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Dartmouth College

How this student rated the school
Educational QualityA Faculty AccessibilityA+
Useful SchoolworkB+ Excess CompetitionA
Academic SuccessA Creativity/ InnovationA+
Individual ValueA+ University Resource UseA
Campus Aesthetics/ BeautyA FriendlinessA+
Campus MaintenanceA- Social LifeA-
Surrounding CityA Extra CurricularsA+
SafetyA+
Describes the student body as:
Friendly

Describes the faculty as:
Friendly, Helpful

Male
ACT:32
id='quarter' class='snapshot' style='color: #009704; line-height:80px';float:left;
SAT1390
Quite Bright
Lowest Rating
Useful Schoolwork
B+
Highest Rating
Faculty Accessibility
A+
He cares more about Useful Schoolwork than the average student.
Date: Jun 09 2005
Major: Engineering Department (This Major's Salary over time)
I am blown away by the negative comments that I have read on this site. My first reaction is that they are the type of people who would not be happy anywhere because it does not even sound like the same place I went to college. However, I do understand that some people may be incompatible with a place in rural NH or one that gives you very little guidance in defining yourself. That said, Dartmouth was a wonderful place for me and I feel that I took advantage of almost everything it had to offer.

First, the academics were perfect for me. I wanted to be an engineer but didn't want to be JUST an engineer. Dartmouth gave me that opportunity. I studied spanish in Mexico, took 3 classes in Shakespeare, and did a minor in government. Yes, it took some serious work, but it was totally doable without spending my entire life in the library. It took some management of my time and some perspective on what was important. I set rules for myself like

no work after 6 on friday until 6 on sunday
and didn't care that others looked like they were working harder than me (typically, they weren't).

Second, I had no problem having amazing relationships with my professors. I still communicate with my engineeing professors regularly (two of my mentors in particular) and eventually TA-ed several classes for them. My Shakespeare professor helped me to publish a paper and my Spanish professor would spend hours chatting with me over coffee. Sorry to all of you who said you couldn't get access to professors, you must not have been trying.

Finally, I can't think of a better environment in which to learn. The campus was beautiful. Everyone was there to learn and it was no problem to find people who wanted to work together and get things right and have some fun. Sure, there were some serious stress-cases and some who didn't give a crap, but they had their place and that was their choice too.

As for social life and friendships, I couldn't have asked for any better. Yes, there was a very large (50%ish) frat scene with bad beer, but I didn't choose to do that ALL the time (though it was fun when I did). I got involved in all sorts of things that all came with social life: two club sports (water polo and ultimate), a singing group, a foreign policy discussion group, a swing dance club, and most importantly for me, the mountaineering club where I was able to travel all over the world to climb with friends and organized the freshman trips. Anytime I wanted to mountain bike, play in the snow, or grab a coffee or beer, there was someone to do it with. And yes, there were tons of hot, fun, nice, and real girls.

5 years later, my first year roommates are 2 of my best friends, my engineering classmates and I fly across the country regularly to hang out, we all have great jobs that we love or are back at school at places like Stanford, Chicago Law, and Georgetown, and I serve on an alumni board.

Sorry, negative comment folks, but something tells me that you either a) expected Dartmouth to lead you around by the hand, b) got mad because it wasn't "urban" enough for you (though I still think that means you didn't try hard enough), c) lived down your own bad expectations, or d) couldn't manage your own time well enough to take advantage of all the place had to offer.

P.S. I'm an asian from LA…

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