Hey everyone! I'm Cooper from Wayne, Pennsylvania, which is right outside of Philadelphia. I am a '28 here at Dartmouth, and plan on studying Quantitative Social Science and Cognitive Science. In my free time, I love getting food with friends, playing pickleball, watching sitcoms (personal favorite is Modern Family), and going on walks. I am super excited to be here and cannot wait to take you along my journey at Dartmouth!
Fun fact: Dartmouth was not always my first choice school. There were so many other schools that I was interested in, so—during the college search process—I was always changing which school was my favorite.
During the fall of my senior year in high school, I was planning a trip to tour my favorite colleges again to see if I wanted to apply early decision. My parents wanted me to narrow my choices down to two schools so we did not have to spend too much time touring. I struggled to choose which ones I wanted to visit.
Luckily, a week before our trip, an admissions officer from Dartmouth visited my high school and talked to interested students about all of the many opportunities that Dartmouth has to offer. After such a wonderful talk, I knew that I needed to tour Dartmouth. My parents and I drove up and immediately started touring Hanover, Dartmouth, and the surrounding area. We ate in the dining hall and stayed at a hotel in town to really immerse ourselves in the Dartmouth experience. And after the trip, I knew that Dartmouth was the place I wanted to call home for the next four years.
There are numerous reasons why I chose Dartmouth. For one, the tight-knit community was simply incredible. Seeing everyone in the dining hall being so friendly and talkative made me realize that this was the place for me. Hearing about so many stories of friendship and community from tour guides and alums confirmed that I needed to immerse myself in Dartmouth's incomparable culture.
The academics were undeniably a factor in my decision. The liberal arts curriculum drew me in, and I had always wanted to attend an institution where I could take courses beyond my intended major. The quarter system at Dartmouth offers an incredibly unique undergraduate experience that I could not pass up. To put it simply, Dartmouth's academics are the best of the best.
And finally, the location is absolutely perfect. Yes, Dartmouth is in a pretty rural location. But that does not mean there is nothing to do here! The weather, especially during the fall, is like something I have never seen before. I really wanted to attend a school in a rural location as I know that in the future, I will most likely be working in a more urban area. Dartmouth offers such a unique location that I believe everyone should experience at least once in their life!
A picture of downtown Hanover when I was touring!
As you can see, there are numerous reasons why Dartmouth was the place I wanted to spend my next four years. It has been about a year since my early decision acceptance, and I wish the best of luck to every student applying to Dartmouth and college in general!
As I approach the end of my first year at Dartmouth, I would like to reflect on some of the experiences and lessons I've learned throughout this school year.
