Mario Lopez

My First-Year Dorm in North Park

In my last few posts, I've mentioned several aspects of Dartmouth's student life, mainly about our residential housing system, and in this post, I'd like to dive a little deeper into what housing is like as a first-year student in North Park is like!

As I previously mentioned, Dartmouth follows a residential housing system where all students are sorted randomly into one out of all our six housing communities (North Park, West House, South House, School House, East Wheelock, and Allen House). Before arriving at Dartmouth, I was sorted into North Park—the best housing community at Dartmouth, in my biased opinion. This means that for the next four years, I will continue to live within my residential community unless I decide to join and live in a Greek house after rushing in my sophomore year—students at Dartmouth are only allowed to rush (or become affiliated) in Greek life starting their sophomore year.

North Park also houses several of the Living Learning Communities—these are organizations where students of specific interests and demographics live together—such as Great Issues Scholars, among others. While I'm not part of a Living Learning Community, these are perfect opportunities for students to follow their passions, whether they be political, religious, or identity-based. 

Most North Park dorms follow a standard layout of two-room doubles where students live in a single dorm with two separate rooms inside that dorm. However, while most rooms at North Park are two-room doubles, there are a few quads—rooms that house four people—as well as some single dorms. 

This is a picture of my room this year!

Picture of the first-year dorm of one of my close friends at North Park!

North Park also has one of the best locations on campus for students pursuing sciences such as Biology or Chemistry, as it's only a 5-minute walk to the Life Sciences Center—something that comes incredibly handy during the Winter! 

While North Park may be somewhat further away from other buildings such as Dartmouth Engineering—the center for graduate and undergraduate engineering courses—North Park always offers a beautiful walk to and from class every day, especially during the Fall term!

The view of the trees outside my building last week!

Thus, there's no other housing community where I would have preferred being sorted into than North Park for my first year and the next three years to come!

Until next time,

Mario