Howdy! My name is Crystal and I'm a '28 from 1899.2 miles away in Fulshear, Texas hoping to study Biology on the pre-health track. Outside of being on the grind in my classes at Dartmouth, I enjoy dancing (poorly and with dance groups on campus), cooking (microwave oatmeal), and taking Buzzfeed quizzes to find out what breakfast food I am. While I'll miss Bucc-ee's and brisket from my native state, I'm beyond excited to explore all that the woods have to offer! Hopefully I'll see y'all around!
Chem 11 is my first pre-health course (and consequently my favorite course thus far); I came into Chem 11 with a bit of apprehension over what to expect since the course takes the place of the two-course alternative Chem 5 and 6 sequence. I’ll admit, there was a bit of a learning curve, especially since I hadn’t taken chemistry since junior year of high school, but Prof. Wenlin Zhang’s office hours have become an excellent way for me to gain a better grasp of the course content and work with other students through new concepts. I’m super glad that I chose this course for my first fall!
My First-Year Seminar, a Dartmouth requirement for all first-year students, concerns poetry that has a unique focus on the visual nature of the work. From pieces that cover an actual description of a work of art, to pieces that form a unique shape, we discuss how form can have a meaningful impact on the interpretation of the poem itself. I originally wasn’t too sure if I would enjoy this class since my experience with poetry is pretty sparse, but I found myself really enjoying the analytical discussions that we have. Features of the class include trips to the Hood Museum of Art and the Book Arts Workshop!
After taking BIOL 13: Gene Expression and Inheritance, last term with Professor Dolph, I knew that I wanted to continue exploring the foundational biology courses offered at Dartmouth, and BIOL 12 was no exception! Even though it’s my earliest class of the day, Professor Schaller makes the class super interesting and integrates real-world applications of what we learn in class through literature reviews. The lab component of this class is super interesting, as we apply techniques we’ve learned about conceptually in class to the lab! Even though the class can certainly be a bit daunting, it poses a fun challenge for anyone interested in learning more about biology! From microtubules to myc-sensitive antibodies, the fun never ends!
So You Got Into Dartmouth, Now What? Dimensions 101
You've made it!
April brings warmer weather, rainstorms, and, for Dartmouth's newest class of 2029, Dimensions! Broken up into two sessions in April, Dartmouth hosts Dimensions, the Admitted Students Day, for incoming first-year students. For some, this is a way to meet potential new friends and classmates while envisioning how campus life will be, and for others, myself included, it is a way to familiarize yourself with the campus and learn more about what Dartmouth truly has to offer. Let's dive in!
After decisions are released sometime in late March, admitted students will be invited to attend one of two Dimensions days, both of which are in mid to late April. While students can certainly opt to stay for only the day and evening programming, to get a good sense of what residential life is like, students are also welcome to stay overnight in a current first-year's room. Through a link sent through email, students can select their housing preferences for Dimensions and opt in to sit in on a few classes.
So what does Dimensions actually look like?
Dimensions is an entire day for admitted students to explore campus, learn more about classes and clubs, and meet fellow students! After meeting your student host (if you choose to have one) and a quick orientation, where name tags and schedules are distributed, students take on a "choose-your-own-adventure" path where they can listen in on classes (I sat in on ANTH 6: Biological Anthropology!) and grab a meal at Foco (Class of 1953 Commons, our dining hall). Around the middle of the day, student organizations will begin hosting informational events, where students can learn all about the various groups that students participate in on campus. I would recommend taking a look at everything, you never know what might pique your interest!
In the evening, you'll join up with other students to participate in "Dartmouth After Dark" tours led by current students who offer insights on everything from the language requirement, to living in Dartmouth's residence halls, to studying abroad. During this time, ask any and all questions, I know I definitely did!
After the tours, students head back to the residence hall they are staying in. While everyone's Dimensions experience is certainly different, I found that mine became a key reason for why I ended up committing to Dartmouth!
My Dimensions experience wasn't the only one! Check out Madison '28's experience or Eloise '28's experience!
After a long winter term where everything was overlaid in snow and serenity, the weekly Norwich farmer's market is finally back—and I could not be more excited.
When I look back on my time at Dartmouth, and it is hard to believe I will be graduating in just two weeks, I know that Africa Week will always stand out as one of the moments when this campus felt most alive, most joyful, and most like home.
It's my first spring ever (!!!) and I have been blown away by the beautiful scenery that continues to bloom right in front of my eyes. Here are some of my favorite scenes from campus in spring!
