What is Dartmouth's culture like?

Dartmouth's culture is a blend of a close-knit, collaborative, and outdoorsy community with a prominent "work hard, play hard" social scene, heavily influenced by Greek life and the Dartmouth Outing Club (DOC). Students are often described as supportive and adventurous, balancing academic intensity with a distinct social life centered around parties, clubs, and outdoor activities, all within a picturesque New England setting. The culture values intellectual curiosity but sometimes downplays overt intellectualism in favor of a more casual, collaborative vibe.

What is the Dartmouth community like?

Dartmouth is a close-knit residential college community. Roughly 90% of students live on campus in Dartmouth housing, which includes residence halls, fraternities, and sorority houses. Dartmouth's campus is also home to numerous living-learning communities: Great Issues Scholars in Residence.

What are some traditions at Dartmouth?

• Weekends. Dartmouth functions on a quarter system, and one weekend each term is set aside as a traditional celebratory event, known on campus as "big weekends" or "party weekends". ...
• First-Year Trips. ...
• Commencement. ...
• Class Day. ...
• Dartmouth Pow-Wow. ...
• The Green. ...
• Streaking. ...
• Miscellaneous.

Are students at Dartmouth happy?

The sense of community was tangible, and students seemed genuinely happy. Naturally, I went to the Dartmouth Co-Op and bought a tee. That Dartmouth tee led me to an interaction with an alumnus the following summer in my hometown—a moment that became the basis for my Why Dartmouth essay.

Is Dartmouth very white?

Students at Dartmouth

The student body at the schools served by Dartmouth is 82.8% white, 1.6% Black, 1.4% Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander, 7% Hispanic/Latino, 0% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.1% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander.

Dartmouth College - 5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Attending

What is the whitest Ivy League school?

What Is the Least Diverse Ivy League School? Dartmouth had the lowest ranking of the Ivies per the Diversity Index. Based on their data, Dartmouth has the highest white-identifying student population, and the lowest population of all other identities, save multi-racial and Native American.

What is the #1 hardest school to get into?

There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as it changes slightly by year and criteria, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the top with extremely low acceptance rates (often 3-4%) and intense competition for spots, though other top global universities like Oxford and Tsinghua are also incredibly selective. Harvard is frequently cited as the hardest due to its high volume of applications and focus on global leadership potential, while Caltech is known for its extreme difficulty in STEM. 

Is it harder to get into Yale or Dartmouth?

Keep in mind however that the eight Ivy League schools are all very hard to get into, despite these differences. Harvard, Columbia, Yale, and Princeton have recent acceptance rates slightly below 5%, while UPenn, Brown, Dartmouth, and Cornell have recent acceptance rates slightly above 5%.

What is the depression rate at Dartmouth?

About one in five students (19%) report having been diagnosed with depression at some point in their lives.

Is Dartmouth the party ivy?

Yes, Dartmouth is widely known as the "party Ivy" due to its prominent Greek life, strong social scene centered around fraternities and sororities, and a culture that embraces weekend parties and celebrations, though it balances this with rigorous academics as an Ivy League school. Its remote setting in New Hampshire and focus on undergraduate experience contribute to this unique, spirited atmosphere, with "big weekends" and "Frat" events being central to campus social life. 

What is the hardest major at Dartmouth?

While "hardest" is subjective, Dartmouth students often perceive Engineering, Chemistry, Physics/Astronomy, and sometimes Math and Economics as the most challenging due to rigorous, project-based STEM work, intense core classes (like Econometrics), and fast-paced content delivery, though perceptions vary, with some finding even less typical fields difficult.
 

What famous person went to Dartmouth?

Dartmouth College boasts notable alumni in diverse fields, including Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss), writer; Shonda Rhimes, producer; Mindy Kaling, actress/writer; poets like Robert Frost; politicians such as Daniel Webster and Kirsten Gillibrand; and figures in business, science, and athletics, showcasing a wide-ranging impact from entertainment to public service and academia.
 

What is the #1 Ivy League school?

While rankings fluctuate, Princeton University is frequently ranked as the #1 Ivy League school and often the #1 university overall in the U.S., followed closely by schools like Harvard and Yale, with rankings depending on the specific publication (e.g., U.S. News) and year, but Princeton consistently appears at the top for national universities. Harvard and Yale also rank extremely high, sometimes even #1 globally, but Princeton holds the top spot in many U.S. national rankings. 

What is the nicest college dorm?

The nicest college dorms often feature suite-style living, private bathrooms, modern amenities, and spacious layouts, with top-ranked schools often including Washington University in St. Louis, High Point University, Rice University, Emory University, and MIT, while universities like Georgia State offer unique perks like private bedrooms with shared kitchens. Factors include modern facilities, variety of options, and luxurious touches like granite countertops or full kitchens, depending on the tier.
 

What kind of student thrives at Dartmouth?

Students who thrive at Dartmouth are curious, collaborative, and self-motivated learners who balance rigorous academics with a vibrant social and outdoor life, embracing Dartmouth's intimate Ivy League setting, "work hard, play hard" culture, and strong emphasis on undergraduate teaching and community engagement, often bringing unique perspectives and a desire to explore diverse opportunities like the D-Plan. 

Is Dartmouth harder than Harvard?

Harvard is generally considered harder to get into due to its lower acceptance rate and higher average test scores, but Dartmouth is also extremely selective, known for rigorous academics and a unique, tight-knit campus culture, making the "harder" label subjective depending on what kind of challenge you mean (admissions vs. campus life/academics). While Harvard's admissions are statistically tougher, both are elite schools with demanding coursework, but Dartmouth's isolated setting and smaller size foster a different, more intense undergraduate experience compared to Harvard's urban environment. 

Is Dartmouth the easiest ivy?

Dartmouth isn't the easiest Ivy, but it's often considered among the "easiest to get into" compared to Harvard or Yale, typically ranking just after Cornell and ahead of Brown/Penn in terms of slightly higher acceptance rates (around 5-6% vs. 3-4%). It's still extremely selective, but its smaller size, undergraduate focus, and unique offerings, plus early decision pools, can make it slightly more accessible than the most difficult Ivies. 

Which Ivy League has the most black students?

While data fluctuates yearly, Harvard University often leads in the percentage of Black students among Ivies, with figures around 9-11% in recent entering classes, but Columbia University has historically shown high percentages and sometimes led in Black enrollment, with recent reports placing it near the top, though recent data (Class of 2027) shows Harvard slightly ahead at 9.4% vs Columbia's 7.5%. Always check the most recent data from sources like Ivy Coach or Harvard Magazine for the latest enrollment figures. 

Is Dartmouth a dry campus?

No, Dartmouth is not a completely dry campus, but it has strict policies, notably a ban on hard liquor (over 15% alcohol) for undergraduates and related organizations, and prohibits alcohol in many common areas like academic buildings and the Green; however, beer and wine are allowed in specific, approved venues and events with proper licensing and adherence to the Alcohol Management Program (AMP). 

What is the safest Ivy League campus?

Campus Safety Considerations

When examining 2022 campus crime statistics, University of Pennsylvania reported the lowest total criminal offenses (26 counts) despite its urban Philadelphia location.

Is it easier to get into brown or Dartmouth?

Therefore, the acceptance rate alone is not a good indicator that Brown University is a better school or will be more difficult for you specifically to get into. On the flipside, Dartmouth College is easier to get into based on acceptance rate alone.

Where do the 1% go to college?

The 1% of the wealthiest Americans disproportionately attend highly selective, elite universities, particularly Ivy League schools (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Brown, Penn, Columbia) and other top institutions like MIT, Stanford, Duke, and UChicago, where they make up a large percentage of the student body, often outnumbering students from the bottom 60% of income earners combined. Liberal arts colleges and prestigious public universities also attract many wealthy students, with specific examples including WashU St. Louis, UVA, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Vanderbilt, and Johns Hopkins.
 

Where do top 1% send kids to college?

The "top 1%" of students, referring to those from the highest income brackets, tend to attend elite universities like MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, and Yale that consistently rank high in national and global lists, with some even having more students from the top 1% income bracket than the bottom 60% combined, according to The New York Times data. Top-ranked institutions like MIT, Princeton, Harvard, and Stanford are frequent top contenders in various 2026 rankings from U.S. News & World Report and Times Higher Education. 

What is the #1 party school?

For 2026, the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), is widely ranked as the #1 party school by sources like Niche, based on student surveys about campus party scenes, access to nightlife, and Greek life, followed by schools like Florida State and Tulane. Other strong contenders often mentioned include the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USC, and the University of Alabama, with rankings varying slightly by publication and criteria.
 

Which ivy is the easiest academically?

Here is a list:

1. Cornell University. Cornell is the easiest and youngest Ivy League school. ...
2. Dartmouth University. The second most accessible Ivy League school to get into is Dartmouth, established in 1769 and based in Hanover, New Hampshire. ...
3. Brown University. ...
4. University of Pennsylvania.