Though sophomore summer is technically mandatory for Dartmouth undergraduates, a number of students choose not enroll in courses during the summer. The reasons for this decision vary, but in many cases, students find that other commitments -- both Dartmouth-related and otherwise -- conflict with taking classes over the Summer term. However many students who opt not to take classes during the Summer term choose to remain on campus to work in order to avoid missing out on the unique experience of sophomore summer.
The census for summer 2007 will not be completed until July 12, but the enrollment numbers for the previous three summers indicate that between 946 and 954 sophomores enrolled in classes for those years -- numbers significantly less than the roughly 1,070 students who matriculate with each class. However, each sophomore not enrolled in classes must justify his decision to the College registrar.
"Since sophomore summer is considered mandatory, you have to go to the registrar and they ask you your reasoning for missing the term," Pete Mathias '09 said. Both Pete and his brother Teddy Mathias '09 are spending the summer recording a new album for their band, Filligar, and performing at venues across the country.
"Summer is a very potent time for a band to play -- one of the few times of year we can play together," Pete said. "I basically had to take summer off because if I decide to pursue a career in music, then I have to work this summer as a band because I can't do it during the year because I'm studying."
The choice to take the summer off to pursue music didn't come easily, Mathias said.
"It was a really hard decision for both Teddy and I," he said. "We're torn because we have these great friends at Dartmouth, then we have this little hobby that forces us to be in Chicago where we have the chance to play shows and put out a CD."
Additionally, students who are members of both the cross-country and track teams are unable to take classes during the summer since doing so would mean missing a season of athletics.
"I have to compete fall, winter and spring, so if I take an off-term during the year I would miss a season of competition, which I don't want to do," Trevor Middleton '09, who is on both teams but chose to remain on campus for the summer, said.
Of all of his team members who are sophomores, all but one are spending their summer off terms on campus, Middleton said.
And due to a set of federal regulations that require students who are not U.S. citizens to be taking classes for three terms before taking an off-term, many international students cannot to take classes during the summer.
"I'm not taking classes because international rules state that I can't," John Gibson '09 said. "I need to be on for three terms in order to take an off term, and because I play hockey my schedule won't allow for it."
Gibson spent the first two weeks of the summer at Dartmouth working at summer hockey camps but returned to his hometown of Okotoks, Alberta for the remainder of the summer. After being at Dartmouth for the past three terms, however, Gibson said that he was ready to get away.
"I've been here for two weeks and it's been fun, but I've also been at Dartmouth for too long so I want to go home," he said.
The restrictions for international students originate from the Code of Federal Regulations, specifically the section pertaining to students on F-1 status. The last clause of this section, which refers to an annual vacation, states that students must complete the equivalent of an academic year prior to taking a vacation.
Thus, if international students enroll in classes during sophomore summer, and in turn take their off-term at some point during junior year, then they are automatically forced to take classes during junior summer and to take a term off during senior year.
On the other hand, some students simply take sophomore summer off because they prefer to spend that time at home.
"I feel like [at school] I would be missing out on just as much or more with my friends back home and my family," Alexander Czarnecki '09, said. Czarnecki chose to stay at his home in Palo Alto, Calif., in order to spend time with friends and work at a venture capital firm to earn money for his upcoming term in New Zealand.
