Hi everyone! My name's Daniel, and I'm a 25! I'm from Orange County, California and Seoul, South Korea. I'm hoping to major in Biomedical Engineering and Anthropology Modified with Global Health. If I'm not under my sheets watching a new Netflix series, you'll find me spending time at Still North Café or at the engineering building. I hope you learn something new about Dartmouth today!
Academic Program
Biomedical Engineering and Anthropology Modified with Global Health
This class had an emphasis on really learning the material, rather than mindless regurgitation. Every class lecture truly excited and interested me, and readings were thought-provoking, The final was also a project instead of an exam, which was very fun to complete. I could tell Prof. DeSilva was also very passionate about the class materials as well!
As a "seminar" course, we focused on enjoyable discussion-based lectures. Each and every one of Prof. Kangas' lecture topics were engaging and intriguing, constantly pushing me to think. While we had reading assignments, they weren't necessarily linked to graded discussions/quizzes, which allowed me to feel more relaxed and stress-free (I didn't need to go crazy and write notes in-class). All in all, I loved learning about Pompeii!
A classic pre-med requirement course. This class has a basic structure of problem sets, two midterms, labs, and a final. I thought the points were well-distributed and the exams were fair. I personally enjoy problem-solving, which allowed this class to be more exciting personally. I'd suggest you pick the right professor for you as each professor has a different way of teaching!
This class is taught by Prof. Shipley, a professor who teaches mainly during summer terms. It was very different from the previous anthropology courses I've taken –– we had a filmmaking component as well as a collaborative project. I enjoyed this class because the assignments had a very broad, overarching outline and allowed you to explore your interests very freely. For example, for my final project, I created a podcast that delved into the educational inequity in South Korea.
My first sociology course at Dartmouth. It goes very in-depth about the macro immigration policies in-place in America and how it relates to different immigrants' experiences. I found it intriguing because I'm an immigrant myself, and I also was able to analyze and develop a different outlook on my family's experiences as well. We had interesting projects such as immigrant interview assignment, immigration policy brief, and in-class discussions.
Another first - my first Asian Societies, Culture, and Language (ASCL) course here at Dartmouth. Essentially, through a 3-hour class block each week, you watch a Korean film that provide insights into the different aspects of South Korean culture –– from Korean independence of Japan to modern economic disparities. Very interesting discussions and minimal work: the course focuses a lot more on student learning than testing!
I know what you're thinking: no way this guy liked MATH 13 the best out of his classes. I was thinking the same going into the class, but I enjoyed the problem-solving aspects. Math was one of my favorite subjects in high school, but I didn't get a chance to take any courses here at Dartmouth until I changed to an engineering major which made MATH 13 a prerequisite. All you do is solve problems, practice, grasp concepts, and take exams. But, after a bit, you get the hang of it.
One of my favorite, favorite courses throughout my whole time at Dartmouth. If you thought you know medicine and health, think again –– evolutionary perspectives open up a completely new spectrum of thinking. Have you thought about institutionalized racism in BMI indexes? How about adolescent growth differences between women who give birth in birth centers versus hospitals? Conversations you've never thought of within the medical realm happens in this class. Highly recommend it!
I wake up and rush to Novack Café to grab a hot vanilla latte—a go-to caffeine drink to wake me up for my 9L. My chemistry class is at 8:50, so I need to be both mentally and physically awake to handle and absorb the content. Immediately after my chemistry class, my cell biology course follows, which once again is very thinking-heavy. It's a very relaxing walk from the center of campus to the Life Sciences Center (about a 15-minute walk), and I really enjoy the greenery that leads up the building!
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Sushiya on the Green!
It is a very relaxing day with very warm weather! My friends and I decide to order take-out food from Sushiya, a Korean cuisine restaurant, and sit on the Green to enjoy it. It's been quite a while since we were able to sit and enjoy this warm weather since winter term, so it is a very rewarding time for me.
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
This is a Monday, which is when I have my chemistry lab. This week's content is on the emission spectrum of a hydrogen atom. We observe the different colors of visible light according to different wavelengths.
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Quite a hectic setup at FFB...
Today, I decide to spend time on FFB (first-floor Berry) in Baker-Berry Library. This space is for collaboration, socializing, and studying all at the same time, so I tend to crank out studying sessions here with my friends. I have some lab analyses for biology and chemistry as well as problem sets to complete for statistics!
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Beautiful sunset seen through the windows at Fairchild.
My friends and I want a switch of locations, so we move to Dartmouth's Fairchild building, which is where most of the physics and astronomy courses are held. There is a specific and unique ambience to the study areas here, as the building has its overall light dimmed and has a futuristic feel.
8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
My work ends quite early, so I decide to head back home and rest!
I have written about being a student worker plenty of times in the past, but I have yet to talk about one of my favorite jobs ever: ticket selling at the Hopkins Center for the Arts.
On Monday, April 8, 2024, a phenomenal total solar eclipse occurred — and we happened to be within the path of totality. As a result, Dartmouth hosted a variety of eclipse-related events on- and off-campus. Find out how I spent the eclipse!
