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!
Hello, hello, People Places Pines! Long time no see. Don't worry—I'm still very much here and more than ready to resume blogging.
As an international student, I was not required to stay in Hanover for my sophomore summer, but I still chose to remain in Hanover to do full-time research (more on research later, I promise!). For now, I will say that doing research full-time allowed me to assess my priorities and see if I would enjoy delving into research post-graduation. Spoiler alert: I loved it!
Aside from research, I was involved in the Dartmouth yearbook, Aegis, as the summer resident photographer. This role allowed me to explore campus with some of the most cutting-edge tech cameras, capturing moments from events and also for my artistic pursuits. There's something special about seeing the familiar through the lens of a camera, especially when you can capture the essence of a place like Dartmouth in the summer.
I also rediscovered an extracurricular love from middle school—I joined a dance group! I used to be involved in folk dance, and returning to dance this summer was a nostalgic and affirming experience. I didn't realize how much I had missed it. I hope to continue being involved in Dartmouth's dance community during the academic year.
Me and my friend Helen during a dance showcase!
Beyond these activities, sophomore summer was a time of deep personal reflection. I've had plenty of space to assess my values and priorities. I've become more spontaneous, letting go of the need to control what's happening around me or how I react to it. I've embraced serendipity in ways I never thought I would, whether it's going on random runs at 11 pm or experimenting with different genres of music. This spontaneous energy has blended with a newfound sense of kinship—being on campus mostly with just my class allowed me to expand my horizons and work on grounding myself. I've found myself in spaces and with people I never expected to, each of us carving out our own unique Dartmouth experiences.
I modeled for a friend's photography class this summer!
Though I spent most of my summer away from friends and family, I still managed to visit home for a few weeks between terms. That time back was the perfect final dose of home before fall term kicked in.
Now that I'm taking classes again, I feel genuinely grateful that I stayed on campus for my sophomore summer. I've never felt more secure in my presence here and am eager to keep the momentum going. Stay tuned for all things me, Dartmouth, and a few café reviews I still have left up my sleeve!
One of the staple characteristics of the D-Plan is the off-term, a term in which you are not taking classes! Most students at Dartmouth will take at least one off-term, and this winter happens to be my turn! What will I be doing?
Are you artistically inclined? Are you not artistically inclined but still love making art? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the Dartmouth Donald Claflin Jewelry Studio is for you!
It's hard to believe that it has been a year since I wrote my first end-of-fall-term reflection. It felt like only yesterday that I stepped into my dorm room this September, eager to reunite with my friends.
Most students have to go back to college after Thanksgiving to take their finals, but not at Dartmouth! We have a six-week winter break, known as "winterim!" Let me tell you how I spent my winterim!
