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.
My Freshman Summer: Prioritizing Needs over Expectations
What to do over first-year summer could look totally different for everyone. It's a time of transition and exploration, where everyone has their own unique set of priorities and goals. So, when people ask me, "What are you planning to do this summer?", I can't help but feel that it's a misguided question. There is no "the" thing you should be stressing over doing between your first-year and sophomore years. It's about what you need and what will bring you fulfillment.
Personally, I have made the decision to stay at home in Istanbul for the summer. I have no plans for working or taking up one of the wonderful internship opportunities through various academic centers of Dartmouth. Here is how I arrived at that decision and a few examples of things I have heard my friends are doing over the summer to give you an idea about the myriad of ways to spend first-year summer.
First, I assessed what I needed from this summer going forward. For me, living with my parents back home and feeling their presence for three months was important. I do not get to visit my family often. When I do get to visit them, I make sure to devote my full presence to spending time with them. At the same time, I also wanted to work on a few tangible skills I never got to specialize in prior to college. I am planning on taking French lessons, going to the gym on a regular basis, and possibly even signing up for dance lessons just for fun!
Flowers in town! Sparks of joy!
A few examples of what my friends are doing include taking classes at Dartmouth over the summer, joining a study abroad program in Italy or the Baltics, interning at a company serving their pre-professional aspirations, or like me, going back home to family and taking a step back for themselves. All of these options are equally valid; you just need to prioritize and communicate your personal needs as opposed to thinking about what you are "supposed to do" over the summer. Recentering your focus in this manner is hard in a world driven by productivity obsession, but I can assure you that choosing your needs over what the world bombards you with is always more fulfilling.
As you contemplate your first-year summer plans, remember that there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Take the time to reflect on what you truly need and what will bring you joy and growth. Whether it's spending time with loved ones, exploring new skills, or pursuing a pre-professional opportunity, make sure it aligns with your personal aspirations and well-being. Ultimately, the first-year summer is a valuable time to recharge, discover yourself, and prepare for the journey ahead. Embrace the freedom to choose and prioritize yourself.
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!
