Hello there! I am an avid doodler and caffeine addict who can be spotted 24/7 at KAF (the coffee shop in Baker-Berry Library). I've grown up skiing in the Rockies, so I'm a hype man for low temp activities like throwing snow at friends and carving ice sculptures (yes, I actually did that!). Aside from blogging, I am an economics teaching assistant, design mobile, web, and VR apps for Dartmouth's DALI Lab, and travel around with the fencing and debate teams for competitions.
Freshman fall flew by! While I unwittingly took some of Dartmouth's more difficult classes, I met so many amazing people and got to explore campus with a fresh set of eyes (I'd never visited before). I also got inspired (after taking my prof to lunch) to pursue a major in economics!
Winter was my favorite term freshman year, largely because I felt more settled into the campus rhythm and took awesome classes. Prof. Kalish (my Writing 5 -- a required class for all freshmen -- professor) was not only fun and insightful, but also made an active effort to connect with every student. It's one of the best classes I've ever taken.
In my opinion, Hanover is most beautiful in the spring: you see everything from fluffy snowflakes to vibrant blossoms. The weather kept me cheerful, even if spring was my most rigorous term. My favorite class was Econ 22 with Prof. Comin, who led a case-based course that helped us understand the real-world applications of what we were learning. He's also a super cool guy to chat with, and he's done fascinating research.
Most freshmen don't stay "on" their first summer, but I scheduled my D-Plan around my winter internship. Summer didn't disappoint: I love the new friends I made and the classes I took (and I also got super fit from attending two PE classes). Taking Drawing I was also one of the highlights of my summer. It's a lot of work, but I'd rather spend 10 hours on a drawing than 10 hours on a problem set.
I finally met the '22s!! (Seriously, you all are so cool.) This term, I took a class on game theory, which is basically a subject where we literally learn about games. While it was by far my most challenging class this term, I thought that what we learned was super rewarding.
WinterSalt Lake City, UT
This was my first "off" term since I arrived on campus! I interned for Cross Creek, a venture capital firm in Salt Lake City, Utah (my hometown!).
I could RAVE about public economics and Prof. Skinner for hours. While public econ wasn't easy, it challenged me to think critically about my political philosophies and about the economic theories I'd previously considered fact. Prof. Skinner was one of the most engaged professors I've ever had; he even recommended a few running routes to me!
The famous "Sophomore Summer" and my second summer on campus! I took an unconventional four-course term complete with Econometrics, Gender & Philosophy, DALI Lab Independent Research, and Independent Studies in Engineering! I had so much fun studying on a dock by the Connecticut River and having lots of gelato under the sun. :)
I had the opportunity of a lifetime to be an economic policy intern at the White House! I loved my job, met incredible people, and had plenty of time to Facetime my friends on campus.
This was such a fun winter! I went skiing with friends, spent a few weekends eating Chinese food in Boston, and to top it all off, I took my very first government class. I really loved learning about political science from a comparative perspective; specifically, how institutions can affect the way a society can vote or even organize collective action. I wish I'd taken more government classes earlier.
While I was physically camped out at home in Salt Lake City, Utah, I still spent plenty of time with friends (albeit over Zoom), and I got to know professors in office hours! I also had the rare chance to spend quality time with my parents and my dog while also learning a lot in my classes on business strategy (offered by the Tuck School of Business) and authoritarianism in Central and Eastern Europe.
SummerNew York City, Virtually
I spent the summer as an investment research intern at J.P. Morgan. My internship was completely virtual, but I still got to befriend my coworkers, and I'll be going back full-time after I graduate!
After six long months away, I finally came back just in time for the beautiful New England fall. I began writing my economics thesis in a difficult yet rewarding advanced econometrics class with Professor Staiger, attempted acting in a play, and learned about the nuances behind Adam Smith's "invisible hand" (which has become a caricatured generalization of his work). I even made a few new friends out of '24s from six-feet away!
WinterUniversity of Oxford, Magdalen College
I spent my winter term at Oxford studying economics and politics at the beautiful Magdalen College.
SpringOn Campus
I can't believe it's senior spring already! This spring, I'm finishing my thesis and taking classes on creative writing for fiction, costume design, and the economics of gender and family. Be sure to say hello if you're on campus (or Zoom)!
Why Dartmouth? (Without Ever Setting Foot on Campus)
Last year, I stepped onto campus for the first time. No, not for Dimensions (which if you can, you should go to, by the way)... not even on a random weekend just to see it. I had committed the next four years of my life to Dartmouth despite having never even visited the state of New Hampshire. It might sound a little crazy, but I felt like I already had a good enough idea of the school and didn't feel like I needed to. Here's why (and how) I chose Dartmouth, without visiting campus:
The alumni never stop raving about their time here
In my opinion, winter is the most beautiful
season on campus.
I was fortunate enough to talk to several alumni before coming - a Dartmouth '77 (my alumni interviewer), a '10, and a '16 (who had just graduated at the time). Although they all attended Dartmouth at very different times, they only had overwhelmingly positive things to say about their alma mater. I was transported into a world of fiery autumn leaves, serene winter views, and Sophomore Summer cliff-diving. Without visiting campus, I was able to picturre Hanover as if it was already my home because of Dartmouth alums.
Beyond the surface-level beauty of this place, I got a better idea of what Dartmouth values as a part of its identity based on what they photographed, what they emphasized in their captions, etc. Also, you're already starting off in the right place since you're reading this post right now! All of us bloggers experience Dartmouth from different perspectives, and we're a great way to catch a glimpse of what Dartmouth has to offer.
Information sessions
Dartmouth didn't enter my college search radar until I attended this multi-college information session. I wasn't remotely interested in Dartmouth before attending that info session: I had discounted it because I thought that the student body would be too small for my taste. I changed my mind entirely afterward. I discovered two things about myself: first, that I actually did not want to go to a large school (I found that larger schools felt more impersonal), and two, that I should really consider applying to Dartmouth. Of all the other schools that presented, Dartmouth stood out most to me because it felt so personal and because of ...
... the emphasis on community
One of my first photos on campus with
one of my first friends!
After the info session, and also after scouring all the online sources I could, I concluded that Dartmouth had the best sense of place. I noticed that everywhere I looked, sources gushed about Dartmouth's thriving campus community and culture. I fell in love with everything about Dartmouth: from the quirky lingo like "flair" and "blitz" to its cult-y weekend traditions like Homecoming and Winter Carnival. Flash forward a year later, and I can confirm that Dartmouth's culture is truly vibrant and unique. I'm not only in awe of what my friends here accomplish, but I'm also in awe of how great of people they are.
A gut feeling
I debated adding this headline to this post because it's so vague, but "a gut feeling" is honestly the primary reason I chose to come to Dartmouth. I could devote a section of this post to listing off all of the statistics, fun facts, and characteristics that I found about Dartmouth back when I applied, but honestly, I just felt emotionally drawn here. As much research as I did, I chose to come here because I had a feeling that it was the right fit for me.
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.
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.
Why should you come to Dartmouth? While this question is one that I always anticipate being asked, my answer always changes—from our community, location, and resources there are so many reasons to want to call Dartmouth your home.
I was fortunate enough to talk to several alumni before coming - a Dartmouth '77 (my alumni interviewer), a '10, and a '16 (who had just graduated at the time). Although they all attended Dartmouth at very different times, they only had overwhelmingly positive things to say about their alma mater. I was transported into a world of fiery autumn leaves, serene winter views, and Sophomore Summer cliff-diving. Without visiting campus, I was able to picturre Hanover as if it was already my home because of Dartmouth alums. 
After the info session, and also after scouring all the online sources I could, I concluded that Dartmouth had the best sense of place. I noticed that everywhere I looked, sources gushed about Dartmouth's thriving campus community and culture. I fell in love with everything about Dartmouth: from the quirky lingo like "flair" and "blitz" to its cult-y weekend traditions like Homecoming and Winter Carnival. Flash forward a year later, and I can confirm that Dartmouth's culture is truly vibrant and unique. I'm not only in awe of what my friends here accomplish, but I'm also in awe of how great of people they are.
My first appearance on Dartmouth social media!
(I'm one of the outstretched hands in the back)
