Hello! My name is Cal Shin, and I am a '27 double-majoring in Economics and Philosophy. When I'm not studying or writing a blog post, you can find me drawing as the Design Editor for The Dartmouth, hosting my radio show at WebDCR, or spending time with my friends. And if I'm not doing any of those, I'm probably watching cat videos. Follow along as I share the moments that make Dartmouth feel like home!
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.)
My main interest in philosophy lies in normative and applied ethics, so when I saw the opportunity to take a class on the former, I didn’t hesitate! The class focused on consequentialism, utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics. I enjoyed the ample opportunities for discussion, including discussion posts about the readings, as well as the table-wide conversations. My table, in particular, had lots to say, and there was one reading in particular where we ended up diving into discussion, not once, but twice! In fact, we had so much to say that all of us coincidentally chose to write our essay on this reading — and none of us knew until after we started talking about our papers!
A while ago, I was talking to an old classmate of mine who attends a university back in North Carolina. He casually mentioned that he had to pay out-of-pocket to print any readings or papers. I was shocked; because Dartmouth provides each student $75 solely for printing, I had assumed free printing was a given for all institutions. The truth is, Dartmouth offers a lot of support that goes above and beyond what many other schools provide. Here are just a few of Dartmouth's resources I was genuinely surprised (and grateful) to find out are available to us:
Laptops: It's no surprise that laptops are required given that we live in the 21st century. There are specific standards that each laptop must meet, so they are capable of running the necessary software. All of this may seem unfamiliar and even expensive! However, Dartmouth is committed to making technology accessible. All QuestBridge Match students will receive a $1700 scholarship to cover the cost of a computer — wherever you may choose to buy it from. Additionally, you can be rest assured that laptops you buy from Dartmouth's computer store meet all the requirements. You do not have to buy your laptop there if you already have a device that meets all the requirements. However, you should know that if a laptop from the computer store needs repairs, you will receive a free loaner laptop in the meantime.
Library Services: Dartmouth's libraries are more than just study spaces that hold books. Even the act of borrowing is quite robust. You can borrow a book directly from the library, either by retrieving it from the shelves or requesting one to be delivered to a service desk for pick-up. If you borrow a book directly from Dartmouth, you don't have to return it until a full calendar year later.
If the item you need is not available at Dartmouth, you can access it by borrowing from other librariesthrough BorrowDirect (from any one of the IvyPlus libraries) orInterLibrary Loan (libraries around the world). While you won't get a full calendar year's access, you will still be able to read and utilize the book for several months.
Of course, books aren't the only items you can borrow at Dartmouth's libraries. They will lend you equipmentsuch as microphones, cameras, and studio lights; video games and controllers; and tabletop games like Apple to Apples, Clue, and Uno.
These are some books I borrowed for one of my classes this term.
Licenses and Subscriptions: Another technological perk that may fly under the radar are the sheer variety of software and subscriptions you can get, just by being a Dartmouth student. Want to keep up with current events? You can get free access to a variety of US news outlets, including the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, here. Are you a digital artist, graphic designer, or just someone who wants to get creative? Dartmouth provides students with free Adobe Creative Cloud licenses, which includes the popular design software Photoshop.
These resources are just a few examples of how Dartmouth goes the extra mile to make sure students have the tools they need to succeed in their passions. It's easy to take these services for granted until you realize that they may not exist at other schools — or if they do, come at an extra cost. What surprised me the most wasn't just the sheer range of tools, but the fact that they are so accessible. This goes beyond Dartmouth's robust financial aid; they're a reflection of the college's commitment to accessibility and its investment in their students. Once you are here, Dartmouth ensures that you have the tools you need to thrive, regardless of where you start. I implore you not to overlook these seemingly small benefits; they are a testament to how much Dartmouth values their student body.
Dartmouth professors truly make all the difference, especially when you have the opportunity to take them out to lunch and get to know them outside of the classroom. Read about my Differential Equations professor Professor Robert Dougherty Bliss.
