What is Dartmouth known for academically?
I'm a junior starting to draft my college list, and Dartmouth is on my radar, but I'm a bit lost about what its main strengths are. I know it's an Ivy League school, but I mostly hear about Harvard or Yale's famous programs.
Does anyone know what disciplines or specific areas Dartmouth is really strong in? For example, do they have a standout business, engineering, or science department? Or is it more of a liberal arts focus overall? I love English and history, but I'm also thinking about economics, so I'd love to hear if Dartmouth has any special programs or resources in those fields. Any current students or alums who want to share their opinions or experiences would be super helpful!
Does anyone know what disciplines or specific areas Dartmouth is really strong in? For example, do they have a standout business, engineering, or science department? Or is it more of a liberal arts focus overall? I love English and history, but I'm also thinking about economics, so I'd love to hear if Dartmouth has any special programs or resources in those fields. Any current students or alums who want to share their opinions or experiences would be super helpful!
2 weeks ago
•
22 views
Grayce Gibbs
• 2 weeks ago
Advisor
Dartmouth is distinctive within the Ivy League for its blend of a liberal arts focus with strong graduate and professional programs. It's smaller than some of its Ivy peers, which gives students more faculty interaction and opportunities for undergraduate research. Academically, a few areas really stand out at Dartmouth:
The Economics department is one of the school’s most popular and highly regarded programs. It's known for accessible faculty, great research opportunities, and strong job and grad school placement. If you’re interested in economics, many students appreciate the chance to do research with professors (sometimes even their first year) and the close-knit major community. For example, there’s the Fed Challenge team and regular lectures by prominent economists.
Dartmouth also has the Tuck School of Business, which is a top MBA program, and undergraduate economics and finance students sometimes collaborate or benefit from the resources there, though Tuck itself is a graduate school. For undergrads interested in business, Dartmouth offers a unique program called the Tuck Business Bridge, a summer program open to non-business majors that gives a strong business crash course. This is great if you want to major in something like English or history but also gain applied business skills.
Humanities departments, like English and history, are very strong, and faculty in these departments are widely published and accessible. Dartmouth’s quarter system makes it possible for students to take a wide variety of courses, study abroad (the "D-plan"), and even double major. The English department, for example, offers upper-level seminars and creative writing workshops that are highly ranked, and history majors often work closely with professors on original research or honors theses.
For STEM, the Thayer School of Engineering is notable, especially for its integrated Bachelor of Engineering program and emphasis on entrepreneurship and interdisciplinary study. Thayer is also known for being welcoming to women and students from non-traditional STEM backgrounds.
Students often highlight Dartmouth's strong alumni network, the flexibility of the D-plan, and the close campus community as academic strengths. You’ll find a collaborative rather than cutthroat vibe, which some people love.
So, if you’re interested in English, history, and economics, Dartmouth is a solid fit, with excellent teaching and resources in all three. If you like the idea of combining a liberal arts education with practical or interdisciplinary experiences—maybe studying English and then doing a business bridge program—Dartmouth definitely supports that kind of academic flexibility.
The Economics department is one of the school’s most popular and highly regarded programs. It's known for accessible faculty, great research opportunities, and strong job and grad school placement. If you’re interested in economics, many students appreciate the chance to do research with professors (sometimes even their first year) and the close-knit major community. For example, there’s the Fed Challenge team and regular lectures by prominent economists.
Dartmouth also has the Tuck School of Business, which is a top MBA program, and undergraduate economics and finance students sometimes collaborate or benefit from the resources there, though Tuck itself is a graduate school. For undergrads interested in business, Dartmouth offers a unique program called the Tuck Business Bridge, a summer program open to non-business majors that gives a strong business crash course. This is great if you want to major in something like English or history but also gain applied business skills.
Humanities departments, like English and history, are very strong, and faculty in these departments are widely published and accessible. Dartmouth’s quarter system makes it possible for students to take a wide variety of courses, study abroad (the "D-plan"), and even double major. The English department, for example, offers upper-level seminars and creative writing workshops that are highly ranked, and history majors often work closely with professors on original research or honors theses.
For STEM, the Thayer School of Engineering is notable, especially for its integrated Bachelor of Engineering program and emphasis on entrepreneurship and interdisciplinary study. Thayer is also known for being welcoming to women and students from non-traditional STEM backgrounds.
Students often highlight Dartmouth's strong alumni network, the flexibility of the D-plan, and the close campus community as academic strengths. You’ll find a collaborative rather than cutthroat vibe, which some people love.
So, if you’re interested in English, history, and economics, Dartmouth is a solid fit, with excellent teaching and resources in all three. If you like the idea of combining a liberal arts education with practical or interdisciplinary experiences—maybe studying English and then doing a business bridge program—Dartmouth definitely supports that kind of academic flexibility.
Grayce Gibbs
Denver, CO
Dartmouth College (AB); Colorado School of Mines (MS)
Experience
4 years