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!
Q&A with Phi Beta Kappa Member and Varsity Rower Wyatt Ellison '25
Wyatt's membership in Phi Beta Kappa means he has one of the top 20 GPAs in his class. If you are considering athletics at Dartmouth, here is proof that you can excel in both academics and athletics!
1. Can you start by introducing yourself, where you're from, your major, and what Phi Beta Kappa means to you?
I'm from Wayland, Massachusetts—one of those classic suburbs just outside of Boston. I study Computer Engineering at Dartmouth, which means my academic path is split between an Engineering Sciences major and a Computer Science minor. I balance my coursework between Thayer and the CS department for my Bachelor of Arts, and I'm also working toward my Bachelor of Engineering from Thayer in Computer Engineering.
As for Phi Beta Kappa, it represents a recognition of the hard work I've put into my academics. I've spent countless hours studying, pushing myself, and genuinely trying to engage with my coursework, not necessarily for the accolades, but because I enjoy learning. I don't expect or need external validation, but it is rewarding to have that effort acknowledged. It also connects me with a group of like-minded individuals who are equally dedicated to their academic pursuits. It's nice to be part of a community that values intellectual curiosity and hard work, and while I sometimes think I've pushed myself a little too hard, it's meaningful to receive that recognition from the college. It's like a little gold star—a way of saying, "Nice job, you really put in the effort."
2. Can you share a moment when your experiences as an athlete and a student intersected in an unexpected or meaningful way?
Rowing gives me a lot of time to think—especially in the fall when we're logging long, steady-state sessions to build fitness. There are stretches where I can let my mind wander, but sometimes I find myself applying concepts from my engineering and physics classes to my rowing stroke. For example, I was taking ENGS 33, an introductory mechanical engineering class, and I found myself thinking about the mechanics of the boat—how force is applied to the riggers and how weight distribution affects balance. It was a bit of a nerdy moment, but it was cool to see the real-world application of what I was learning in class.
More recently, my engineering capstone focused on traction control in race cars, and I started connecting those principles to rowing. While traction in a car involves keeping wheels gripping the road, in rowing, it's about keeping the oar locked in the water without slipping. I realized that the same torque-reducing control loops used to optimize acceleration in a car could conceptually apply to the rowing stroke to maximize efficiency. It's these little connections that remind me how interdisciplinary learning can be.
Wyatt rowing on the Connecticut River
3. What do you think makes Dartmouth stand apart from other schools in terms of being both a student and an athlete?
Dartmouth is the smallest Ivy League school, yet we still compete at the same high level as much larger institutions. Because of our size, a higher proportion of undergraduates are varsity athletes. What's unique here is that being an athlete doesn't have to define your entire identity.
At some larger schools, athletics can feel all-consuming, but at Dartmouth, there's space to do so much more. I know people who didn't even realize I was still on the rowing team! I'm involved with my Greek house, the Dartmouth Outing Club, a couple of bands, and, of course, my academics. Rowing is a big part of my life, but it's not the only thing that defines me. The balance here is what makes being a student-athlete at Dartmouth so special—you can push yourself in your sport while also fully experiencing everything else college has to offer. The expectations are high, but they don't ask everything from you. My coach, for example, understands that we're in college, and while we're striving to win a national championship, we should also be enjoying these years of our lives.
4. What advice would you give to high schoolers considering being student-athletes at Dartmouth?
If you love your sport and want to compete at a high level while still having a full college experience, Dartmouth is a great place to do that. The school invests a lot in athletics, and the balance it offers between sports, academics, and extracurriculars is something you don't always find elsewhere.
That being said, I'd encourage prospective student-athletes to really consider if they want to commit to their sport for another four years. College athletics can be intense, so my advice is to make sure you truly enjoy your sport and aren't just continuing it out of habit or obligation. Also, take care of yourself—mentally and physically—so you can thrive both in your sport and in your overall college experience.
5. Looking ahead, how do you think your experience as a student-athlete at Dartmouth will shape your future?
The friendships I've made through rowing will last a lifetime—we've spent so many hours together, and that bond is something I'll always cherish. Beyond athletics, rowing has taught me resilience, discipline, and the ability to push myself past my perceived limits. There's something about going down to the boathouse after a tough exam and putting every ounce of energy into an erg piece—it teaches you how to embrace the grind. I may not be erging anytime soon after graduation, but I know that mindset will stay with me. Whether it's in my career or personal challenges, I've learned that I'm capable of much more than I initially thought. That lesson—knowing I can dig deep and push through adversity—is something I'll carry with me for the rest of my life
I've never felt the saying, "Time flies" more strongly than now. How am I already halfway through my Dartmouth career? This winter marks the end of my 6th out of my total 12 terms, the halfway point of my Dartmouth journey.
