Obviously you aren't coming to Dartmouth just because it had the best looking brochure highlighting the beautiful campus and countless extracurricular options. Everyone who comes here aims to enrich his or her knowledge through interesting and informative classes.
Wondering if Dartmouth's small size will limit course offerings? Fear not. This liberal arts school offers the whole gamut of courses ranging from Clouds (see page 20) to Engineering 102, non-linear systems. But, from the first term, students should keep in mind the few course, distributive and major requirements the College insists upon.
Most students fulfill the English and foreign language requirements early on, but majors don't need to be declared until the end of sophomore year. The College breaks up its course list into three sections: humanities, sciences and social sciences. Students must take at least four courses outside their major courses in each area, insuring a liberal arts education.
If they have not placed out of English 5 (basic composition), first-year students must take that or English 2 and 3. Each option fulfills the requirement. These courses are designed to improve writing skills already developed in high school. Depending on the professor, students may focus on grammar , a research paper or creative writing.
A freshman seminar is the next step in fulfilling requirements. Choices are offered in almost all departments to help students further develop their writing.
Students must also achieve "proficiency" in a foreign language before they graduate. Whether you decide to continue your language studies from high school or you choose to explore another, Dartmouth's intensive program is key (see page 20). The choices include the romance languages and select Middle Eastern and Far Eastern languages among many others.
If French or Italian interests you, be sure to take a course with John Rassias (see page 18) who developed an intensive language program incorporating class lectures, drill sessions and language labs. In drill, a daily verbal practice session, students apply grammar rules learned in class. Language labs help students with speaking skills by listening and repeating exercises.
Another method through which students fulfill their foreign language requirement is the Language Study Abroad program, in which they study in another country for a term. Once overseas, students reside with families and sign a pledge to speak only in the foreign language.
Many first-year students may be attracted to introductory courses. But a word of caution, just because the course number is low, that doesn't necessarily mean the course is easy.
A prime example is Math 3, which many students elect simply because they feel they the necessity after having taken so many years of it in high school, asccording to Erik Wilson '95, who took Math 3 his freshman fall. Some students recommend this course only to those who must take it, such as students interested in pre-med, economics and physics.
Though Psychology 1 seemsto be a gut because of its low number and multiple choice exams, do not be deceived. Unlike Math 3 which is geared for first-year students, Psych 1 pits clueless 'shmen against upperclass students. Since it is graded on a curve, often the upperclass students, already familiar with the system at Dartmouth, do better than the first-year students.
Another misleading course is Economics 1. This course is the study of microeconomics which explains the market demand and supply curve. Although it is one of the most failed courses at Dartmouth, many students believe it to be a necessity in terms of practicality.
On the other hand, some classes are guaranteed to be easy (at least by Dartmouth's standards). Most are in the science departments and include Clouds, Oceans, Rocks, and Chem Fun. For those science majors looking for humanities distribs, the College offers courses dubbed Clapping for Credit and Myths. Most guts attract a large number of students, though, and all are lectures.
Other classes in which many freshmen are found are pre-med requirements, such as Chemistry 5 and 6, Physics 13 and 14, and Biology 15 and 16. Not only is the lecture material demanding, especially when class is at 8:45 a.m., but the four hours of laboratory work is extremely time consuming as well.
Do not be discouraged from experimenting with higher number courses. Although the Guide to the Freshman Year, which has been mailed home to you, includes a list of recommended courses for freshmen, don't set your decisions in stone until you see the ORC -- the full 636-page course guide.
If you aren't pre-med, you might be one of the few lucky freshmen to get into a government course, one of the most popular departments here. Every term, Govy 6 (American politics) and Govy 7 (International Politics) are filled to the limit.
These are just a few of the numerous options. The key is to try something new each term. Dartmouth helps facilitate this by offering a non-recording option. This lets students to place a minimum grade limit on a course in which they are not sure to succeed.
For example, if you are psyched (see page 20) to learn about the dissemination of Hellenism by the Allulids of Perganon, but have no idea what the material will be like, you can set a grade minimum of B+. Then, if your final grade falls below this minimum, it won't be recorded on your transcript. Credit is still received, as long as you don't fail, but the grade does not affect your G.P.A.
After the first year at Dartmouth, students often do transfer terms at other institutions. Others choose to travel abroad for a foreign language program..
The College offers other off-campus programs, including environmental studies in Kenya, drama in London, religion in Scotland, marine biology in Costa Rica and government in London at the London School of Economics.
