Hey! I’m a current Dartmouth student (D'27) who works at the Dartmouth Co-op, writing this between shifts and problem sets. If your portal just lit up with good news for Early Decision, Class of 2030 – huge congrats. ? Dartmouth tells Early Decision applicants they’ll hear back in mid-December[1], which basically means a whole wave of “I got in!!” texts, group chats, and yes… frantic Googling for “where do I get a Dartmouth sweatshirt?” This guide is here to answer the questions my friends and I had on our own decision nights: What does Dartmouth actually feel like? What’s up with Trips, “Foco,” and all the weird traditions? And, of course, what Dartmouth gear should you buy first? Think of this as your unofficial, student-written “welcome packet” – with links straight to the Dartmouth gear that will show up in your photos, dorm room, and memories over the next four years. Before we get into Trips and traditions, here’s the quick “I just got into Dartmouth, what do I buy tonight?” list. You can definitely come back and build out your Dartmouth wardrobe later, but these pieces mean that when you take photos tonight or visit campus, you’ll look like a Dartmouth student as soon as you feel like one. Dartmouth is small enough that you actually know people – and big enough that you keep meeting new ones. One folklore collection about our First-Year Trips program describes how, after a few days in the woods with new classmates, a student stepped off the bus and “couldn’t wait to start [their] four years at Dartmouth.”[2] Trips (run by the Dartmouth Outing Club, or DOC) happens before you even move into your dorm, and about 90% of first-years do it – it’s literally designed to introduce you to upperclassmen, other ’30s, and the outdoorsy side of the College.[3] Back on campus, everyday life revolves around places like the Green, Baker-Berry Library, and our main dining hall, the Class of 1953 Commons – universally known as “Foco.” Folklore researchers call Foco one of the most frequently used slang words on campus, and students describe it as “not just a place to eat but also a place to socialize and a place of community gathering.”[4] All of that is what you’re stepping into tonight: a tight-knit Ivy League community in Hanover, New Hampshire, with about 4,000 undergrads, a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and a serious outdoors + tradition streak built into the culture.[5] We’ll talk more about the famous traditions below – but for now, just know: you’re in. Day to day, Dartmouth feels like a weird but perfect mix of small-town chill and “I have three problem sets due.” You see familiar faces all the time, but the D-Plan (Dartmouth’s quarter system of four ten-week terms)[6] means people are always rotating on and off campus for study away, internships, or research – so there’s this constant sense of motion. Within about 48 hours on campus you’ll be saying things like “Meet you at Foco?” or “I’m studying in Blobby.” Dartmouth has a whole mini-language: Foco (the Class of 1953 Commons dining hall), Robo (Robinson Hall), the Hop (the Hopkins Center), and Blobby (the Baker Library lobby) are all part of everyday speech.[8] Foco especially is a big deal. Officially it’s an all-you-care-to-eat dining hall; unofficially it’s one of the most “facetimey” spots on campus, where people go to eat, run into friends, and low-key people-watch.[4] Even if you don’t think of yourself as an “outdoors person,” Dartmouth has a way of getting you outside. The Dartmouth Outing Club (DOC) is one of the oldest and largest collegiate outing clubs in the country, and student-run trips cover everything from hiking and canoeing to chill walks in Pine Park right off campus.[7] The Appalachian Trail literally runs through Hanover, and the campus sits in the Upper Valley – so going for a quick walk by the river or a weekend hike in the White or Green Mountains is very normal here.[7] Academically, it’s intense but personal. Dartmouth runs on four ten-week terms per year, and most students take three classes a term – so you’re focused, but you actually know your professors and they know you.[6] People joke about sprinting through each term, but the flip side is real flexibility to build in off-terms for internships, research, and study away. Translation: your student gets the resources of a research university, but the everyday feel of a close-knit residential college. Dartmouth has a whole universe of traditions and folklore – the kind of stuff that makes current students say things like “we really take our traditions seriously.”[10] Here are three you’ll see on your feeds every year: In Dartmouth folklore, Homecoming, Winter Carnival, and Green Key are sometimes grouped together as “big weekends” – the social anchor points that give each term its own vibe.[4] If you’re into sports (or just school spirit), Dartmouth’s had a pretty exciting run lately: Translation: if you show up to Memorial Field, Thompson Arena, or Burnham Field in a Dartmouth hoodie, you won’t be the only one. Hanover winters are no joke. Campus regularly sees bitter cold and a ton of snow each year,[17] and the average annual snowfall in town is around 60 inches.[18] Translation: you’re going to be living in sweatshirts. Here are the sweatshirt styles I see (and wear) the most as a current student – plus when they’re clutch: Pro tip from someone who has overpacked: one really good heavyweight sweatshirt + one lighter crew is usually enough to start. You can always add more once you see what the Hanover weather is doing.[20] When friends ask me what they actually need for Dartmouth (besides a good pair of boots– sorry we don't sell them!), the answer is pretty consistent. Here’s what almost every ’27/’28 I know showed up with or bought in their first term. A Dartmouth sweatshirt is everyone’s first purchase for a reason. You’ll wear it for Trips photos, Green Key, late nights in Blobby, and the “I actually live here now” Foco runs. Student winter guides constantly recommend layers – sweaters, sweatshirts, and long sleeves – as key to surviving Hanover’s cold season.[19] Browse all sweatshirts here: Hanover winter is real. Believe me. Campus weather averages show long stretches of days with highs below 40°F and plenty of snow,[18] and Dartmouth’s own winter survival tips recommend protecting your head, hands, and feet.[21] A good Dartmouth cap or knit beanie is basically part of the dress code. Start with one everyday hat and, if you’re from a warmer climate, one truly warm beanie. Between long days in the library and walks across the Green, a good water bottle or travel mug is essential. You’ll see them everywhere – on desks in class, in Foco, and clipped to backpacks on the way to the river. Dartmouth packing guides almost always mention reusable drinkware as a must-have.[22] Your dorm is where you’ll debrief after big weekends, crash after 2 a.m. problem sets, and watch it snow from your window (sometimes in April). Student move-in posts almost always mention bringing something cozy from home plus extra blankets for winter.[23] A Dartmouth blanket or throw makes your room feel like part of campus from day one – and doubles as an extra layer when Hanover decides to be 10°F colder than the forecast. If you’re a parent, relative, or family friend, this is your part of the list. The classic move is a sweatshirt + hat combo, but other popular picks are decals for the car or laptop, mugs, and a tote or backpack for move-in. If you’re not sure about size or color, an eGift Card lets your Dartmouth ’30 pick something after they’ve had a chance to see what people actually wear on campus. Speaking as someone whose parents definitely went a little overboard when I got in (hey, it's a big deal so I get it!): the best gifts are the ones your Dartmouth ’30 will use all the time, not just in the “I got in!!” photos on decision night. Here are the combos I see (and wear/carry) the most around campus: Easiest place to start: https://www.dartmouthcoop.com/spirit-shop/gifts-accessories Sizing is probably the #1 question we get at the Co-op – especially from families ordering as a surprise. Different brands can fit slightly differently, and Dartmouth students love oversized layers for winter, so here’s how to make it easy: You can find detailed sizing info here: And if you get it wrong on the first try, don’t panic – we’ve got a returns and exchanges process to help with that (more on that below). Decision night moves fast – one minute you’re refreshing your portal and the next you’re trying to figure out if a sweatshirt can get to your house before the family celebration this weekend. Here’s the quick version of how we handle it: If you know you’ve got a specific date – a party, campus visit, or photo session – it’s worth ordering a little early so you can relax and just enjoy the moment. Short answer: because today isn’t just a shopping day – it’s a Dartmouth day. Long answer: So when you’re picking out your first Dartmouth sweatshirt, you’re not just checking a box – you’re joining a long line of students and families who’ve done the exact same thing here. You can buy officially licensed Dartmouth sweatshirts and hoodies right here at the Dartmouth Co-op online store: https://www.dartmouthcoop.com/mens/sweatshirts We carry classic heavyweight hoodies, crewnecks, athletic fits, and softer “giftable” options – the same styles you’ll see all over campus. Most new Dartmouth students start with: If you want to see all the “congrats, you got in” type items in one place, start here: https://www.dartmouthcoop.com/spirit-shop/gifts-accessories The classic gift is a Dartmouth sweatshirt – it’s what shows up in all the pictures and gets worn constantly once they’re on campus. After that, top picks are: You can grab an eGift Card here: https://www.dartmouthcoop.com/spirit-shop/welcome-to-hanover/e-gift-cards It depends on where you live and which shipping option you choose. Your best move is to check our current shipping estimates here: https://www.dartmouthcoop.com/shipping/ and give yourself a little buffer before any big celebration or campus visit. If you’re on a tight deadline, feel free to call us at 800-634-2667 and we’ll walk through options with you. Take the screenshots. Call the grandparents. Spam the group chat. Refresh your email one more time even though you already know what it says. This is one of those nights you remember for a long time. Very soon, all of this turns into real life: Trips photos in a Dartmouth hoodie, late nights in Foco, Winter Carnival snow sculptures, Green Key on the Green, and random Tuesdays walking across campus in the same sweatshirt you ordered tonight. When you’re ready to make it feel real, we’re here on Main Street in Hanover and online, stocked with the gear current students actually wear and use. Start your Dartmouth story here: From everyone at the Dartmouth Co-op (including the students working the registers and packing your orders): welcome home, Dartmouth Class of 2030. ?Dartmouth Early Decision December 2025: Class of 2030 Dartmouth Campus Info and Dartmouth Gear Guide (From a D'27 Dartmouth Student) | Dartmouth Co-op
If you just got in, start here ?
Welcome to Dartmouth, Class of 2030!
What Dartmouth actually feels like (from someone who goes here)
People, places, and slang you’ll hear immediately
Outdoors is kind of built in
The academic vibe
Quick Dartmouth facts (for parents & families)
Dartmouth traditions you’ll hear about immediately
Big Green in the Ivy League: recent wins
Dartmouth won the Ivy League Women’s Soccer Tournament and clinched the program’s first-ever tournament championship title, earning an automatic NCAA tournament bid.[14]
Men’s hockey beat Yale 5–1 to secure Dartmouth’s first sole Ivy League title in the sport since 1979–80.[15]
Big Green football earned a share of the Ivy League title in 2024 and has won four Ivy championships in the last five seasons, bringing Dartmouth’s league-leading total to 22 Ivy titles.[16]
Featured Dartmouth sweatshirts (how they actually feel on campus)
The Big Green Basics: what most incoming students buy first
1) The Dartmouth sweatshirt (aka your new uniform)
2) A hat you’ll actually wear
3) A water bottle / travel mug (Dartmouth edition)
4) Dorm-ready comfort: blankets, throws, pillows
5) The “we’re proud of you” gift category
For families: Dartmouth gift ideas that actually get used
This is the classic “first-day-of-college” move. A heavyweight hoodie or crew plus a hat works for move-in, game days, and every random Tuesday on the Green.
Think blanket or throw + mug + water bottle. Your student will use the mug for late-night tea or hot chocolate, the water bottle on walks across campus, and the blanket every time Hanover reminds them it is, in fact, in New Hampshire.
Super handy for move-in, weekend trips, and runs to the library or Foco. Also great for families who want something Dartmouth-branded for themselves.
Stickers and decals for laptops, water bottles, and (of course) the proud-parent car. This is one of the easiest ways to show off “Dartmouth ’30” before move-in.
If you’re worried about picking the wrong fit, an eGift Card lets your student shop once they’ve seen what people wear on campus. They can come into the Co-op in person during orientation or order online from home.
How to pick the right size (so it fits on day one)
Our online sizing guide breaks down how different brands and styles fit, with measurements for chest, length, and more. If you’re between sizes, look there first.
Most people wear Dartmouth hoodies and crews over t-shirts or long sleeves, and a lot of students intentionally go slightly oversized so they can layer in the winter.
When in doubt, one size up is usually safer than one size down – especially for sweatshirts.
Shipping, returns, and “help, I need it ASAP”
For current shipping options, estimated delivery times, and rates, check our shipping page: https://www.dartmouthcoop.com/shipping/
If the size isn’t quite right or you need to swap an item, our returns and exchanges page walks through how to send things back or exchange them: https://www.dartmouthcoop.com/returns-exchanges/
We're here in Hanover. A local perspective. We know Dartmouth! You can always call us with questions about sizing, orders, or last-minute timing: 800-634-2667. Someone on our team (often a current or former Dartmouth student) will pick up, Monday-Friday, 9am - 4:30pm EST.
Why shop at the Dartmouth Co-op?
The Co-op sits on Main Street, a short walk from the Green, Baker-Berry, and Foco. For students, it’s the trusted first place they buy local Dartmouth gear in person once they get to campus.
Our items are officially licensed, so when you buy from us you’re getting the real Dartmouth wordmark, colors, and logos – not a random knockoff.
The Co-op has been serving Dartmouth students, alumni, and families for over 100 years. We’re a trusted Hanover business with deep Dartmouth roots, not just an online storefront. We were founded by an alum and we're still owned and operated by an alum today.
A lot of us on staff are current students, which means we’ve tested these sweatshirts in real Hanover winters and worn these hats to real games at Memorial Field and Thompson.
FAQ (a.k.a. what everyone asks on decision night)
Where can I buy an official Dartmouth sweatshirt?
https://www.dartmouthcoop.com/womens/sweatshirts What should I buy right after getting into Dartmouth (Early Decision)?
What’s the best gift for a newly admitted Dartmouth student?
How early should I order if I want gear for photos or a party?
Congrats again, Class of 2030!
https://www.dartmouthcoop.com/
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