Here’s the thing about Dartmouth College & Greek life: you can’t really talk about one without the other. It’s woven into the very fabric of the place, for better or for worse. If you’ve heard of Dartmouth, you’ve probably also heard whispers of "Animal House" (which, yes, was co-written by a Dartmouth alum & is said to be based on his fraternity experiences). That reputation precedes it, painting a picture of wild toga parties in the New Hampshire woods.
But honestly, that's just the movie poster version. The real story is a lot more complex, a little weird, & VERY different from the Greek systems at big state schools. A significant chunk of the student body—about 35% of men & 36% of women in fall 2022—are involved. For a small, isolated Ivy League school in Hanover, where there isn't a ton of other nightlife, the Greek houses pretty much ARE the social scene.
So, if you’re thinking about Dartmouth, you HAVE to understand its unique Greek ecosystem. It’s not just an extracurricular; it’s a dominant social structure. But it’s also not a monolith. There are different councils, local chapters that only exist at Dartmouth, & a whole social world that exists completely outside of it.
This is the ultimate insider's guide. We're going deep on how it all works: the stats, the different types of houses, the infamous rush process, the social scene, the very real controversies, & most importantly, how to thrive at Dartmouth whether you decide to join or not.
The Greek Landscape at Dartmouth: More Than Just Frat Row
First off, let's get the lay of the land. It’s not just a handful of fraternities. The system is organized into several governing bodies, which gives you a hint at the diversity of options available.
The Big Councils:
- Interfraternity Council (IFC): This is the umbrella organization for most of the traditional fraternities. As of the latest counts, there are about fifteen all-male fraternities under the IFC. These are the houses you typically think of when you picture "frat row" on Webster Avenue.
- Inter-Sorority Council (ISC): This is the counterpart for the sororities. There are around eleven all-female sororities, a mix of national & local chapters. They manage the formal recruitment process for women.
- Gender-Inclusive Greek Council (GIGC): Dartmouth also has three gender-inclusive Greek houses. These organizations, like Alpha Theta, Phi Tau, & The Tabard, offer a co-ed alternative to the single-sex houses & have their own recruitment process. They are a super important part of the social fabric, offering spaces that feel welcoming to a wider range of students.
- Cultural & Affinity Councils: It doesn't stop there. There's also the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), which governs the historically African-American fraternities & sororities (like Alpha Phi Alpha & Alpha Kappa Alpha), & the Multicultural Greek Council, which includes Latinx & other cultural interest organizations.
Local vs. National: A Key Dartmouth Distinction
This is one of the coolest & most unique things about Dartmouth's system. While many schools are dominated by huge national organizations, Dartmouth has a thriving scene of local chapters. For sororities, you'll find national names like Kappa Kappa Gamma alongside local ones like Sigma Delta, which was actually the first sorority at Dartmouth. Sigma Delta started as a chapter of a national sorority but broke away in 1988 over disagreements about things like religion in rituals & the focus on men in national songs.
This "local-first" vibe means many houses have traditions, rules, & a personality that is purely Dartmouth. They aren't beholden to a national headquarters in another state, which gives them a lot of freedom. It also contributes to the feeling that Dartmouth Greek life is its own weird, wonderful, & sometimes insular world.
The Infamous Rush Process: How It Actually Works
Okay, let's get into the nitty-gritty of how you actually join one of these places. The process is DRAMATICALLY different from what you see in movies, & it's also different for fraternities & sororities.
The Golden Rule: Sophomore Year Rush
First & foremost, you CANNOT rush as a first-year student. This is HUGE. The college implements what's known as the "frat ban," a harm-reduction policy that prevents first-years from even entering a Greek space for the first six weeks of their fall term.
The idea is to give freshmen a chance to build friendships & find their footing through other means—in their dorms, on their First-Year Trips, in clubs, on sports teams, etc.—before the Greek system completely takes over their social world. This deferred recruitment is a defining feature. By the time sophomore fall rolls around, you have a much better sense of who you are & what you're looking for, rather than just clinging to the first social group you find.
For the Women: The Sorority Recruitment Gauntlet
The Inter-Sorority Council runs a very structured, multi-round formal recruitment process that typically happens in the fall, with a smaller one in the winter. It’s an intense, two-week-long affair.
- Round 1: The Marathon. Potential New Members (PNMs) have to visit every single participating sorority house (usually seven or eight) for about 30-90 minutes each. It’s a whirlwind of small talk. You’re repeating your major, your hometown, & your campus activities over & over. Even if you walk into a house & immediately know it's not for you, you have to stay for the minimum time. After visiting all the houses, you rank them.
- Round 2: The Callbacks. Based on mutual selection (you ranking them & them ranking you), you can be called back to a maximum of four houses. These conversations are supposed to get a little deeper, but it's still a very managed process.
- Round 3: Preference Night ("Pref"). This is the final, most serious round. You can be called back to a maximum of two houses. This is where the sororities make their final pitch. One student described her pref night experience where a sorority had cupcakes with the PNMs' names on them & talked about the deeper meaning of their sisterhood. After this, you make your final, binding preference.
- Bid Day! A day or two later, you get an email saying bids are out. Everyone flocks to the Collis Center (the student union) to see if they got a letter. If you did, it's an invitation to join, followed by a "Bid Night" party where you meet all your new sisters.
The process is notoriously impersonal & stressful. One student writer for The Dartmouth Review put it bluntly, saying it "activated a carnal impulse to be wanted." You're often asked bizarre ice-breaker questions, & there's a lot of pressure to present a fun, smiling, inoffensive version of yourself. And if you don't get a bid or get dropped by your top houses, it can be a really painful experience, often blamed on "the algorithm."
For the Men: A Different Ballgame
Fraternity rush, on the other hand, is way less formal & more relational. It's less of a structured "process" & more of a prolonged period of getting to know the brothers. Guys are expected to "grab meals" with brothers from the houses they're interested in, hang out, & build genuine connections.
Instead of a centralized algorithm, the decisions are made internally, often involving slideshows & debates about each potential new member. It's much more direct. If a house doesn't want you, you know it. It’s a different kind of pressure—less about systemic evaluation & more about direct social chemistry.
The Social Scene: Is It All Toga Parties?
Because Hanover is a small town without a bustling bar or club scene, fraternities are the default center of social life, especially on weekends. But it's not as exclusive as you might think.
One of the best parts of Dartmouth's social scene is the "open party" culture. Unlike at many schools where fraternity parties are invite-only or have strict gender ratios at the door, at Dartmouth, if a frat is having a party, they’ll often email the entire campus. For the most part, if you have a Dartmouth ID, you can get in. This makes the scene feel much more like a campus-wide party than a series of private events.
Of course, different houses have different vibes. Some are known for their live student bands, some for their intense Dartmouth Pong tournaments (a unique version of beer pong with no handles on the cups), & others for specific annual themed parties. There's a whole culture & a set of stereotypes around each house, which you can read about with a grain of salt in student publications like The Dartmouth Review.
Living the Greek Life: Beyond the Parties
So what happens after you join? It’s not just about parties.
First, housing. While fraternities & sororities have physical houses, they are FAR more social hubs than primary residences. Most members do not live in the house. There are way more members than there are beds, so living in the house is usually a special privilege earned through a points system. For most, the house is a place to study, eat a meal, & hang out with your brothers or sisters.
Then there's the "brotherhood" or "sisterhood." This is the core appeal for many. It provides an instant community, a network of friends, & a support system. It also provides incredible networking opportunities with alumni who are often fiercely loyal to their old house.
Of course, there's a cost. Dues are a real thing, but many houses do offer financial aid to make it more accessible. And all houses participate in philanthropy, raising money for various causes & getting involved in community service.
Controversy & Change: The Enduring Debate
You can't talk about Dartmouth Greek life without talking about the controversies. It has a long & complicated history.
As far back as 1978, the Dartmouth faculty actually voted 67-16 to ABOLISH the fraternity system entirely. They cited concerns that the houses were "bastions of white male dominance" that perpetuated harmful stereotypes. The Board of Trustees ultimately didn't act on the vote, but it kicked off decades of debate.
The "Animal House" reputation didn't come from nowhere. Alpha Delta, the fraternity that partly inspired the movie, was notorious. After a long history of disciplinary issues, including a "Bloods & Crips" themed party in 2013 & allegations of branding new members, the college officially derecognized the fraternity in 2015.
The issues aren't just in the past. In recent years, other houses have faced serious consequences. Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) was derecognized following hazing allegations. More recently, in the fall of 2023, four Greek houses—Alpha Chi Alpha, Alpha Phi, Beta Alpha Omega, & Sigma Nu—were found in violation of community standards for things like providing hard alcohol to underage students. These houses faced suspensions & alcohol probation, proving that the administration is still grappling with how to manage the system.
These incidents fuel an ongoing conversation on campus about safety, inclusivity, hazing, & sexual assault. The system is constantly under scrutiny, both from within & from the outside.
Life Outside the Rows: Thriving as an Independent at Dartmouth
So what if you read all this & think, "Yeah, that's not for me"? Can you still have a good social life at Dartmouth?
The answer is an emphatic YES.
While Greek life is dominant, it is NOT the be-all, end-all. Plenty of students have an incredible, fulfilling college experience without ever rushing. It just takes a little more effort to build your community.
The Dartmouth Outing Club (DOC) is probably the biggest alternative social hub on campus. It's a massive organization that runs hiking, skiing, kayaking, & cabin trips. It has its own vibrant social scene & is a fantastic way to meet people.
Beyond the DOC, there are hundreds of other student-run clubs, from cultural associations like the Dartmouth African Students Association to club sports teams, student publications, & performance groups. Many of these clubs develop their own strong social communities. The Collis Center also runs a ton of dry, late-night events like craft nights, movie screenings, & concerts.
Here’s the thing, Dartmouth's remote location in Hanover means space can be tight. Whether you're in Greek life or not, you'll accumulate gear, especially if you get into the outdoorsy culture. Skis, hiking backpacks, climbing gear—it all takes up room. And if you decide to live off-campus or need a place to park your car, it can get tricky. This is where a service like Prked comes in clutch. It connects you with local residents who are renting out their empty driveways for parking or their unused garage, attic, or basement space for storage. It’s a pretty cool way to find an affordable, convenient spot for your stuff or your car without battling for limited campus resources.
Honestly, being unaffiliated at Dartmouth means you have to be a bit more proactive. You have to be the one to ask people to lunch, to organize a pizza night in your dorm, or to join a club & actually go to the meetings. But the community is there to be found.
So, that's the real deal on Dartmouth Greek life. It's a system with deep historical roots, a unique set of rules like sophomore rush, & a HUGE impact on the social life of the college. It offers community & fun, but it's also fraught with a history of controversy & exclusion that the college is still wrestling with.
Whether you see yourself chanting in a fraternity basement or hiking a 4,000-footer with the DOC, the most important thing is to know what you're getting into. Dartmouth's social scene is what you make of it.
Hope this was helpful & gives you a real feel for what it's like on the ground in Hanover. Let me know what you think
