Hey y'all! I'm Caroline York, and I'm a '25 from Georgia! My hope is to share my Dartmouth experience with potential '28s, '29s, '30s and beyond! On campus, I write sports for The Dartmouth, am a Center for Social Impact SIBS mentor, am in Christian life, a Tour Guide, a Dartmouth Emergency Medical Services (EMS) member, and am a Hood Museum Intern! Otherwise, you'll find me in the Connecticut River, studying in the Tower Room, and running along the Appalachian Trail. Welcome to my world!
I initially took this class because I wanted to know more about Dartmouth’s history with Native Americans. It ended up being my favorite class because Professor Duthu was so enthusiastic about Native American affairs. He related the lectures to his own experiences growing up on a reservation, which made the class come to life.
As a potential Classics major on the pre-health track, this class was perfect for me! We learned about different medical practices from Rome and Greece and how medicine had changed in the past 2,000 years. We had a class in the Geisel School of Medicine and got to hold human organs!
I took this class because I wanted to learn more about the economy. Econ 2 focuses on the current economic climate in the US, so we would follow the DOW Jones on a daily basis to establish trends. In an economy impacted by a pandemic, inflation, and a war, this class was so helpful in my understanding of the financial climate of the country.
Physics with Professor Blencowe was delightful. His enthusiasm for the subject matter created excitement for students. The labs were hands-on and interactive to learn about the mechanics of the world.
This class fulfilled the Interdisciplinary Approach to my Global Health minor, and I enjoyed every minute of it. With Professor McCabe, we discussed gender and how its structure impacts our daily lives. My final research project studied gender within "Grey's Anatomy," which was created by Shonda Rhimes '91.
I used my "off-term" to travel to Hanoi, Vietnam for a Dartmouth Dickey Center Global Health Internship. I worked for the Institute of Population, Health, and Development, and studied health disparities in Vietnam.
This class was taught by a visiting professor, and she did an excellent job of engaging the class and making the material exciting. We learned about the historical Jesus figure in a Jewish context, and we connected the class content to modern day movies about Jesus.
I did a transfer term at Trinity College, Dublin, which means I took three courses at Trinity. My favorite was "Roman Archaeology" because I had never taken an archaeology course yet for my Classical Studies major.
Dartmouth as a Basecamp to the World: Study Abroad and Other International Opportunities
Dartmouth study abroad programs are a bit different from other schools; while other schools limit the number of study abroad programs a student can do, Dartmouth encourages students to do as many study abroad programs as they can during their four years!
For FSPs, LSAs, LSA+s, exchange, and transfer programs, students get credits towards graduation. Here is a breakdown:
Foreign Study Program (FSP):
FSPs are incredibly popular among Dartmouth students. This Dartmouth study abroad program is a bit different from other schools. While other schools rely on exchange programs, Dartmouth FSPs are taught by a Dartmouth professor with about 14 other Dartmouth students in a different country or different part of the US (like Los Angeles). Rather than take classes at a university, you learn with the small group of Dartmouth students, often by experiential learning in museums or off-sites. The FSPs are for one term.
The appeal of the FSP is that it is taught in English. One of the most popular FSP options is the Anthropology FSP in New Zealand. It happens during Dartmouth winter, which is New Zealand's summer! Other popular options include the Classics FSP in Rome and Greece, and the Art History FSP in Rome.
Language Study Abroad (LSA):
If you have learned the basics of a language and want to learn the language in a conversational setting, the LSA option is for you. After taking about two terms of a language, you go to the country where it is spoken and take classes taught by a Dartmouth professor in that language with a small group of students. The LSAs are for one term.
Popular options include the Spanish LSA in Barcelona in the winter and spring terms. There are many LSA options to choose from!
Language Study Abroad+ (LSA+):
Similar to the LSA, the LSA+ is meant to learn and master a language. This is for native speakers or students who have taken advanced courses in the language. The LSA+ is for one term.
One of my good friends went on the Paris LSA+ to continue her French studies last winter, and not only mastered the language but had a blast doing it in cafes and museums around the city!
Exchange Term:
An exchange term is similar to what you think of when you think about a study abroad experience. Dartmouth has partnerships with schools all over the world as well as in the US. You can do the exchange for a term or the full-year, depending on the program.
Transfer Term: A transfer term is organized by the student at a university that does not have ties to Dartmouth. I did a transfer term in Dublin, Ireland at Trinity College Dublin. You can do a transfer term abroad or even in the US. If you want to live at home for a term, you can study at your home state college, as well.
Most students do the transfer term during fall, as it best aligns with other schools' semester schedules, or the summer and do a couple summer school classes.
A fun trip to England during my transfer term!
Off Term:
While you can't get class credit for off terms (terms which you are not taking classes), you can still travel the world, often funded by Dartmouth!
My internship in Vietnam was fully funded by Dartmouth's Dickey Center and allowed me to explore Asia!
On a river in rural Vietnam!
Dartmouth Funded Break Trips:
During the breaks between summer, winter, spring and fall, there are a number of Dartmouth break trips that happen. The Dartmouth Outing Club has trips across the country as well as some abroad, Dartmouth Chamber Orchestra often performs in places like Mexico City, and even some classes have trips like the Biology 70 class with a winter break trip to India!
Dartmouth has so many opportunities to go abroad!
A weekend trip to Morocco during my transfer term!
Dartmouth's liberal arts curriculum pushes students to explore new departments and draw connections between seemingly disparate disciplines. Come explore my Economics, Physics, and Asian, Societies, Cultures, and Languages classes!
Over half of Dartmouth students study abroad at least once during their undergraduate journeys—quite a high percentage, right? Do you want to know how to best prepare for your own abroad experience? Come check what it was like for me.
