Dartmouth

30天解读30所美国顶尖大学 — 第13天：达特茅斯学院 (Dartmouth College)

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地理位置： 新罕布什尔州，汉诺威 (Hanover, NH) —— 真正的深山老林
中国留学生昵称： 达特茅斯、大绿 (Big Green)
学校类型： 私立研究型大学 (虽然名字叫College，但它是货真价实的常春藤盟校，也是全美唯一坚持叫College的藤校)

 贝克-贝里图书馆 (Baker-Berry Library) 的钟楼。冬天的时候，整个校园被厚厚的白雪覆盖，学生们穿着巨大的羽绒服在“The Green”（校园中心的大草坪）上打雪仗。这里看起来不像现代大学，更像是一个古老的滑雪度假村。]

学校气质与“人设”

达特茅斯的气质是**“狂野而亲密”。
如果说哥大是“原子化”的，那达特茅斯就是“核聚变”。因为地理位置太偏僻，方圆几百里除了树还是树，学生们只能彼此依赖**。

  • 本科关注度 (Undergraduate Focus)： 达特茅斯是所有大U中最像文理学院的。这里几乎没有研究生抢资源，教授知道每个人的名字。
  • 兄弟会文化 (Greek Life)： 极其强势。电影《动物屋》(Animal House) 的原型就是这里。这里的派对文化和饮酒游戏（Pong）是全美闻名的。

达特茅斯偏爱什么样的学生？

  • 户外爱好者： 它的官方社团是 Dartmouth Outing Club (DOC)。如果你喜欢徒步、滑雪、划船，你会爱死这里。
  • 性格外向、合群： 达特茅斯非常看重社区感。它有一项独特的申请要求：同伴推荐信 (Peer Recommendation)。招生官想通过你的朋友了解：这个人好相处吗？是有趣的室友吗？

1. 录取：小而美的竞争

  • 国际生录取率： 极低。因为学校规模极小（每届只有1000多人），留给中国学生的名额非常有限。
  • 标化成绩： 必须高，但更看重Personality。SAT 1520+。
  • 文书： 必须要体现出你为什么喜欢“小镇生活”和“紧密的社区”。如果你在文书里写你喜欢逛大商场，直接拒。

2. “中国圈子”与生活 (图解)

 康涅狄格河 (Connecticut River)。学生们在秋天会在这里划独木舟 (Canoeing)。这是达特茅斯典型的周末活动。]

  • 生活方式：
    • Hanover小镇： 只有一条主街。没有大超市，没有夜店。买东西主要靠网购。
    • 中国胃： 极度匮乏。 附近几乎没有正宗的中餐馆。中国学生通常练就了一身好厨艺，或者周末开车2小时去波士顿“进城采购”。
  • 融入： 这里的中国学生圈子非常小，你很难只混在华人圈里。你被迫要和美国人交朋友，这对英语口语的提升是飞跃性的。

3. 签证与职业前景 (D-Plan的神奇)

  • D-Plan (学制)： 这是达特茅斯最大的必杀技。一年分4个学期（春夏秋冬），你需要上满一定数量的学期，但具体什么时候上、什么时候休假，完全由你决定。
    • 实习优势： 当别的学校学生都在暑假抢实习时，达特茅斯学生可以选择在冬季或春季去实习（这时候竞争少），然后在暑假回学校上课（享受新罕布什尔最好的季节）。
  • 就业： 华尔街非常偏爱达特茅斯学生。因为校友圈子（Alumni Network）极其团结，甚至可以说是“排外”。有个说法是：“达特茅斯校友只会雇佣达特茅斯校友。”

4. 必须面对的硬伤：孤独与寒冷

  • 安全系数： 5/5 (极度安全)。 这里的唯一危险是遇到黑熊或者冻伤。
  • 心理挑战： 这种与世隔绝的环境（Middle of Nowhere）不是每个人都能忍受的。很多习惯了国内大城市便利生活的中国学生，在这里会感到强烈的幽闭恐惧症 (Cabin Fever)。

5. 奖学金政策

  • 政策： Need-Blind for International Students (没错，它最近加入了这个行列！)
  • 重磅更新： 达特茅斯在2022年宣布，对所有国际学生实行Need-Blind录取。这意味着申请奖学金完全不会影响你的录取几率。这是全美仅有的几所提供此待遇的学校之一。

给中国申请者的建议 (Verdict)：
如果你性格开朗、热爱大自然、滑雪、喜欢喝啤酒交朋友，并且想要体验最纯粹的美国精英教育（以及全额奖学金），达特茅斯是完美的。如果你是典型的“城市动物”、离不开奶茶和KTV，或者性格非常内向，这里会是你的寂静岭。

30 Days Deciphering 30 Top US Universities

Day 13: Dartmouth College

Location: Hanover, New Hampshire (Rural) — Truly in the middle of the woods
Chinese Nickname: 达特茅斯 (Dá tè mào sī), 大绿 (Big Green)
School Type: Private Research University (Ivy League, but focuses heavily on undergraduates)

The Clock Tower of Baker-Berry Library. In winter, the entire campus is blanketed in thick snow. Students wearing massive down jackets have snowball fights on “The Green” (the central lawn). It looks less like a modern university and more like a historic ski resort.]

The “Vibe” & The Persona

Dartmouth’s vibe is “Wild and Intimate.”
If Columbia is “Atomized,” Dartmouth is “Nuclear Fusion.” Because the location is so isolated (miles of forests in every direction), students must rely on each other.

  • Undergraduate Focus: Dartmouth feels the most like a Liberal Arts College among the big universities. There are very few grad students to steal resources; professors know everyone’s name.
  • Greek Life: Extremely dominant. The movie Animal House was inspired by a fraternity here. The party culture and “Pong” (a drinking game) are legendary.

What kind of student do they prefer?

  • The Outdoorsy Type: The largest club is the Dartmouth Outing Club (DOC). If you love hiking, skiing, and kayaking, you will love it here.
  • Extroverted & Community-Oriented: Dartmouth values community above all else. They have a unique requirement: The Peer Recommendation. Admissions officers want to know from your friend: Is this person fun to live with? Are they a good roommate?

1. Admissions: Small & Beautiful Competition

  • International Acceptance: Extremely low. Because the class size is tiny (only ~1,000 per year), spots for Chinese students are scarce.
  • Stats: Must be high, but Personality matters more. SAT 1520+.
  • The Essays: You must articulate why you love “small-town life” and “tight-knit community.” If you write about loving shopping malls, you will be rejected.

2. The “Chinese Bubble” & Social Life (Visualized)

 The Connecticut River. Students canoeing here in the fall. This is a quintessential Dartmouth weekend activity.]

  • Lifestyle:
    • Hanover Town: There is one main street. No big supermarkets, no night clubs. You buy things on Amazon.
    • Food: Extremely scarce. There is almost no authentic Chinese food nearby. Chinese students usually become master chefs or drive 2 hours to Boston on weekends to “restock.”
  • Integration: The Chinese circle is too small to hide in. You are forced to make friends with Americans, which causes your English fluency to skyrocket.

3. The Visa & Career Pathway (The Magic of the D-Plan)

  • The D-Plan: This is Dartmouth’s superpower. The year is divided into 4 terms (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter). You must complete a certain number, but when you do them is up to you.
    • Internship Advantage: While students from other schools fight for summer internships, Dartmouth students can do internships in Winter or Spring (less competition) and take classes during the Summer (enjoying NH’s best weather).
  • Career: Wall Street loves Dartmouth. The Alumni Network is fiercely loyal, sometimes described as “cult-like.” A common saying is: “Dartmouth grads only hire Dartmouth grads.”

4. The Elephant in the Room: Isolation & Cold

  • Safety Rating: 5/5 (Extremely Safe). The only dangers are Black Bears or Frostbite.
  • Psychological Challenge: The “Middle of Nowhere” environment is not for everyone. Many Chinese students used to convenient city life may experience severe Cabin Fever.

5. Financial Aid

  • Policy: Need-Blind for International Students (Yes, recently updated!).
  • Big News: In 2022, Dartmouth announced it is effectively Need-Blind for all international students. Applying for financial aid does not hurt your chances. It is one of the very few schools in the US to offer this.

Verdict for the Chinese Applicant:
If you are outgoing, love nature/skiing, enjoy beer and socializing, and want a pure American elite education (with a shot at full scholarships), Dartmouth is perfect. If you are a “City Animal” who needs bubble tea and KTV, or if you are very introverted, this will be your Silent Hill.

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