Hello! My name is Cal Shin, and I am a '27 planning to double-major in Economics and Philosophy. Outside of academics and blogging, you can find me drawing (perhaps even designing for The Dartmouth), hosting my radio show as a proud deejay at WebDCR, perusing the Free Market, or hanging out with friends. Ultimately, I am an artist and a storyteller. I hope you enjoy reading about my Dartmouth experience; the journey has just begun!
I took this course with Professor James Binkoski and loved it! I had never taken a philosophy course prior to Dartmouth, so this introductory course in the department was perfect! After all, it combined my interests of philosophy with time and time travel — at least, how time and time travel are depicted in the media. This course may initially seem to be on the more technical side, but Professor Binkoski made sure to break down the various time travel theories — various ways scientists and philosophers think of time and its supposed movement — in a manner that’s easy for anyone to understand. A very popular course overall; I am fortunate to have been able to take it during my first term here!
I took this course with Professor Ha Yan Lee and it was absolutely amazing! I had my initial reservations about this course, mainly because I knew a lot of my classmates would have had some background knowledge while I had none. Professor Lee did a wonderful job of breaking down concepts in a manner that, as she often put it, is easy for even “your grandparents to understand”. Even beyond the course, the level of care Professor Lee exhibited towards her students is significant. She’s one of the most popular professors at Dartmouth, and for good reason! I ate lunch with her at The Pine through the Take a Faculty Member to Lunch program, and she gave me tremendous insight and advice! Because of this course, I have been inspired to explore more courses within the Econ department and potentially major in Economics.
I took this course with Professor Jasmina Savic and examined how the vampire figure evolved over time, starting with Slavic literature, going through Dracula and Twilight, and ending with “vampire” political figures. I realized what the portrayal of vampires could tell me about the thoughts of that society, including the fact that the early notions of vampirism are akin to modern-day diseases. For my final project, I wrote a research paper comparing the gumiho (the Korean nine-tailed fox) to several Western vampires.
SummerNew York City, New York
I had the opportunity to visit New York City for the summer! I met up with a good friend of mine, explored the city itself, and went to a networking event with other college students.
ECON 10 is one of the required courses for the Economics major. Based on my stellar experience with Professor Ha Yan Lee during ECON 1, when I saw that she was teaching ECON 10 this term, I immediately jumped at the chance to take the course with her. Once again, Professor Lee did an amazing job of breaking down concepts in an easy-to-understand manner. (The fact that her slideshows were colorful and featured various pictures of cats helped.)
One question that gets commonly asked around this time of year is: What should I bring to college, and what should I leave home? There is a lot of information floating around online about what students should and should not bring—some of which is useful, and others, well, not so much.
My first piece of advice: Don't overpack.Trust me. You will buy a lot of stuff at Dartmouth, and it is much more convenient that way. There's a 24-hour CVS Pharmacy within walking distance, and a Walmart and Target a short, free bus ride away located in West Lebanon. There is no need to physically make your way to Walmart either—Dartmouth accepts Walmart.com orders, which are delivered straight through your Hinman box. Amazon is another popular source, and you'll get your Amazon delivery within 5 days, if not less—and that's without Amazon Prime!
Pictured above comprehensive map of all Advanced Transit bus routes. Make sure to plan your trip with https://advancetransit.com/
I advise you to use your judgment on what to bring with you and what to buy. Your method of transportation (i.e. car vs. airplane) will influence your decision on what and how much you will bring. Below is a basic, non-comprehensive checklist of what I deem necessary.
Bedding:At least 1 set of twin XL sheets, a mattress pad, pillow(s), pillowcase(s), and blanket(s).
Clothing: The basics (undergarments, socks, shirts, long-sleeves, pants, shoes, sleepwear…whatever you normally wear), 1 set of semi-formal clothing (think business casual), 1 set of professional attire (top, bottom, shoes), and shoes. Don't forget about hangers as well!
Winter clothes: If you have good winter clothes, bring them! I suggest at least 1 thick jacket, 1 jacket you wouldn't mind losing or getting dirty, 1 pair of boots, 1 scarf, and 1 pair of mittens. No worries if you don't have proper winter clothes—there is an L.L. Bean nearby that sells all of these items of clothing. Students receiving high levels of financial aid will receive free L.L. Bean gift cards so they can buy winter clothing without it posing an additional financial burden.
School supplies:Backpack, any electronics (laptop, tablet), scissors, a small stapler, tape, graphing calculator, pens, pencils, highlighters, folders, etc.
Shower & hygiene products:Shower shoes (think flip-flops or Crocs), shower caddy (to hold your hygiene products in), bathrobe, bath towels, nail clippers, shampoo, conditioner, and skincare products. Traveling by flight? Bring a travel-sized version of shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, conditioner, and whatever else you need to last you the first few days, then purchase full-size versions of these products at CVS, Walmart, or Target.
Dorm:Clorox wipes or similar, 1 roll of kitchen towels, mesh laundry bag, laundry detergent, and dryer sheets.
Documents:Bring your physical Social Security card, birth certificate, and/or passport if at any point you want a job at Dartmouth. It doesn't matter if you have those details memorized. Upon being hired, you will need to go to the Dartmouth Payroll office to fill out a document called the I9, which requires those forms of identification. You can find more details here.
But what about a trash can/trash bags/vacuum/mini fridge/storage organizers/storage drawers? A trash can and a recycling bin are included in every dorm room, and trash bags can usually be found in each bathroom or trash room. Similarly, each floor should have a communal vacuum cleaner for residents to use. Some first-year dorms come with mini-fridges; please hold off on buying your own until 1) you can confirm that your dorm does not come with a mini-fridge and 2) you have made arrangements with your roommate(s) regarding shared items. Storage organizers and drawers can be helpful, but you do not need to bring them. If you find yourself needing more organizational space, you can always buy some upon your arrival.
Here is a good list from the Office of Residential Life about what to bring, and here is a guide from a Dartmouth student on packing in an organized fashion, as well as tips for staying warm during the winter.
Every Dartmouth student is required to demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English. Here's my experience navigating the language requirement!
