HOWEVER,

I came to Dickinson wanting to be pushed and challenged academically, but also wanting to have fun.  I wanted to work hard during the week, get my homework done, and then look forward to the weekends where there would be parties and dancing and more of a fast college life.  Dickinson is in Carlisle, a town surrounded by farmlands and meth addicts, so there really isn't much to do.  Even for 21-year-olds, there are only about 4 or 5 different bars all on the same street.  And for underclassmen, in order to go to parties, students need to be social networkers in order to FIND them; students are incredibly cliquey and reluctant to reach out and make new friends once social groups have been etablished.  EVERY ONE knows every one else because it's such a small school AND campus, so there's a lot of drama and dating more than hooking up and having fun.  Most parties, unless you are an athlete or Greek, are small social gatherings in dorm rooms or off-campus apartments.  Bigger parties usually get broken up by 1230 or 1 and generally only greeks/athletes and their friends are invited. 

One thing I will say about Dickinson, though, is that it's without doubt an athlete's school.  Although the social life improves if you join a frat/sorority, athletes are guaranteed to find the best parties and social hookups.  So this is the college to be if you play a sport and want to be challenged academically.

Maybe I have an idealistic image of what college should be like, and I'm going to experience the same thing wherever I go next year.  But I can't stay at Dickinson, it's so much like high school I can't stand it.  My primary advice would be, if you liked high school, definitely go here.  It's one step better!  But I want to meet new people all the time, get more diversity, and go somewhere the social life is more...open, and lively.  I want to get lost in the bustle a little more.