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.
Sophomore Summer Plans as an International Student
At Dartmouth, the academic calendar follows a unique quarter system known as the D-plan. One aspect that sets the D-plan apart from other institutions is the mandatory summer term of classes, which most people take after their sophomore year, called "Sophomore Summer," However, there are exceptions to this requirement, particularly for international students and some student-athletes.
As an international student exempt from this requirement, I wanted to provide insight into how I'm spending my sophomore summer. Many of my peers are navigating this term in various ways, which I also want to highlight to show that there are multiple ways of making your sophomore summer your own. Some international friends of mine have decided to return home for the summer, either to relax and spend time with family or to work in their home countries. A few others have secured internships across the United States, allowing them to gain valuable work experience while remaining stateside, albeit not on campus. Contrary to popular opinion, taking classes during sophomore summer as an international student isn't impossible. Several international friends opted for this route despite the added extra complications with visas, which I did not want to deal with.
I sought out alternative ways to stay on campus without the necessity of enrolling in classes. I explored various opportunities that would allow me to stay engaged academically and intellectually. I applied for several fellowships and research grants offered on campus, hoping to secure a position that would allow me to stay at Dartmouth during the summer and enrich my academic journey.
I am thrilled to share that I have been granted a stipend for full-time research over the summer! This incredible opportunity allows me to conduct cognitive science research, specifically focusing on the childhood development of modal cognition. My research explores how children generate options in response to hypothetical scenarios and the relationship between these cognitive processes and decision-making.
I am incredibly grateful for the funding and the chance to experience Dartmouth during the summer in this capacity. The opportunity to immerse myself in full-time research without the added pressure of coursework is invaluable. It will allow me to delve deeply into my area of interest, collaborate with faculty and peers, and make the most of Dartmouth's resources.
In summary, while the typical sophomore summer at Dartmouth involves on-campus classes, my experience as an international student will take a different path. I am excited to stay engaged and enjoy all that Dartmouth has to offer during the summer term!
I lived on the same dorm floor as the GIS LLC (Living Learning Community) this year. I asked some of my floormates about their experience with it so that you can hopefully get a holistic sense of what GIS is like!
I moved to Berlin for three months to live with a host family. These are my thoughts about the process and why exploring study abroad programs with host families is worthwhile!
Eastern European Easter (loads of E's, I know), a mock wedding with the Dartmouth African Student Association, and of course, Green Key! What a busy week!
