Hey y'all! I'm Caroline York, and I'm a '25 from Georgia! My hope is to share my Dartmouth experience with potential '29s, '30s, '31s 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 do medical research! Otherwise, you'll find me at the Norwich Farmers' Market, 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.
Math 3 with Professor Erp was such a delight! He made math so understandable and accessible. I can honestly say I enjoy doing integrals after this class!
This class was fantastic! Professor Kramer is very knowledgeable about this field. Although I don't have an engineering background, this class was a great introduction. I learned how everything from medical tools to the Colosseum were made and built.
SummerAtlanta, GA
This was my first off-term (meaning I wasn't taking any Dartmouth classes) since my sophomore spring! I did a wonderful internship that was completely funded by Dartmouth; I'll write blog posts to share more!
FallAtlanta, GA
This was another great off-term internship that was funded by Dartmouth!
WinterAtlanta, GA
For winter term, I decided to do an internship with an Atlanta-based ophthalmologist that was completely funded by the Center for Professional Development (CPD). I worked for Dr. Jordan Stanley, who specializes in glaucoma and cataract surgeries, and I had the opportunity to shadow him and gain hands-on clinical experience that is invaluable to a future career in medicine. Thank you, CPD and Dr. Stanley for this incredible term!
SpringAthens, Greece
Favorite Class: Ancient Literature and History
I finished my time at Dartmouth on the Classics Foreign Study Program (FSP) in Athens, Greece. For seven weeks, we took classes at a partner institution, College Year Athens, and for the remaining four weeks we travelled to Sicily, the Greek Peloponnese, the Cycladic Islands, and a week on an archaeological dig on Despotiko Island. This was an incredible experience and a great way to finish my Classical Studies major.
Five years ago, my dad and I embarked on a tour of colleges in New England, and this was just the beginning of the college application process! Picking where you want to go for four years is a daunting task, not only for the student but also for the parents. I sat down with my parents to learn more about the process from their point of view.
1. How did you first hear about Dartmouth, and what were your initial impressions of the school?
Like most people, I had known about Dartmouth from an early age but did not really appreciate how it stood apart from its peers. I had visited Hanover long before becoming a parent, and the beauty of the campus and the Upper Valley always stuck with me. When I visited the campus many years later with you, that first impression was immediately validated.
2. What were some of the most important factors you considered when looking at colleges?
As parents, the most important factor for us was fit—looking for a college that matched what she wanted to study and what she hoped to become personally and professionally. We also considered the size of the college, though we weren't sure what size would be the best fit. Other factors included safety, distance, and accessibility.
3. Do you have any recommendations for other parents whose student is currently making a college decision?
I would recommend not relying too heavily on first impressions, positive or negative. Whether it's a delightful campus weekend where everything goes smoothly or a visit spoiled by inclement weather, you need to be careful not to let first impressions dominate. This is the first consequential decision your son or daughter will make largely on their own. What we can do as parents is to help them determine the criteria that they should rely on to make the right decision and let them go about the process.
Interviewing Dad on FaceTime as he reps his Dartmouth cap!
4. Is there anything you would change if you were to go back to the college search process?
Relax! This was our first time, so every step along the way seemed consequential. Like others in our shoes, you received overtures from colleges across the country, and she cast a wide net. The sheer number of options opened our eyes to the need to bring the process to a close and go the route of Early Decision. Receiving the good news early certainly made the holidays and her final semester of senior year more enjoyable.
5. Just for fun—how would you compare your college experience to your child's?
My college experience was very different because I attended a large state institution in the Southeast. On its face, the two schools are polar opposites. However, in the end, our experiences were more alike than different. Both were shaped and enriched by the connections we made and sympathetic professors who had a significant influence on our academic journey and worldview. College is a time of profound change, and I've always found that the stories we hear and tell about those four years are more alike than different, regardless of the institution.
6. Is there anything else you'd like to add?
When we were considering potential landing spots for you, Dartmouth immediately came to mind as an option because it stands in sharp contrast to its academic peers in almost every respect. All that to say that we should be mindful of the need to consider a wide range of options and guard against the risk of developing a list of interchangeable colleges from which to choose.
Fun fact: my parents met while studying abroad in England, so they were huge fans of Dartmouth's emphasis on studying abroad! I think I've made them proud by going abroad three times!
In my freshman year, I wrote a blog revisiting my decision of attending Dartmouth College. Now that more than a year has passed, I would love to revisit my decision again, with a more realistic lens.
In my freshman year, I wrote a blog revisiting my decision of attending Dartmouth College. Now that more than a year has passed, I would love to revisit my decision again, with a more realistic lens.
