Dartmouth College

Founded in 1769, Dartmouth is a member of the Ivy League and consistently ranks among the world's greatest academic institutions. Dartmouth has forged a singular identity for combining its deep commitment to outstanding undergraduate liberal arts and graduate education with distinguished research and scholarship in the Arts & Sciences and its three leading professional schools—the Geisel School of Medicine, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business. Dartmouth College educates the most promising students and prepares them for a lifetime of learning and of responsible leadership, through a faculty dedicated to teaching and the creation of knowledge.

• The Geisel School of Medicine

  The Audrey and Theodor Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, founded in 1797, strives to improve the lives of the people it serves: students, patients, and local and global communities. The School builds healthier communities through innovations in research, education, and patient care. As one of America's top medical schools, the Geisel School of Medicine is committed to creating new generations of diverse leaders who will help solve our most vexing challenges in healthcare. 

  The School consists of 17 Departmens: Anatomy, Biochemistry, Genetics, Microbiology and Immunology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Physiology and Neurobiology, Anesthesiology, Community and Family Medicine, Medicine, Neurology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Orthopaedics, Pathology, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Radiology and Surgery. Moreover, the School has 2,342 clinical and research faculty (2014).

• The Thayer School of Engineering

   Dartmouth has one of the oldest professional schools of engineering in the country offering an engineering sciences education unencumbered by departmental divisions that fosters cross-disciplinary innovation in research and teaching. Thayer School was founded by Dartmouth alumnus Sylvanus Thayer who believed that engineering in the context of a liberal arts education provides the best preparation for solving the world's problems. Graduate programs include the Master of Engineering Management (M.E.M.), M.S., Ph.D.,dual degrees with The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, and the nation's first Ph.D. Innovation Program. Dartmouth undergraduates study engineering as part of a liberal arts education leading to the Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) degree; most majors take additional courses leading to the professional Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) degree. 

• The Tuck School of Business

  Tuck is and will remain distinctive among the world's great business schools by combining human scale with global reach, thought leadership with great teaching, rigorous coursework with experiences requiring teamwork, and valued traditions with innovation. Most importantly, Tuck will continue to focus on each student's lifelong success as a principled leader of business and society. Unlike most of our competitors, Tuck offers only one degree—the full-time MBA—and a select array of executive education programs. This focus and our small scale enable us to adapt and innovate, and to create a unique learning community. Founded in 1900 as the first graduate school of business, Tuck carries forward the liberal arts tradition and heritage of Dartmouth College. A Tuck education emphasizes general management skills and includes an immersion in business thinking where students learn from leading scholars and from each other. Our tight-knit alumni network is a major reason for Tuck's continuing success. Tuck alumni help in the admissions process and give insight into companies and industries. They advise student project teams, participate in class sessions as visiting executives, and help launch graduates into their careers. Alumni also provide faculty with ideas for research projects, access to research data and contacts, consulting relationships, and a reality check for new theories and concepts.

• Arts & Sciences

  Arts & Sciences encompasses 40 academic departments and interdisciplinary programs. Working both within and across disciplines, A&S faculty are innovators in their fields who, together with their students, are fully engaged in the pursuit and exchange of new knowledge. 

The charter establishing Dartmouth—the ninth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States—was signed in 1769, by John Wentworth, the Royal Governor of New Hampshire, establishing an institution to offer “the best means of education.” For nearly 250 years, Dartmouth has done that and more.

Dartmouth’s founder, the Rev. Eleazar Wheelock, a Congregational minister from Connecticut, established the College as an institution to educate Native Americans. Samson Occom, a Mohegan Indian and one of Wheelock’s first students, was instrumental in raising the funds necessary to found the College. In 1972—the same year the College became coeducational—Dartmouth reaffirmed its founding mission and established one of the first Native American Programs in the country. With nearly 1,000 alumni, there are now more Native graduates of Dartmouth than of all other Ivy League institutions combined.

Governor Wentworth provided the land that would become Dartmouth’s picturesque 269-acre campus on the banks of the Connecticut River, which divides New Hampshire and Vermont. The College’s natural beauty was not lost on President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who visited in 1953 and remarked, “This is what a college should look like.”

Philip J. Hanlon ’77 is the current president of Dartmouth College who became the 18th president of Dartmouth College on June 10, 2013. He is the 10th Dartmouth alumnus to serve as its president and the first since the 1981 to 1987 tenure of David T. McLaughlin ’54, Tuck ’55.

Application requirements and admission process at Dartmouth College involve several steps and criteria. Prospective students must submission a Common Application or Coalition Application, along with the Dartmouth College Supplement. Applicants are also required to provide a secondary school transcript, counselor recommendation, and two teacher evaluations. Standardized test scores such as the SAT or ACT are optional for recent application cycles, but applicants may choose to submit them to enhance their application. International students must demonstrate English proficiency through TOEFL or IELTS scores if applicable. Dartmouth reviews applications holistically, considering academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, leadership qualities, personal character, and potential contributions to the campus community. The college looks for students who demonstrate intellectual curiosity, resilience, and a commitment to service. Early Decision and Regular Decision are available, with Early Decision allowing applicants to commit early and receive an admission decision typically by mid-December. Financial aid consideration is part of the application process; students seeking aid should submit the CSS Profile and FAFSA. Interviews are available but not required, and students can also submit additional materials such as arts portfolios or research papers if relevant. The selection process is highly competitive, with Dartmouth prioritizing diversity and individual talent. Admission decisions are communicated through the college's online portal, and accepted students must respond by the specified deadline. For detailed information, prospective students should consult the Dartmouth College admissions website.

Dartmouth is a member of the Ivy League, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the 568 Group and the University of the Arctic. 

Residence Halls are often much more than merely a place to live. First-years often form their first group of friends at Dartmouth around the people who live in their building. Your UGAs can also be a source of invaluable advice as you navigate this new environment.

About half the first-year class will live in the Choates and River clusters, which are all first-year, while the rest of the class will live in the Russell Sage, McLaughlin, and East Wheelock Cluster.

The first thing to know about residence halls at Dartmouth is that there are a lot of them, many of which house only upperclassmen.

Finding food on campus is never hard to do. As mentioned earlier, beginning the first week you arrive, free food will accompany almost every orientation activity. This is quite a treat, considering that DOC provides you with a tasty, but limited, selection of goodies for your first year trip.

Once classes start, your meal plans will kick in and will be responsible for satiating your hunger. Using the meal swipes and DBA (declining balance account) funds attached to your ID, food can be easily acquired all around campus.

Of course, students often stray from the dining halls in an attempt to add variety and atmosphere to their appetite. Main Street, which runs directly through Dartmouth, has its own host of restaurants, which boast moderately priced, mouth-watering foods (sorry, but these places will not accept DBA). Certain restaurants will also deliver directly to your room. This is recommended for those who are too lazy to walk or who want to avoid the piercing cold of a Hanover winter.

Dartmouth Dining Services offers four different meal plans:

SmartChoice 20

· Cost per term: $1,658

· 20 meals per week

· Flex DBA: $75

SmartChoice 14

· Cost per term: $1,575

· 14 meals per week

· Flex DBA: $125

SmartChoice 5

· Cost per term: $1,440

· 5 meals per week

· Flex DBA: $875

SmartChoice OC

· Only available to those living off-campus

· Cost per term: $875

· 0 meal swipes per week

· Flex DBA: $875

For your first term as a freshman, you are automatically put on SmartChoice 20 and cannot change until winter term. After that, you can change your meal plan for any term. There IS a meal plan that fits your eating style!

A laptop is a must at Dartmouth! With a campus-wide wireless network, a laptop means you can do your work where you want and when you want and always be on the network. No more waiting for a computer in the library or having to survive without the internet. Use your computer the way you want to.

"Blitz" might be the most used word at Dartmouth - it's the ubiquitous name of our email program. Blitz Bulletins are the perfect place to check for organization or Department updates. Also, Dartmouth uses Public File Servers, where students can obtain software and other documents for courses, or store their own files online. Buying your computer from Dartmouth ensures this will work correctly (or at least if it doesn't you can get it fixed easily and cheaply). Additionally, students have access to their own webpage, just sign up with Computing Services. Choose a computer that works for you; don't worry about what businesses use or what you might have at home. Use your computer as a tool to enhance your life—it shouldn't consume it or frustrate it.

The directly-billed charges include tuition, fees (about $1,344), housing (about $8,286) and food. You will be billed for these charges approximately six weeks before each term starts. Plan to arrive on campus with sufficient funds for your out-of-pocket expenses. You will need an average of $1,027 per term to pay for your own books, supplies, laundry, etc. These indirect costs will not appear on your college bill.  

The most common thing heard from a first-year's lips fall term is "I didn't expect this to be so much work." Yes, Dartmouth is hard, and many first-years find themselves struggling through fall term. If you feel like you're in over your head, keep these tips in mind.

Use the Academic Skills Center - these guys and girls can check your papers, teach you study habits, lend you computers — it's all there at the Academic SkillsCenter. Best of all, except for the computer lending, it's free.

One of the biggest venues of social life during the weekends is fraternities. Although there are many other activities going on (performances, movies, programming board events, lectures, DOC trips) many  students spend time in fraternity basements and at dance parties.

Athletic opportunities are abound at Dartmouth. This is a school that values physical fitness and good health. After all, we do have the granite of New Hampshire in our muscles and our brains.

Most people are involved in some kind of athletic venture at some level – whether it is going for a run in nice weather, participating in intramurals, getting involved with the DOC, taking PE’s, or competing on a legitimate NCAA  team. So whether you are a National Champion cross-country skier or a leisurely Tuesday-morning-canoer, Dartmouth offers many options for you! It’s definitely worth getting out and enjoying the New England geographic region.

Extracurricular activities abound on campus; from musical groups to sports options, students have a fantastic array of opportunities available year round.

Choose an organization, a club, a council, or committee that interests you, that you have a passion for, or that you think you may contribute to and gain from, but be aware that this is a commitment—one that you take on wholeheartedly, for fun, for personal improvement, and for all those in the community you join.

Dartmouth College offers a wide range of facilities and services for students beyond traditional lectures and seminars. The college provides comprehensive residential life services including on-campus housing options such as residence halls, first-year dormitories, and upperclassman housing, which foster a vibrant community atmosphere. Students have access to various dining facilities, including numerous dining halls and cafes that cater to diverse dietary needs. The Dartmouth Outing Club (DOC) supports outdoor recreation and adventure activities, providing equipment rental and organized excursions for pursuits such as hiking, skiing, and kayaking. The college's libraries, notably Rauner Special Collections Library and Berry Library, offer extensive academic resources, study spaces, and research assistance. For health and wellness, students can utilize the Dartmouth College Health Service, which provides primary and mental health care, as well as counseling and psychological services through the Dick's House health center. The Hopkins Center for the Arts offers arts performances, exhibitions, and creative workshops, enriching cultural engagement on campus. Academic support services include tutoring, writing assistance, and the Office of the First-Year Experience to help students adapt and succeed academically and socially. The college also provides technological resources like computer labs, high-speed Wi-Fi across campus, and access to various online learning platforms. Recreational facilities include the Master Harold F. Mosher Fitness Center, which features gym equipment, fitness classes, and intramural sports programs. The Dartmouth Security Office offers safety services, including 24/7 patrols, emergency response, and safety escort programs. Additionally, students have access to student organizations, leadership development programs, and career services through the Dartmouth Career Services Center, facilitating personal growth and professional development. Transportation services such as campus shuttles and partnerships with local transit providers ensure mobility around Hanover and the surrounding area. Overall, Dartmouth College's facilities and services aim to create a supportive and enriching environment that enhances the student experience beyond academics.

Dartmouth College offers a unique combination of rigorous academics, close-knit community, and extensive research opportunities that make it an outstanding choice for students. As an Ivy League institution, Dartmouth provides a high-quality liberal arts education with a focus on undergraduate teaching, ensuring students receive personalized attention from distinguished faculty members. The college's commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment encourages innovation, leadership, and collaboration among students from various backgrounds. Dartmouth's campus, located in Hanover, New Hampshire, offers a picturesque setting with state-of-the-art facilities, fostering both academic excellence and personal growth. The institution is renowned for its strong emphasis on experiential learning, including research projects, internships, and outdoor programs that develop practical skills and leadership qualities. Dartmouth also boasts an active alumni network that supports students within and beyond campus, providing mentorship and career opportunities across various fields. The college's commitment to public service and social impact is reflected in numerous initiatives and programs aimed at making meaningful contributions to society. Additionally, Dartmouth’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship is evident through various campus initiatives and academic programs. Overall, Dartmouth College combines academic rigor, supportive community, and a wealth of opportunities for personal and professional development, making it an exceptional place for students to learn, grow, and prepare for future success.

Dartmouth College