Hey all! I'm Batu. I'm a '26 from Istanbul, Turkey, and I am passionate about the cognitive science of design, developmental psychology, aesthetics research, postcolonial literature, and social media marketing! Be sure to reach out with questions about exploring the liberal arts, learning a new language at Dartmouth, cafes in town (one of my favorite blog series dare I say), study abroad programs, and research on campus!
Writing 5 is one of the courses that count towards the first-year writing requirement. The course covered content relating to the self, transformation, and social dynamics relating to majority and minority. Dr. Godley is simply phenomenal. Her instruction was extremely accessible even though she covered intense topics. I could not have enjoyed my Writing 5 more!
Design Thinking was above and beyond my expectations. The course is structured around weekly projects, where we apply different cognitive strategies to cover topics like design principles, human need-finding, brainstorming, scenario building, and visual thinking.
Introduction to Cognitive Science covers a variety of fields including psychology, computer science, linguistics, and philosophy to provide insight into cognitive processes. This course helped me develop an understanding of all facets of cognitive science and which ones I would be interested in further pursuing as part of my major.
SummerIstanbul, Turkey
I was home during my first summer! A non-exhaustive list of things I've done includes sunbathing, coding my personal blog, and going on runs. #rest #relaxation
Psychology 10 is a deep dive into almost everything you might need to become well-versed in conducting research, analyzing data, and interpreting findings in a statistically sound manner. Professor Pfister is the most approachable professor I have ever had the pleasure of learning from. Statistics isn't exactly my forté, but I now feel confident in my stats foundation!
I loved taking this class with Madame Alverde, a professor from Université Toulouse ; Jean Jaures was an incredible experience. She made sure to correct our mistakes on the spot and improve them eloquently.
This course allowed me to explore the intersection of aesthetics and digital media, focusing on how digital environments reshape traditional concepts like materiality and form. I particularly enjoyed comparing human and AI-generated analyses of art and examining the frameworks that shape contemporary digital studies, from visual culture to design philosophy.
SummerHanover, NH
I was on campus pursuing full-time research in the Cognitive Science department. My research focuses on children's capacity to imagine and reason about possibilities!
Taught by Professor Andrew Simon, this course explored histories of the Middle East and North Africa through film, media, and supporting texts. From French Algeria to the Armenian Genocide and the Egyptian Revolution, each week centered on critical engagement with audiovisual material and primary sources. Through reflections, discussions, and a final research project, students examined how media shapes collective memory and questions of voice, power, and resistance. Thoughtful, rigorous, and deeply transformative, this course reshaped how I think about both history and storytelling.
This course offered a dynamic exploration of Paris’s art and architecture, grounding students in the city’s cultural and historical foundations. Weekly lectures established a theoretical framework spanning Paris’s origins, key art movements, and the evolution of its monuments. Our Wednesday site visits made this course truly unforgettable, where we stood before the very landmarks we studied, turning theory into lived experience.
Bonjour again People Places Pines! J'espère que vous allez bien. Over the past winter quarter (my junior winter), I spent 10 weeks in Paris for the Paris Foreign Study Program (FSP). Now that I am back, it's time to reminisce through… you guessed it: by blogging! Today, I'll provide an overview of the courses I took.
If you're a long-time People Places Pines reader, you might know I previously spent my sophomore winter in Toulouse, France, for a French Language Study Abroad (LSA). The FSP and LSA are two separate abroad experience offered by the Department of French—read about the different offerings here. The Paris FSP perfectly complemented my prior experience on the Toulouse LSA.
This course explored the art and architectural history of Paris, providing a deeper understanding of the city and its monuments. On Mondays, we established a theoretical framework covering Paris's founding, key art schools, and artistic movements.
What made this course special was our Wednesday site visits to the monuments we studied. This hands-on approach made the class incredibly immersive. Walking around Paris with my Parisian friends outside the program, I found myself sharing fun facts about the city they didn't know, which was an incredible feeling.
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen, one of our site visits for French 29.
Taught by Dartmouth faculty memberProfessor Tarnowski, this course was engaging from the start. Having stronger language skills this time around, I enjoyed our readings and discussions even more. We began with literary giants, focusing on Notre Dame, before transitioning to contemporary works. The reading selection was excellent, and I appreciated synthesizing my comprehension through reflections and presentations.
This course covered advanced linguistic phenomena alongside contemporary topics like inclusive language, French slang, and everyday expressions. A major component was our final essay, a self-guided exploration of a Paris-related topic. I wrote about Parisian thrifting culture, conducting interviews with locals, which deepened my immersion in the city.
The courses of this Foreugn Study Program were rigorous and integral to my experience. I am beyond grateful to have studied abroad in France again thanks to Dartmouth. Stay tuned for more content on my second Dartmouth abroad program in Paris!
I sat down with Aarushi Jain '25, a coxswain on the women's rowing team, to learn more about the opportunities to study abroad as an athlete at Dartmouth!
Once you are here, Dartmouth ensures that you have the tools you need to thrive, regardless of where you start. Read on to discover some of Dartmouth's lesser-known resources!
Dartmouth professors truly make all the difference, especially when you have the opportunity to take them out to lunch and get to know them outside of the classroom. Read about my Differential Equations professor Professor Robert Dougherty Bliss.
