Hello, Eda here: full-time learner, part-time writer, and pretty much a happy amateur at everything else. My hobbies include reading, discovering new movies, and looking at the pictures of my cat. On campus, you can find me peer supporting for the Mental Health Union and SAPA, writing for Spare Rib, doing research in psychology, or listening to Turkish & English alt-rock. Feel free to ask me about taking a gap year, transitioning to a new cultural space, or college in general!
This class discusses the concepts of sex and gender in the broader context of issues related to race, class, national identity, and more. I loved this class because it helped me better understand how systemic inequality affects individual lives and made me think about ways to change it. Professor A'Ness is such an inspiring prof!
In this first-year writing seminar, we discussed how avant-garde movements from futurism to punk rock have constituted a rebellion against the status quo. I loved all the readings for this class and Professor McCann inspired me to take more courses in the English department!
In this course, we learned all the basics of fiction: character, plot, setting, etc. My favorite parts of the course were receiving feedback from other students, reading my peers' work, and having fiction readings as assigned course work! I also appreciated all the guest speakers we had, who were experienced writers in their respective genres.
As an aspiring clinical psychologist, this course has been one of the best classes I have taken at Dartmouth so far. The class focused on the etiology, diagnosis, characteristics and treatment of various mental disorders. Professor Hudenko has been one of the greatest lectures I had the pleasure of meeting. As a clinical psychologist himself, he had extensive knowledge in not only the theory, but also the practice of clinical psychology. He also succeeded in making a lecture-based class feel interactive and dynamic.
We covered the complex neural and biological mechanisms of multiple mental health disorders ranging from common conditions like anxiety to more complicated illnesses such as schizophrenia. In addition to reading about the cutting-edge research in this area, we also read memoirs and watched documentaries about the mental illnesses to focus on how these conditions are affecting people in real life. Professor Funnell is one of the best profs I had!
As an aspiring clinical psychologist, this has been one of my favorite classes at Dartmouth. We learned about different therapy methods, how and when to use them, their advantages, and shortcomings. The class was incredibly engaging with Professor Hudenko's frequent demonstrations of methods, therapy videos, and guest speakers. I would recommend this class to every psychology major.
I worked at Dimock Health Center as part of my community health internship. I was part of a team of summer interns who were college students like myself. We worked as patient advocates that helped people reach out to resources regarding housing, food, utilities, etc. Most of our work involved calling patients, helping them fill out forms, and researching resources. I learned so much about community health resources and how to communicate with a diverse set of patients. It was an invaluable experience!
I took classes in the School of English and Drama at Queen Mary University of London. My favorite class of the term was called London Performance Now, which involved going to different performance events in London and discussing them in class. It was the perfect opportunity to explore the cultural landscape of London.
As the title of the course suggests, this class was about food: its history, economics, and cultural practices. I learned a lot through this course thanks to guest speakers, thought-provoking readings, and engaging assignments. My favorite assignment in this course was writing about a family recipe; I learned so much about my family's history as well as the cultural conflicts in my home country. Overall, it was among the best classes I have taken at Dartmouth. Plus, we even got to eat delicious food cooked by our classmates!
This week I interviewed my friend who is doing an exchange program in University College London, a popular study abroad program though the economics department at Dartmouth.
How did you decide to apply to this program?
First, I wanted to be able to take advantage of Darmouth's resources. I know there won't be many opportunities for me to live in London for this cheap ever again because Dartmouth subsidized us for food and board as well as paying for our tuition since I am on financial aid. Second, I was interested in UCL's economy program because they emphasize radical thinking. I have only taken core economics classes so far at Dartmouth, so I appreciate the flexibility of the economics department here. For example, I was able to do a research project documenting the relationship between wages and changes in copper prices in Mongolia, my home country. Third, I also wanted to be involved with the debate here because the debate is the oldest society in UCL and the UK is active in competitive debating. They regularly go to finals in world championships. They are also very open and accessible, with no try-outs, at least for UCL.
What classes are you taking?
I am taking four classes this term. One is called History of Economic Thought. One of my favorite classes is called Economics of the Public Sector, for which I was able to write my essay arguing why direct cash transfers are the best way to reduce income inequality. I appreciated the freedom they gave us to structure our arguments. I also took Developmental Geography because economics classes usually shy away from discussing the complicated, social, and moral sides of economic policies, such as "Is it fair to tax people?" I had three different lecturers for this class, and they were all amazing and inspiring. They studied cool stuff like how public radio affected development in West Africa. It made me want to explore more geography classes at Dartmouth. I also took International Trade, for which I wrote a research paper about Mongolia.
What is your living situation like?
I live in UCL dorms. I have a single room, which is convenient. The dorms also have catered food that tastes great! The staff who workes ere is also really nice!
What is your favorite thing about your study abroad experience so far?
I enjoy living in a city. At Dartmouth, we are somewhat constrained in terms of social activity. It was cool to go museum hopping and see different parks and galleries in London. I was lucky enough to have friends who were also doing study abroad programs in London!
What are the challenges of the program?
I think the challenges I faced apply to any other study abroad program. We are in a completely different country in a different university with a different system. We are also here for a term, so we need to adapt quickly. Basic stuff like navigating the city, the food, and the social scene can be difficult. Balancing academics and social life is challenging.
What are you looking forward to in your study abroad?
Though the program is ending, I am excited for winter in London. I bought tickets to Hyde Park Winter Wonderland to go with my girlfriend when she visits. I also want to see the Kew Botanical Gardens and Richmond Park. There is so much to do in London!
After returning from an enriching study abroad program, I'm diving into a bustling spring semester here at Dartmouth. Here are my four courses I'm taking this term!
Dartmouth's liberal arts curriculum pushes students to explore new departments and draw connections between seemingly disparate disciplines. Come explore my Economics, Physics, and Asian, Societies, Cultures, and Languages classes!
Over half of Dartmouth students study abroad at least once during their undergraduate journeys—quite a high percentage, right? Do you want to know how to best prepare for your own abroad experience? Come check what it was like for me.
At Dartmouth, there is an undergraduate requirement for language; after all, it is the liberal arts! Fulfilling this requirement looks different for various people and I will focus on my experience.
I have written about being a student worker plenty of times in the past, but I have yet to talk about one of my favorite jobs ever: ticket selling at the Hopkins Center for the Arts.
