Dartmouth College is a real gem of a school. Sure, it doesn’t loom as large in the public imagination as Harvard University or Yale University, but that’s part of its mystique. With its tight-knit community, outdoorsy ethos, and fiercely loyal alumni base, Dartmouth inspires a particular kind of devotion. So what actually defines this Hanover, New Hampshire, enclave? How does Dartmouth compare to other elite colleges, especially the other schools in the Ivy League?

Students often describe Dartmouth as feeling like a “family,” a term that might sound cliché until you realize how central it is to the school’s identity. That sense of cohesion fosters an unusual level of loyalty and connection, translating into strong alumni networks and lifelong bonds. Yes, pride for your alma mater is a fixture of attending any elite college, but Dartmouth alumni really go above and beyond. After all, if you attended a school with as much academic prestige, social vibrancy, and relative isolation as the College on the Hill, you’d probably come out the other end flying your green and white colors loudly and proudly!

Dartmouth’s Distinctive Campus Experience

Dartmouth’s campus trades urban energy for natural immersion. Nestled in Hanover, the college is surrounded by forests, rivers, and mountains that shape daily life as much as any lecture hall. The Georgian architecture and the iconic Dartmouth Green provide a classic New England aesthetic, but step just beyond the main quad, and you’re in hiking boots territory.

Dartmouth Green acts as the social and symbolic heart of campus, where students gather between classes, play spikeball, or simply soak in the rare sunny days of a New Hampshire spring. Meanwhile, the nearby Connecticut River offers kayaking in the warmer months and year-round scenic calm.

Unlike urban Ivies such as Columbia University, Dartmouth’s campus is a bit of a one-stop shop. For some, it’s idyllic. For others, it can feel a bit too removed. So if you’re weighing attending Dartmouth over another highly selective college, consider whether you think you’d thrive or fall in the sort of campus where the best and sometimes the only use of your time is socializing with other students, full stop.

The D-Plan: A Truly Unique Curricular Structure

If there’s one feature that truly sets Dartmouth apart (other than being the undisputed birthplace of Artificial Intelligence), it’s the D-Plan. This quarter-based system allows students to customize their on-campus and off-campus time, taking internships, conducting research, or traveling during off-terms.

The flexibility is unmatched, but it comes at a cost. Your closest friends might be off campus for a term, and student organizations constantly cycle through their rosters. It’s a logistical puzzle that requires planning and adaptability. Still, the payoff is significant: Dartmouth students graduate with unusually varied experiences, often having completed multiple internships or global programs during the academic year rather than just in the summer. And this robust experience is typically rewarded with a lucrative post-graduate salary for the median Dartmouth alum.

Is Dartmouth All About Greek Life and the Great Outdoors?

Greek life and immersion in nature are the stereotypical touchstones of the Dartmouth lifestyle. And while these two aspects of the student experience tend to draw a specific kind of undergraduate, one often stereotyped as a bit more conservative than the average student at other Ivies, make no mistake: Dartmouth isn’t just for the fraternity brother or the legacy student. LGBTQ students, students of color, and underrepresented minorities in all senses of the word find a home at Dartmouth. 

Ivy Coach’s Assistance With Dartmouth College Admission

Ivy Coach has long been known as “The Dartmouth Whisperer.” As we like to say for those who remember the old Bo Jackson commercials, “Bo knows baseball. Ivy Coach knows Dartmouth.”

If you’re interested in Ivy Coach’s assistance, directly with Ivy Coach’s Ben Schwartz, a former Dartmouth admissions officer, in optimizing your child’s case for admission to Dartmouth College, fill out our complimentary consultation form, and we’ll be in touch.