Chidera Duru
You are here
Chidera's D-Plan
What's a D-Plan?-
FallHanover
Favorite Class: Introduction to Biological AnthropologyTaking this class was a random and unexpected decision that I am so happy I made. This class was about the intersection between human and primate evolution and our social behaviors. It really opened my eyes to how unique and beautifully diverse different societies are, and how this uniqueness influences our biology in interesting ways.
WinterHanover
Favorite Class: Essential Mathematics for Economic AnalysisTaught by Professor Doyle, this has been my favorite class at Dartmouth so far. It was a calculus integrated with economic applications of the concepts we learned. It was the first time this class was offered at Dartmouth, and Professor Doyle made sure we all had a thorough understanding of the material. The fact that we were also able to see the real-world applications of the calculus concepts also made the class uniquely interesting.
SpringHanover
Favorite Class: Paris in the 19th CenturyI took this class to fulfill Dartmouth's first-year seminar requirement. In selecting a first-year seminar class, I sought out a department that I would not have taken a class in otherwise. It was an incredibly fulfilling experience and I learnt so much about Parisian Impressionist painters in the late 19th century like Monet, Manet, Degas, Morisot and Renoir. It also taught me about the political, social and economic conditions that typically inspire pivotal art movements.
SummerWashington D.C.
This summer, I interned at the International Finance Corporation in DC, through the Rockefeller Center's First-Year Fellows program which gives first-year students the opportunity to engage in public policy early in their Dartmouth careers. I lived with about twenty other members of Dartmouth's Class of 2025 and got to experience life in a vibrant city while gaining professional work experience.
-
FallAccra, Ghana
Favorite Class: Globalization and the African ContinentI spent this term in Accra, Ghana for the African and African American Studies department's Foreign Study Program (FSP). I'm so glad I was able to take advantage of one of Dartmouth's study-abroad programs. During this FSP, I got to explore a new country and city while taking classes taught by the amazing professors at the University of Ghana.
WinterHanover
After being away from campus for six months, I decided to start working towards fulfilling my distributive requirements. To fulfill my ART distrib, I took a Russian film class with a friend. It was an amazing experience and a testament to the ways a liberal arts education encourages you to approach each class through an interdisciplinary lens. For my final essay in this class, I explored the ways that government and political culture affect the nature of the film industry in different countries.
SpringHanover
Favorite Class: International TradeThis class is one of the prerequisites for the international economics track's culminating experience. Dartmouth's economics major allows you to focus on a specific field that you're interested in, while also having the opportunity to take a couple of classes in other fields. Before taking this class, I had always been interested in international economics and this class definitely cemented my interests in the field.
SummerHanover
Favorite Class: Economics ResearchI used my sophomore summer off term to conduct research with the economics department through the Dartmouth Economics Research Scholars and with the funding of the James O. Freedman Presidential Scholarship. My research project, which was mentored and advised by a faculty member, focused on the effects of European Union climate policy on the economy of my home country, Nigeria. It gave me the opportunity to apply and better understand several concepts I learnt in economics classes at Dartmouth.
-
FallHanover
Favorite Class: Gender Identities and Politics in AfricaThis was the most enjoyable and impactful class I have ever taken at Dartmouth! Each assigned reading and class discussion was more enthralling and thought-provoking than the last. This class taught me how to think outside the box, write academic articles in the field of the humanities and how to intellectualise and synthesise my own lived experiences in a way that contributes meaningfully to existing literature in African Studies. Lastly, it taught me to think critically about pressing social issues within the African continent.
My Summer in DC
Over the past eight weeks, I've been interning at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Washington, DC as part of the Rockefeller Center's First-Year Fellows program.
Tips For Acing Classes at Dartmouth
At the beginning of my freshman year, I was especially anxious about adjusting to a new learning style in a new country, but over time, I developed a few tips and methods to ace classes at Dartmouth and have a fun learning experience!
Are Classes at Dartmouth Fun?
The short answer to this is yes! Classes at Dartmouth can be rigorous and challenging, but they're always such a fun learning experience!
Dartmouth's Unrivaled Alumni Network
Being in DC this summer and participating in the Rockefeller Center's First Year Fellows program, I've been able to really see just how special the Dartmouth alumni network is.
Tips for Managing Culture Shock
During a recent conversation with my HS friend who also goes to college in the US, we discussed what it's like experiencing culture shock especially as international students. I'd love to share the tips we developed to combat this feeling.
Freshman Year Advice
I can still vividly remember the combination of nervousness and excitement I felt preparing for my first year of college. After an eventful freshman year, here is some advice to '26s as you get ready for your first year:
Finding Community at Dartmouth
Being away from the Dartmouth's campus and some of my closest friends has given me an opportunity to reflect on the community I was able to find at Dartmouth during this past academic year.
Hello Summer!
I decided to continue blogging this summer to show how I'm still connected to the Dartmouth community and share the experiences I've been able to have through Dartmouth's Rockefeller Center First-Year Fellows program.
Goodbye Freshman Year!
I wanted to make my last blog post for this academic year about the places in the Dartmouth community that I will deeply miss and have made amazing memories with the wonderful members of this community.
Spring Term Classes
As my first spring term at Dartmouth gradually comes to an end, I'd love to share the classes I've taken and learned to love this term.
- No. 1
Paris In The 19th Century (ARTH 7)
Dartmouth requires that all freshmen complete a first year-writing requirement which includes one or two writing courses and a first-year seminar in one of Dartmouth’s academic departments. In my first-year seminar, I took a class in the Art History department called “Paris in the 19th Century. In this class, we discuss Impressionist artists and their paintings, as well as the political, social and economic situations that inspired their art. This class has been a great opportunity to apply the writing skills I learned in my previous writing classes to analyzing art and art history. I’m also really excited for our final project where we select an Impressionist art and a particular theme in their artwork to discuss in a paper and a class presentation.
- No. 2
Introduction to Statistical Methods (ECON 10)
This term, I’m also taking an introductory statistics class. I needed to take a statistics class as a prerequisite for my internship this summer. Several Dartmouth departments each offer statistics classes, so I decided to take one in the economics department that would simultaneously fulfill a major prerequisite. Although this class has been a bit challenging, it has given me a unique and essential insight into the field of economic research. There has also been a lot of support in this class through the help of our professor and teaching assistants, who both offer office hours at least once a week, and a peer tutor from Dartmouth’s Peer Tutoring Program. My favorite thing about this class has been the group presentations we do, in which we are assigned a research paper that employs some of the statistical methods we learn in class to discuss and present during class periods. These presentations have been a great opportunity to understand the nuances of economics research in real-world situations.
- No. 3
Introductory Economics, The Price System (ECON 1)
Lastly, I took an introductory economics class, which is a prerequisite for almost every economics class at Dartmouth. As an aspiring economics major, I felt it would be helpful to take this class in my freshman year to be able to explore the economics major further in my second year. In this class, we learn the concepts and ideas that form the basis of economic theory and analysis. I especially love this class because of how small it is, and how much we’re all able to interact with and learn from our professor. At the end of the term, we each get to put together a final project where we apply the concepts we have learned to any topic of our interest.