Lauren Groulx

Dartmouth students love a good nickname or acronym. Don’t worry about not knowing these terms just yet–no one expects you to. One of the great things about being a first year student at Dartmouth is that the community is extremely supportive and welcoming. We’ll help you get accustomed to your new surroundings and teach you all the vocabulary you need once you get here.

But if you still want to engage in some quick pre-arrival studying, here’s a short list of common Dartmouth words: 

Yes, absolutely. I came into Dartmouth thinking that I would major in Quantitiative Social Science, and I’ve since pivoted to Classics! Here at Dartmouth, you can’t declare your major until sophomore year, and that’s by design.

Take this opportunity to explore your academic interests, try something new, and keep yourself open to all possibilities. You may be pleasantly surprised by what you discover!

Unfortunately, I can’t provide a comprehensive answer to this question. Dartmouth students are ambitious and engage in a wide variety of academic pursuits, extracurriculars, and other activities. Some common threads do unite us, though. Most days at Dartmouth will involve trips to Foco for food (although there are a multitude of other food options, both on- and off-campus), a commute that takes you across the Green, and some time in a study space.

Another characteristic of a typical Dartmouth day is running into people you know, nearly everywhere you go. It was jarring at first to be waving at people left and right as I made my way to class, but now I treasure these little moments. I love having the opportunity to quickly catch-up with my friends as we go about our busy days.