Come Dimensions next week, students accepted to the class of 2015 will flock to campus for what is arguably one of the most unique prospective student events in the country. The College will spend tens of thousands of dollars and collaborate with hundreds of current students to give the accepted students a taste of the Dartmouth experience. Over my Dimensions, my host told me about the mythical deal former College President James Wright made with Mother Nature to guarantee sun for this busy April weekend. He might as well have done so, for Dimensions is a huge, finely-tuned production. It's the last push to convince prospective students that Dartmouth is the right choice for them. It's our chance to welcome the new class into the traditions and community Dartmouth holds dear. When May 1 rolls around and our newest class forms, we know Dimensions has done its job. But the impact Dimensions has on the incoming class doesn't end when a student commits to the College. The experience carries through the summer and well into freshman year in ways that are more important now than ever before.
Picking a college is a big step for any high school student. The Dimensions of Dartmouth program, as it is officially called, tries to help make that decision more informed and exciting for accepted students. What sets Dartmouth apart, and Dimensions weekend successfully channels, is a unified community spirit that permeates our academic environment. The supportive, friendly atmosphere is on constant display throughout the impressive schedule of events.
But by the end of the weekend, one event always takes the cake for prospies : the Dimensions show. After the initial shock of realizing that new friends are not quite what they seem, prospies are bombarded with a visual spectacle of song, dance and flair. Lots and lots of flair. Personally, the show itself sold me on Dartmouth.
As a prospie, I found myself wondering how Dimensions weekend would serve not only as a promotion of Dartmouth but also a turning point on the journey between high school and Dartmouth. I was initially confused why were Dimensions Croo members making complete fools of themselves? How did this relate to Dartmouth? The obvious answer was that they embodied their love for their school. This is a large part of why the show is so convincing and why the performance would almost be moving if not for its rich entertainment value.
More importantly, the free and easy nature of the Dimensions Croo put us at ease. They embarrassed themselves in front of hundreds of prospies so that prospies themselves wouldn't fear embarrassment. Dimensions helped me understand that I would fit in at Dartmouth and should have nothing to hide for fear of judgment. I would have no shame wearing flair. I would embrace it, like Dartmouth embraced me.
Students who missed Dimensions, either because they applied early decision or simply because they chose not to attend, are not worse off than those who did. DOC Croos operate on the same formula of song, dance, flair and shock and it seems to have the same if not a more powerful effect on students. For Dimensions attendees, it confirmed the leap of faith that we took on decision day.
As the admissions process becomes ever more competitive at Dartmouth, Dimensions weekend becomes a vital event that maintains our strong Big Green family. Some worry that effects of college admissions hyper-competition could infiltrate our walls. But I believe Dimensions acts as a safeguard against such forces by sending a message subliminally or otherwise to incoming classes: Let down your guard. Simply be yourself and come to Dartmouth to experience a love for learning, for friends, for the outdoors and for all the new experiences college brings. It helps nervous prospies relax so that we can properly welcome them home.
As Spring term opens and my freshman year comes to a close, I can now see how the Dimensions "show shock" never completely wears off for anyone. That sudden outburst of uninhibited welcome and love was thrown at us, and it stuck throughout the summer until we entered orientation with the same honesty and lack of inhibition that surprised us so much. The Dimensions show forced us to let our guard down and in the process, let Dartmouth in.
