What was most valuable to me was spending time at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and meeting with a variety of health professionals. It exposed me to the hospital setting and all of its components. I also didn't have much of a background in medical careers but meeting with different professionals really opened me up to new possibilities. 
The Health Careers Institute at Dartmouth offers a college-like immersion experience for the student.
Most mornings are spent on the Dartmouth campus. Classroom activities take place at The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice or in a conference room in the students' dormitory.
Projects
We engage students in at least one ongoing project related to health care and the health professions. Working in teams, students spend a part of each day studying a special topic or patient issue, ultimately putting together a final project to share with their peers, mentors, and families.
In the field
While mornings are spent in a traditional classroom setting, afternoons take students to a variety of hospital and health care settings. A favorite is the Simulation Center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, where students can interact with medical professionals and simulated patients in real-life operating room and emergency situations.
I'm so glad I had the opportunity to be a part of the Health Careers Institute. Not only did I make some new friends... but I also believe I changed as a person. Some activities made you think critically and quickly, this gave me more confidence in myself.. Having a staff like this, willing to share their knowledge of the health field, was truly a once in lifetime opportunity and I was more than happy to learn from them
Recreation
No day goes by without at least one opportunity to play. Recreational activities are offered on and around the Dartmouth Green/campus. Several alternatives are always provided to accommodate different levels of fitness, interests, and weather. — Ultimate Frisbee, soccer, and walks around campus are popular choices, as are indoor games, and popcorn and movie nights.
Meals
Each student is given a $80 meal card to use at any of the college dining halls. Mentors and educational staff choose the most convenient location for each meal based on its proximity to scheduled activities. Students also have at least one meal at the medical center. Although the meal card covers the cost of three meals a day, many students bring extra money or their own snacks to supplement the meal card that is provided.
Hanover
Dartmouth College is located at the center of the classic New England town of Hanover, New Hampshire. Shops and restaurants are located within a block of the Dartmouth Green. More information about Hanover, as well as photographs of the college and the town, can be found at the college web site: http://www.dartmouth.edu/admissions/.
