Kabir Beotra

The Authentic Dartmouth Experience

As we enter the final month of admissions seasons, seniors all around the world are breathing a sigh of relief as well as one of fear. If that sounds like you, don't worry and enjoy it! The nerves are completely normal and a universally shared experience: those sleepless nights, those hundreds of written and re-written essays, and most importantly, those thousands of things on the Common App checklist will all come to fruition. They always do.

But, whether you're an ED admit or a prospective RD admit to Dartmouth, soon it's going to be a great time to visit and see Dartmouth in all of its glory — the snow is thriving and casting a nice chill over the campus, not to the point where it's freezing (like it was a few weeks ago), but it's definitely nippy—when you're wearing the right layers, that is!

Here's a few things I'd do if I got the chance to visit Dartmouth and get an authentic experience, and you should try doing too!

1. Explore! Tours at Dartmouth are fantastically planned and are engineered in a way to answer all of your questions about the campus. Definitely take one, but also go explore the campus on your own. There's no experience as unique as your own, so wander off and visit all the buildings you can, stop students and introduce yourself if you get lost or if you want to make a friend, and soak it all in — this could be home for the next four years.
2. Eat. My mum always says that home is where the food is. Understanding a campus' food scene is really important, so make the most of your time when you're here! I suggest that you visit one eatery on campus and one off it — go to the 1953 Class of Commons, the main dining hall known as 'FoCo', to get a taste of authentic undergrad eating: visit the sandwich and stir-fry stations! Off campus, try Molly's for dinner or Lou's for breakfast: both are fantastic, traditional Dartmouth staples and give you a taste of Hanover.
3. Check out the social life! While Greek life is reserved for students only, I'd definitely suggest going to check out other campus events like Collis After Dark (a weekly event held by the Collis Student Center) and getting a sneak peek at fun ways to interact with your potential future classmates, as well as a good way to enjoy a Saturday night: at the last Collis After Dark, there was a midnight breakfast feast! Doesn't that sound amazing?
4. Try being a Dartmouth student. The best way to imagine student life at Dartmouth is to actually become a student. The way I'd do that is to craft a regular student day at Dartmouth — start off by taking your laptop to Baker Berry library, sit at one of the tables and type some things out. Then, head over to town and grab a quick bite. If weather permits, sit on the Campus Green for a bit and soak in whatever kind of weather there is (sun or snow or rain)! If you enjoy your day, make sure to understand that being an actual student amplifies this experience hundred-fold. Add in some friends, some good gossip, inside jokes, stories, and even better food — you've got a winning combination, and you've probably already made a decision about this place.

These are the things I'd do if I ever visited Dartmouth's campus, and I think you should definitely try!