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!
At Dartmouth, students typically take three classes per term. My friends who are studying at colleges with the semester system take more classes, but since Dartmouth terms are much shorter than a semester with merely 10 weeks, we take fewer classes per term. Even though the fast pace of the term is a bit of a challenge, I prefer taking only three classes so that I can maintain my focus more strongly on my course subjects instead of having to divide my attention into more classes.
While the typical course load is three, it is possible to take two or four classes a term at Dartmouth. I had never deviated from the usual three-course term until this winter. Unfortunately, I started the term off with an injury, which prevented me from arriving on campus on time. Thankfully, most of my professors were really accommodating, allowing me to keep up with coursework virtually for the first two weeks of classes. Still, I realized keeping up with three classes, one of which I no longer needed due to a change in my major plans, was stressful, especially because I picked up new extracurricular leadership positions and work responsibilities this term. So, I decided to cut myself a bit of slack and take two classes, allowing me to have a less stressful recovery period and put more energy into my work outside of class.
One of the classes I am taking this term is PSYC 84.05: Power of Beliefs, which explores how beliefs affect clinical outcomes. The class discusses everything from the placebo effect to how culture influences the manifestation of mental illness symptoms. This class is one of the permission courses in the psychology department, meaning it counts as a culminating requirement for the major and you need instructor permission to get in. Contrary to my initial concerns, it was actually quite simple to get in, as you only need to write a few words as to why you want to take the class given you have already taken the prerequisite courses. I look forward to this class, as it closely aligns with my interest in clinical psychology and the readings so far have been super interesting!
The other class I am taking this term is ANTH 50.56: Anthropology of Food. It is the first anthropology class I have ever taken and I am really excited for it. The professor has been incredibly helpful and accommodating throughout my injury, as I could attend classes via Zoom. Beyond the subject matter itself, the class is also super interesting in how the professor has constructed the assessments. Instead of focusing on grades, the class follows a mastery plan, allowing more flexibility to engage with course material. It also looks like we will be trying out a lot of dishes in this class, so I could not look forward to it more.
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.
Traditionally, Dartmouth students take three courses during a term, but I decided to take four courses this term! Learn about course load and the academic system at Dartmouth.
Planning on visiting Dartmouth as a prospective student or an interested person wanting to see our beautiful campus? In this post, I share insider tips to ensure your visit is fulfilled!
As I approach the halfway mark of my Dartmouth journey this spring, I find myself reflecting on the significance of distributive and world culture requirements in shaping my academic experience.
