Non-Greek Dartmouth student here.
I chose the College over other Ivies and top-notch schools because Dartmouth gave me the most amount of money. Even without the financial aid, I've received a total of $11,300 in research grants (Two $4,000 grants for off-term research and two $1,500 grants for academic-year research and $300 for conference travel). The premed classes are top notch. Professors here genuinely want to help you succeed.
Extracurriculars opportunities are abundant. Because of the unique off-term/on-term system, there are leadership opportunities for everyone. Furthermore, Dartmouth encourages
all of its students to get some research experience. I started research in freshman year, and I've learned so much from the graduate students and the PI, and I really feel like a part of the team. I've also been invited to go drinking with my research lab on multiple occasions (which I had to decline because I was underage).
The pre-health advising is extremely helpful. Every term, the society matches students with doctors from all specialties from Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, which is 10 minutes by the free pubic transit. The pre-health society also sets up interesting opportunities where students are able to interact on a long-term basis with Alzheimer's patients. I've shadowed a neurologist, a hematologist, and a medical geneticist, and I'll probably shadow a surgeon this summer (and yes this program is also available during summer terms).
However, if you are coming for the prestige, don't bother. Prestige isn't going to keep you warm at subzero temperatures, neither is it going assuage you when you are getting your butt handed to you in class by former high school valedictorians and salutatorians (although that what some of the Ivy participants of this thread seem to be doing
). That being said, our pre-health advising made it clear that the average Dartmouth students matriculating into medical schools have an average GPA that is at least 0.1 point lower than that of the national average, meaning that medical schools understand the rigor of our courseload (base on a quarter system). Personally I find people who gloat off of their institutions' prestige to be repugnant. You'll find many types of people at Dartmouth, from fratbros to nature-lovers and what-have-you.
And actually, it's the students that make this place so great. With around ~4500 undergraduates, Dartmouth is large enough to encompass a wide variety of people, but small enough to avoid feeling lost in a crowd. My group of friends and casual acquaintances have included at least two NYT-acclaimed authors, two Goldwater scholars, and a recent Thiel Fellow, all of whom have inspired me to push my limits.
But if you are going to pick Dartmouth because of prestige, then this is not a good place for you, and we don't want you here if you are going to be miserable. Okay?
