whom Dartmouth is exactly what they are looking for. Find your best fit.

Obviously. That's what the prior post says.

Nope pp suggests others should care whether her kid doesn’t want to attend. No one does, find a fit that works and move on.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I swear they told us 80% of eligible to us. We all heard it (mom, dad and kid).

Well, IMHO 50 and 80 are not that different when you are talking about the dominant social life on campus and a kid who does not want a Greek heavy campus.

But their Greek system isn't like other Greek systems. They don't allow you to rush until Sophomore year, they don't have national sororities or fraternities and the organizations welcome non-Greek students to their events.

May seem different to you, but a kid who wants to avoid Greek culture won't be swayed by this. They don't care who is "allowed" to attend parties; they want a place that doesn't revolve around those parties.

Again, Dartmouth might not be for your kid, that
fine, look elsewhere. There are some kids for whom Dartmouth is exactly what they are looking for. Find your best fit.

Obviously. That's what the prior post says.

It’s the smallest Ivy which means that athletes represent 25% of the student body.

I have a DC at Dartmouth who loves it. Most students are affiliated, although my DC is not. I think more women are in sororities than men are in fraternities, but I'm not 100% sure of that. Even if your kid is not a big partier, if they are turned off by partying, Dartmouth is probably not a great fit. Also, although the Greek scene is more open than at other schools, it's not totally open according to my DC. Don't assume you'll be able to go to all the parties if not in a house.

There are also a lot of sporty kids at Dartmouth, and kids who love the outdoors. And you have to love winter. If your kid doesn't fall into one of those categories, Dartmouth may not be the best fit for them.

My DC was a recruited athlete who chose Williams over Dartmouth, but it was a tough call that mostly came down to issues related to their sport. DC, who loved Williams, has a few friends who went to Dartmouth and had a good experience there. I've noticed that several of the Dartmouth grads DC knows are getting engaged very soon after graduation to other recent Dartmouth grads. This might, of course, be just anecdotal, but does anyone know if it's more typical of Dartmouth than other schools?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:80% of kids are in frats. We just toured and this was the figure given to us straight by admissions.
My senior son is a party-hard, work hard kid and it one of his dream schools based on who he knows who attends. They are all heavy partiers.
He has a twin who is not this way and she is totally turned off.
I know this isn't everyone at the school (of course!) but it's a culture that flourishes there.

They misspoke or you misunderstood. That would 100% of eligible students. Last I saw in writing it was about 60% of Sophomores - Seniors. First years are not allowed to rush. I think that’s about 45% of the student body; 60% of those eligible. Still too high in my opinion but 80% is incorrect.

I think you are incorrect, two different posters were told 80.