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!
Picking where you want to go to school is a really big decision, and often we make that decision based on only a few minutes on campus. I wanted to share some reasons why I chose Dartmouth and why it's such a special place for me.
D-Plan
Coming from a high school with a quarter system, I knew I really wanted to replicate the same experience in college. Dartmouth's D-Plan is a 10-week quarter system that allows for ample flexibility. Because it's a quarter system, we only take three classes each quarter (anywhere from 2-4 classes is the protocol, but most people do 3 each quarter), so this means that you really get to dive into a subject and not be juggling 5 or 6 other classes that a typical semester-style school does.
The D-Plan also allows students to do more study abroad experiences than most other schools. At a semester school, you commit 1/8th of your experience (or 15 weeks, a semester) to study abroad, so some people are reluctant to be away from campus that long. However, at Dartmouth, a term away is only 1/12th of your experience, so being away doesn't feel as big of a commitment.
For off-terms, which are terms you aren't taking classes (think of it like a summer term but during your choice of term during the year), accessing some internships such as finance ones is perhaps a more straightforward process because there are less students competing for spots in internships during the year versus the summer term. If you are studying for an exam like the LSAT or MCAT, you can study full-time during off-terms, which allows you to take the test anytime that fits your unique schedule!
Community
Dartmouth is the Ivy League school in the most rural area, and I think that helps set the school apart. The Upper Valley, the region in which Dartmouth is situated, has a unique flair with a vibrant arts and food scene; yet, it also retains a small-town feel. Because Dartmouth has a student population of 4,400 undergraduates, a walk around campus and Hanover always delivers a friendly hello from someone you know. This sense of community extends beyond New Hampshire, as I've met countless Dartmouth alumni and family members everywhere, from Vietnam to Atlanta, who have been delightful to get to know.
Liberal Arts Curriculum
Dartmouth calls itself a "College" intentionally because of its long-time emphasis on the liberal arts experience. Rather than divide students into different schools that you are bound to all four years, students all go into the same college and are able to take classes in as many departments as they want and can switch majors and minors freely. Because of this, I have been able to explore many different subjects and have not just been limited to my major or minor.
The Acropolis, a building I have learned about and experienced through my Classics major, which I get to do while being pre-health!
Though everyone's Dartmouth experience is unique, many students echo these three reasons for "Why Dartmouth." You may come in thinking that you want to study abroad in Barcelona as an English major, and you could come out of Dartmouth as an Engineering major who did an off-term internship working for a non-profit. The options are truly limitless!
While first-year students don't have to worry about customizing their D-Plan right away, upperclassmen may encounter some constraints when trying to modify theirs. Here's how I petitioned my D-Plan to accommodate my double-major!
One of my greatest privileges at Dartmouth has been learning from Professor Ed. Miller of the History and Asian Studies departments. Read on to learn more about why he is my favorite professor!
