Hey all! I'm Batuhan: parent to two adorable cats, self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur, and aspiring polyglot among other things. I'm a '26 from Istanbul, Turkey, and I am passionate about behavioral economics, sonic arts, postcolonial literature, and social media marketing! Be sure to reach out with questions regarding exploring the liberal arts, study abroad programs, research on campus, international student experience, and study abroad programs!
Academic Program
Cognitive Science and Art History
Favorite Thing Right Now
My personal blog Write Your Tongue! #shamelessplug
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.
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.
As a second year at Dartmouth, the winter term has brought a significant milestone in my academic journey: the major declaration process. Dartmouth students can start declaring their majors during their fifth term "in residence," which corresponds to sophomore winter term for most, including me. Though I am abroad for my sophomore winter, I could still declare my major.
While I initially entered Dartmouth with the preferred majors of Government and Gender Studies, my trajectory has since evolved, showcasing the flexibility and exploration encouraged by the liberal arts environment. As of now, I am working towards majoring in Cognitive Science and possibly minoring in French, a decision that reflects the dynamic nature of the major declaration process. In this blog post, I want to delve into the intricacies of declaring a major, drawing from my personal experiences.
The beauty of Dartmouth lies in its encouragement of exploration, allowing students to chart their academic paths at their own pace. I vividly remember taking my first class with the vague intention of it being "for my major" during my first spring term. Fast forward to the present, and I am on the verge of declaring a major that resonates more deeply with my evolving interests.
The key takeaway from my major declaration journey is the realization that you don't need to have your entire academic path mapped out from the beginning. The freedom to explore diverse disciplines in my first year has been instrumental in helping me articulate and solidify my interests. Government and Gender Studies—my previous intended majors—have given way to the allure of Cognitive Science, a field that aligns more closely with my evolving passions. Looking ahead, my plan for the major involves taking one to two courses each term within the Cognitive Science realm, leaving room for exploration in other departments. I am particularly excited about delving into theater and studio art courses, embracing the interdisciplinary nature of Dartmouth's liberal arts education.
My advice for prospective students grappling with the uncertainty of major choices is simple: embrace the journey. Whether you enter Dartmouth with a clear vision or undecided, the liberal arts ethos allows for an organic exploration of diverse interests. Let your innate curiosity shine through, guiding you towards an authentic and fulfilling academic path.
As I embark on the next phase of my Dartmouth journey, my major declaration reminds me that growth and discovery are continuous processes. The liberal arts philosophy empowers students to cultivate unique intellectual identities, ensuring that each major declaration celebrates individuality and curiosity.
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.
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.
This is my final term before senior year, which is both exciting and terrifying at the same time. One thing I am excited about is the classes I am taking this term, so let me tell you more!
This is part two of me "nerding out" about my honors thesis! If you want to learn more about independent projects, theses, or the humanities at Dartmouth, check it out!
