While the D-Plan can be cumbersome for planning Division I play, it can also benefit individual athletes. Although the D-Plan limits student-athletes' opportunities relative to other Dartmouth students, it allows them to take some terms away from the College, which many use as additional chances to train.
Women's swimming and diving team member Christine Kerr '14 said head coach Jim Wilson allows team members to be off campus only when they are completely out of season.
"Because the swim season goes on in the Fall and Winter, we are only allowed off in the Spring," she said.
Kerr added that she was looking forward to studying abroad when she came to Dartmouth, and hoped that the D-Plan would allow her to travel. Planning a trip proved difficult, however, especially since many departments do not offer a study abroad program each term.
"I was very interested in studying abroad on the religion Foreign Study Program in Scotland, but when I found out that I'd have to sit the season out if I went abroad in the Fall, I knew my chances of going there were over," Kerr said.
Instead of participating in an FSP, Kerr said she plans to take off her junior Spring to pursue opportunities away from Dartmouth during both Spring and Summer.
Men's soccer co-captain Lucky Mkosana '12 said many soccer players take advantage of study abroad programs offered in the Winter, which is the only term they are allowed to travel off campus. Many soccer players use their off term to go abroad to places like Spain, Italy and New Zealand, he said.
"It's great because at least two or more guys on the team go to Barcelona every winter," Mkosana said. "They get to experience a lot of fun stuff there."
Mkosana added that the Winter is a time of bonding between the seniors and freshmen, the two classes that are mandated to be on campus year-round.
Although being an athlete presents its scheduling challenges, Kerr said that student-athletes have learned to manage their time efficiently.
"I planned out all of the classes that I'm going to take for my neuroscience major to make sure that if I'm doubling up, it's only when I'm out of season," she said.
Football player Hunter Foraker '14 echoed Kerr, adding that athletic commitments have not prevented him from utilizing the D-Plan.
"I believe that the D-Plan is a great system especially for student-athletes because it allows them to take part in [Language Study Abroad programs], transfer terms and FSPs, which they may not otherwise be allowed to take part in if Dartmouth used the traditional semester system," he said.
Foraker said he plans to take off-terms during his junior Winter and junior Summer, and hopes to secure an internship during at least one of those terms.
"The requirement to be on campus during Fall and Spring has not restricted my D-Plan at all," he said.
Completing terms abroad or choosing to work in an internship is not an option for players on all teams, however. The Dartmouth baseball team is expected to be on campus during Fall, Winter and Spring terms, and is also encouraged to play for NCAA-sponsored collegiate baseball teams during the Summer season.
Baseball co-captain Joe Sclafani '12 said that if a player wants to go abroad, Fall is the only possible option. Players rarely take abroad terms at all, he said.
"Our coach kind of discourages it because our fall season is important," Sclafani said. "Not many people do it because guys often make big strides in the fall."
Even during sophomore Summer, when students are required to be on campus with their fellow classmates, baseball players generally play in collegiate leagues across the country.
"In the last three years, one guy stayed on for sophomore Summer," Sclafani said. "It would have been nice to be here for that summer, but you have to weigh the costs and benefits."
Summer baseball is crucial to advancing players' skills, especially for those who hope to play professionally, according to Sclafani.
"My sophomore Summer league was minutes away from the beach in North Carolina, so it wasn't that bad," he said.
