Hello! My name is Chase and I am a '25 from South Carolina. I'm currently considering studying more film scoring and video game composition to learn about writing music for movies and games! But when I'm not hanging out with friends or doing classwork, you can find me composing music. I'm involved in the Dartmouth College Wind Ensemble (DCWE), Dartmouth Chamber Orchestra (DCO), and the fraternity Zeta Psi.
What is your advice for anyone younger than you, whether it is a prospective student or even a '25?
A:
For any prospective students reading this, take a breath because everything will be okay. The process of applying and transitioning to college can be stressful, and you may lose sight of what's important to you. Although you may think rejection is the end of the world, there are so many possibilities to consider. Go spend some time with your friends and make your final year of high school something memorable. For everyone, enjoy all the little things that life presents to us. Our lives are constantly changing, but we must recognize that everything in our lives is a blessing in disguise. Take time to step back and look at the bigger picture. And be proud of who you are and who you want to become.
Jake Twarog, '24: I would say not to be afraid to reach out to people of other class years. Generally everyone (I of course only speak as a 24) is looking for friends and to know more people, and would love an opportunity to not get so caught up in all of the chaos (read: Greek Life). Also, definitely another piece of good advice is to make sure that you dedicate the time you need for the first midterm in your classes, because often all the content after that will build upon it, and you set the stage for how successful you'll be in the future if you do well on it!
Emma Dereskewicz, '23: If I had to give one piece of advice to 25s... start trying new things now! You're never going to have more free time than you do now, and this fall is the best time to join new clubs, try out cool one-time classes, and make some new friends. You'll start to see more familiar faces, and it will make this school feel a whole lot smaller. Check your email! There are so many cool things to try around campus.
Jack Roney, '22: My advice is this: appreciate the good things, and feel the bad ones. Find people who you can share your joys and your burdens with. For some college will be the best time of your life, for others it won't be, but the important thing is to make your time here worthwhile. And get outside however you are able! It can really make a difference.
As Decision Day approaches, you may find yourself at a crossroads between multiple schools, each with its own four-year journey. Having already spent two years here, I will reflect on a small fraction of the things that made me choose Dartmouth.
