Hi! My name is Chelsea Mills and I'm a '26 from Maryland. I'm quite indecisive, but currently pursuing a Psychology major/Classics minor on the Pre-Med track. On campus, I plan to join POCO (People of Color Outdoors). I also love playing tennis, exploring campus with friends, and curling up with a good book. You might see me walking along The River from my dorm or grabbing a FOCO cookie. If not, I can't wait to share my freshman experience with you all virtually :)
I studied Latin throughout high school, and I intended to continue the language at Dartmouth. Latin 3 was a good introduction to the Classics department. I was really surprised with how immersive my class was! We even visited the Rauner Special Collections Library on campus, where we had access to the original manuscripts (made of animal skin!) of Ovid's poems. I'm excited for similar experiences in the near future; I plan on majoring in Classics!
I'm not an Engineering major, but I LOVED ENGS 12. It's the kind of class that you take just because you've heard so many great things about it. A friend recommended this class and professor (Rafe Steinhauer) to me- and I'm so glad they did. Not to be dramatic, but this Design Thinking class literally changed the way I understand the world around me. I learned about creativity, problem solving, and collaboration in an immersive way. The group projects helped my apply this knowledge on a daily basis. I constantly find myself transferring what I learned to my current academic and personal life. I can't recommend this class enough!
"Science Communication & Context" was my chosen topic to fulfill Dartmouth's first year Writing Seminar requirement. My seminar was taught by a notable professor in the Chemistry department. As a pre-med student, I have a lot of interest in STEM. I think the phenomenon of miscommunication in science is one that is both interesting and socially relevant. I also love the discussions in this class because many of my peers come from different backgrounds.
Did you know that 60% of Dartmouth students study abroad once, and 30% will study abroad twice? I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to attend a study abroad program in Italy this past summer. In this post, I'll explain what study abroad programs at Dartmouth look like. I also want to share a bit about my experience in Italy!
When people think about the idea of studying abroad, they often attribute the experience to language learning. Language Study Abroad (LSA) programs are definitely popular options. These programs give students the opportunity to fine-tune their pronunciation and grammar skills. Dartmouth language professors are great instructors at all levels. But, obviously, there is no better way to learn a language than to be fully immersed in it! It may seem intimidating at first, but don't worry—Dartmouth professors will also travel with you.
The program I attended, Full Immersion Rome Experience (FIRE), was an LSA. My program was unique, though, for its lack of prerequisite classes. The only word in Italian that I knew before this summer was "ciao!"
But maybe you're not passionate about any languages. That's okay too! In fact, a lot of my friends are attending Foreign Study Programs (FSPs) instead. These are programs that can be offered by any department. Some popular ones include the programs in Auckland for Linguistics or Anthropology, Costa Rica for Biology, and London for Government. Most programs have prerequisites, like having previous coursework in the department. The earliest term that students may study abroad is the summer proceeding sophomore year, so there's plenty of time to fulfill any prerequisites. There are other ways to study abroad like transfer terms and exchange programs.
Luckily, the D-Plan and financial aid improve accessibility for students who want to study abroad. The D-plan breaks the academic year into quarters rather than semesters. Instead of only having eight semesters to choose from, you have fifteen terms! Studying abroad is basically guaranteed to fit into your schedule somehow. And, study abroad programs count as an "on term," since you'll be taking classes (usually with Dartmouth professors)! As far as financial aid goes, students who receive financial aid on-campus will have their scholarship amount matched. Your aid travels with you!
Regardless of which study abroad program sounds the most appealing to you, my biggest advice would be to just go! I didn't really look into study abroad programs when I was applying to colleges. Oddly enough, I never imagined myself studying abroad. But Dartmouth's study abroad system was so convenient that I couldn't resist applying. Attending FIRE was very serendipitous. My time in Rome was incredible, and I learned life lessons during my ten weeks there that I still find myself applying to my daily life. Maybe I'll dedicate a separate blog post to FIRE… But until then, explore the different study abroad programs at Dartmouth here!
At Dartmouth, there is an undergraduate requirement for language; after all, it is the liberal arts! Fulfilling this requirement looks different for various people and I will focus on my experience.
Traditionally, Dartmouth students take three courses during a term, but I decided to take four courses this term! Learn about course load and the academic system at Dartmouth.
As I approach the halfway mark of my Dartmouth journey this spring, I find myself reflecting on the significance of distributive and world culture requirements in shaping my academic experience.
This is my final term before senior year, which is both exciting and terrifying at the same time. One thing I am excited about is the classes I am taking this term, so let me tell you more!
