Hi! I'm Reece, and I am '28 from Northern California! I hope to study Government, Policy, and Religion in college but come winter, I'll just be hoping to survive the snow. Outside of classes, I love to read, crochet, and journal, and can't wait to expand on my interests this year. I love the outdoors—but hate hiking—and I can't wait for my first spring on the Green! I hope my blog can help answer your ungoogleable questions, and please follow along for chaos that is bound to ensue!
I'm curious about Dartmouth's winter break schedule—how long is the winter break, and why do most students stay home after Thanksgiving instead of returning to campus?
A:
As a first-year student who just experienced their first Dartmouth winter break—or as it's vernacularly called "Winterim" (Winter-Interim)—I feel uniquely qualified to answer this question.
Over the past few weeks, I've been explaining to friends, family, and friends of family why I was home in December and not at school taking finals. Despite what it may seem, I did not, in fact, skip my finals in December but instead took them three weeks earlier in November—before Thanksgiving!
Dartmouth College is on the quarter system, but unlike many other quarter-system schools, our fall term starts in mid-September and ends before Thanksgiving. This means that once you leave for Thanksgiving break, you don't come back until January! Depending on the year, you will have anywhere from five to six weeks of Winterim break!
There are many benefits to this system, the least of which is the cost, as you no longer have to pay for an additional flight back to school in December. This system also helps students fully enjoy their Thanksgiving breaks as they don't have to worry about studying for finals while home for the holidays.
Overall, I have learned to love Winterim! Some students spend their time on break trips with the Dartmouth Outing Club (DOC), while others take up month-long internships or jobs. I used my extended time at home to relax, visit friends, read, and hang out with family.
No matter what you do or where you spend your break, Dartmouth Winterim is definitely a hidden perk of the College!
On the final segment of The Stretch, we explored other planets, walked atop volcanoes, and went to the very bottom of the Grand Canyon (and back). Read about it here.
