What My Family Really Wants to Know About Dartmouth
I've spent the past couple of weeks catching up with my family and hometown friends, which has been great! However, I've noticed that a few recurring questions about Dartmouth have kept popping up. In this post, I thought I'd answer a few of the most common!
1. Why is your winter break so long?
Dartmouth runs on the quarter system rather than the traditional semester schedule, which means our academic calendar is divided into four terms that follow the seasons. Winter break—or "Winterim," as we call it—is long because the fall term finishes before Thanksgiving and winter term doesn't start until after New Year's Day! This gives us nearly six weeks off, an extended break perfect for spending time with family, relaxing, traveling, or even pursuing internships and research opportunities. Some students remain on campus for Winterim, where there are events and shared meals!
2. Why do you go to school so far away from home?
To be honest, I always knew that I wanted to go away for college and experience something different from where I grew up. Dartmouth offered the perfect opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and meet people from all over the world, while still feeling connected to a close-knit community.
Being far away from home has allowed me to become more independent and see the world from new perspectives. It's been challenging at times—but that's nothing a quick phone call home can't fix, and it's worth it in the end.
3. Where even IS Dartmouth?
Dartmouth is in Hanover, New Hampshire, a small town in the Upper Valley region right next to the Connecticut River. It's about a two-hour drive north from Boston (and yes, there's a bus that goes there) and a three-hour drive south from Montreal (there's a bus there too).
Campus is surrounded by mountains and forests (great for exploring), but everything you could want is within walking distance in the charming downtown area. And if you can't find what you're looking for, there are buses to neighboring towns with stores like Walmart and Target!
4. Hanover?! What is there to do in Hanover?
Hanover is small, but it has plenty to offer! I might not be the best person to answer this question, because my hometown is MUCH smaller than Hanover—meaning I'm just happy there are a few coffee shops to pick between and a movie theater within walking distance.
Since Dartmouth itself is always buzzing with student activities, I've never felt bored in Hanover. There are shows at the Hopkins Center for the Arts, restaurants to explore downtown, and tons of trails for hiking, running, or just enjoying nature.
5. How about during winter?
I LOVE winter in Hanover. I think one of my most-used phrases last winter was "We live in a snowglobe," and I stand by that! The snow transforms campus into a winter wonderland, which students embrace with activities like skiing (at our very own Dartmouth Skiway), ice skating on the Green, or cozying up with a book in the library. The cold is definitely an adjustment, but fun activities like Winter Carnival and the annual first snowfall snowball fight make the season super fun!
6. What's so special about Dartmouth?
This question is my favorite—but it's also the hardest to answer because Dartmouth means something different to everyone. For me, it's the tight-knit community and the sense of belonging I feel on campus that makes it special.
Hanover has become my home away from home, and the people there—my friends, professors, and the people I work with—have provided me with endless opportunities to grow and support. Dartmouth has pushed me to improve myself, both academically and personally, in ways I never expected.