Hi! I'm Chelsea Mills, a '26 from North Potomac, Maryland. I'm a pre-med student pursuing a Psychology major and a Biology minor. I'm a tour guide, co-president of the Student Mental Health Union, and an outreach coordinator for Camp Kesem (a college-run camp for kids with a parent who has cancer). On weekends, you might find me grabbing a bite at The Works Cafe, spending time with friends in my sorority house, or taking a stroll around Occom Pond. I hope you enjoy my blog- thanks for reading :)
With the excitement of starting a new chapter at college, many first-years share the anxiety that inevitably comes with meeting new people. Luckily, Dartmouth is an extremely friendly school. And the small undergraduate size of about 4,000 students encourages such bonds. Only a fourth of these students, however, are just now being introduced to the Big Green. Finding community with them makes all the difference.
My friends ('26s!) and I at the Homecoming football game!
Meeting other '26s has been just as exciting as I had anticipated. Though I don't think of myself as coming from a particularly niche background, I am constantly reminded of how diverse our student body is. Yet, people are eager to find common ground. And Dartmouth makes it so easy to find spaces to connect with peers. Of course, sports, clubs, and classes would be among the first places we think of. They allow us to meet people that live outside of our housing community. But, some might also expect Greek Life to provide social opportunities.
For every first-year class at Dartmouth, students are not allowed to enter any Greek Life House for the first half of the Fall Term. This "Frat Ban'' helps ensure that strong friendships are safely established within the class well before venturing out to unfamiliar spaces. Alongside the ban, the rush process begins sophomore year, for the same reason. The centralization around first-year housing gives us the chance to meet people and form a harmonious social network. I must admit though, it feels weird to randomly meet someone on campus after following each other on Instagram for so long prior.
This being said, first-year and upperclassmen relationships can prove to be fruitful as well. Classes as young as '25s are always eager to help '26s navigate the various quirks of Dartmouth. The "big brother/sister" vibe is especially comforting when we feel homesick or otherwise disoriented.
Still, there's nothing like making friendships with people in your shoes. They might not show it, but everyone feels just as nervous as you. I doubt you'll regret opening up to your peers. After all, you'll end up spending the next four years with them. I've definitely surprised myself with all the close friends I have already made here.
As I begin my junior year, I feel my time at Dartmouth shifting from exploration to deeper focus, with my studies, experiences, and passions beginning to take clear shape.
As a senior now, I've experienced and learned more about myself and about life than I ever anticipated I could. With that, I want to reflect on Dartmouth's unique qualities, from its rural setting to the Greek Life presence to the quarter system!
One of the most unique traditions at Dartmouth is sophomore summer, where students stay on campus to take classes the summer before their junior year. My sophomore summer has been an incredibly special experience!
Senior Fall brings an eventful and diverse courseload, taking up almost all of my time! Find out what I am involved with this term and the incredible variety of classes that Dartmouth has to offer!
New Hampshire is such a glorious state with so much to offer in the fall! Come with me as I explore Plainfield, NH, and go apple picking at Riverview Farms.
Now that I'm a sophomore, I find myself in the possession of an extraordinary amount of 'Dartmouth lingo.' This is your formal invitation to get the inside scoop!
