Hello friends! My name is Diana D'Souza, and I'm pursuing a double major in Government modified with Economics and Chinese. On campus, I'm the Co-President of Women in Business and a Chinese language research assistant. I'm also involved in the Dartmouth Outing Club and recently led a fishing first-year trip at the Boston Lot Lake. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, reading, and spending time outdoors.
I ended up taking this class for two reasons. First, I needed to fulfill my CI requirement; second, my friend was also taking it. Regardless, it ended up being my favorite class fall term. Professor Washburn is an engaging, spontaneous professor and we studied everything from memes to The Tale of Genji. By the end of the term, I found myself to be a more confident and humbled writer.
This was my second time taking a 9 am class with Chen Laoshi. She is understanding, funny, and always eager to help. Even though this was a fast-paced class with daily quizzes, weekly tests, and new vocabulary sets every other day, I became extremely close with my classmates and more excited about learning the language. We ended the term over a feast of dumplings Laoshi prepared!
Because this term was online, I used my extra time to study a subject that has always fascinated me. Professor Ayubi was incredibly accommodating by allowing us to complete work at our own pace. The most memorable parts of the class were examining anti-Muslim materials during a virtual tour to Rauner Library and exploring Muslim punk rock through the movie Taqwacores.
SummerEdison, NJ - Remote Internship
My summer plans were derailed due to the pandemic, but Mr. Forbes, a Dartmouth alum, graciously allowed me to intern at his consulting firm. Over the course of two months, I became a master at navigating Microsoft Visio and writing grant narratives. I also lifeguarded the 5am shift (pain) at my local community pool.
Students at Dartmouth say ENGS 12 will change your life, and I'm one to agree. Professor Robbie helped me rethink and redefine my approach to creativity and radical collaboration. After the class, I became involved in the design community, participating in the Designation, 3 Day Start Up, and Tuck's entrepreneurship program, TuckLAB. I'm even a TA for the class now—oh, how the tables have turned!
WinterEdison, NJ - Remote Internship
In hopes of studying abroad, I declared a five-year D-Plan. I'm still a '23 at heart, but I'll be graduating with the '24's. I ended up working at my local newspaper, TAPinto News, and continuing my linguistics research with Professor Donahue.
SpringEdison, NJ - Remote Internship
With the help of the Magnuson Center, I landed an internship at Q30 Innovations, a medical device company. As a law development intern for Mr. Greene, a Dartmouth alum, I compiled a 20-page patent portfolio and provided recommendations for FDA clearance. I also took part in two Rocky programs, RGLP and MLDP.
Professor Dorsey is by far my favorite Dartmouth professor. He hosted in-person office hours every Friday, where we talked about anything from Japanese healthcare to craft beer to our personal lives. The class was an absolute blast, in which we dissected comics and listened to Japanese folklore. Class highlights included a field trip to a nearby Japanese Zen garden and a zoom call with Japanese folklorist Nakagawa Goro.
This was my hardest academic term to date, but I’m extremely proud of my work in this class.
Over ten weeks, Professor Samwick challenged us to design a financially viable social
enterprise. My team ended up creating BayStay, a one-stop service for homeless individuals in
the Bay area to locate a new roommate and temporary communal housing. The best part of the
experience was getting to interview leading experts on homelessness and pitching our business
model to an angel investor!
Given my areas of study at Dartmouth, it’s no surprise that I loved my introductory international
relations course with Professor Powers. She did a great job helping the class transition to in-
person learning by providing us with reading guides and laying out clear expectations in her
memos. We used high-level theory to explain the motivations of terrorists and the likelihood of
nuclear war. In my final paper, I presented my own analysis of why the United Nations was
powerless to prevent Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In this upper-level government seminar, my classmates and I met once a week for three hours.
Although it was sometimes tough to focus, I appreciated having the rest of the week to prepare
and complete readings. During the term, we debated a range of topics, including whether the
government should regulate marriage or whether having a nanny was inherently anti-feminist.
Another cool aspect of the course was that the class was entirely driven by student discussion
and debate. Professor Rose pushed each student to flesh out her thoughts through open office
hours and writing workshops. Looking back at my final paper, I’m really proud of my newfound
ability to argue complex philosophical topics in a clear manner.
SummerHanover, NH - On Campus
While most of the ‘23s are off campus, I’m spending my junior summer in Hanover because I
took a gap year! I’m spending most of my time this term as a Paganucci Fellow at the Tuck
School of Business. I’m also working for Dartmouth Admissions and serving as Co-President of
Dartmouth Women in Business. Even though I’m not taking classes, I’m definitely keeping
myself busy!
FallWashington, D.C. - Internship
I spent my off-term interning on the China desk at the U.S. Department of State (DOS). I loved
being able to apply what I learned in class in a professional setting and getting to see diplomacy
and foreign policy in action. Some of my internship highlights included volunteering for the first,
historic Indo-Pacific Summit and meeting North Korean defectors. Still, I’m excited to be back
at Dartmouth, taking classes again, after six months off!
I took this class because it was the final culminating experience for my Chinese language major. Professor Ericson gave really engaging lectures that made it feel like he was reading us a story. As a capstone project, I wrote a 20-page paper about imperial Japan's use of visual propaganda in Manchukuo, analyzing primary texts in Chinese and Japanese.
This class explored the economics behind the gender gap, child penalty, and labor market discrimination. My favorite part was the MBA-style class study, which focused on the rationale behind Patagonia’s generous parental leave policies. Professor Olivetti was so helpful and held frequent office hours. Definitely take this class, even if you aren’t an economics major.
Our Dartmouth Experiences: From the '23s to the '27s
Congratulations on being accepted to Dartmouth! Some of you have already committed, while some of you may be on the fence. I remember getting my regular decision acceptance to Dartmouth four years ago, and struggling to make the right decision. Looking back, I couldn't have made a better choice. For those of you who are still deciding, I thought it could be helpful to ask the graduating seniors, or the '23s, to reflect on their Dartmouth experiences. Included below are the perspectives of five current students, explaining why they chose Dartmouth and whether those reasons still hold true today.
Breggy '23 celebrating Homecoming in front of Dartmouth Hall
Brahadesh (Breggy) Sivakumar '23
"I chose Dartmouth because I knew it would prepare me well for medical school (if I chose to go down that path). Through my coursework in biology, research with Geisel, and shadowing at the DHMC, I became a lot more confident in my decision to become a doctor. However, I still got to pursue my other interests. For example, I do standup comedy as part of the Dartmouth Comedy Network, something I never imagined myself doing. I also picked up a minor in human-centered design, which I didn't even know existed in high school. Pursuing these two passions after graduation will only make me a better doctor."
Reina '23 at BEMA Lights
Reina Palacios '23
"The main reason I chose Dartmouth was because I wanted a break from city, since I planned to return to New York after college. Dartmouth has become more than just the ideal rural college that caught my eye in 11th grade. Sometimes I forget I'm in New Hampshire because it can feel like so much goes on. I have been fortunate enough to come across great people and share my college experience with my sister who is a '24. While at first the sense of community that the college prides itself in was a hard to find at first, I found that it has held true as I finish up my senior year."
Peter '23 hanging out in Hanover's Zen Garden
Peter Surin '23
"I chose to come to Dartmouth because it had the best financial aid and academics for me. Regarding financial aid, Dartmouth has been extremely generous and I am very grateful for that. Dartmouth has also excelled in academics, especially in how close I have become with many of my professors here. The Asian Societies, Cultures, and Languages Department is especially enriching and impressive. I also got to supplement my learning outside the classroom, especially through Undergraduate Advising & Research (UGAR) and the Catholic Student Center on campus, called the Aquinas House. While some aspects of Dartmouth can be difficult to navigate (such as the high-pressure environment and Greek Life), I have been able to enjoy the more beautiful aspects of Dartmouth."
Rooney '23 peeking out of the Berry-Baker Library Tower
Varun (Rooney) Malladi '23
"I came to Dartmouth to study math and take advantage of the great corporate recruiting opportunities. It seemed like a place I could do that without the competitive environment some other schools have. But my first-year advisor really pushed me to pursue math, and I became much more interested in it than I expected. The flexibility of Dartmouth's curriculum also led me to take courses in things I had always wanted to learn, like computer science, 3D graphics, and drawing. From working on my senior thesis to applying to master's programs, Dartmouth's environment has allowed me to pursue my passion for math."
Jamie '23 enjoying the Hanover snow
Jamie Tatum '23
"I chose Dartmouth because I wanted to study government while having the freedom to explore other subjects. Although I didn't end up sticking with government, I ended up finding Archaeology as my passion through Dartmouth's liberal arts education. The flexible curriculum and distributive requirements allowed me to study cool new topics, from historical linguistics to Greek and Roman engineering, while still getting credits."
No school is perfect, including Dartmouth, and I feel that each '23 spoke to both sides of their college experience. However, a common theme in all the responses was Dartmouth's deep sense of community, strong sense of place, depth and rigor of academics, and flexibility to explore. I hope that each of you finds your "right place," and that most of you come home to Dartmouth.
Learn about the different programs Dartmouth offers prospective students to explore campus life, learn about Dartmouth, and enjoy an all-expenses paid trip to Hanover!
"What's it like working for admissions?" "Are you being truthful with your answers?" "Are you being scripted?" Let's dive right into all these questions.
It's been (almost) a full year since I was in your (figurative) shoes! Let's take a trip down memory lane and dissect my Dartmouth application process. Part one of a long journey!
Now that I am more than a half into my Dartmouth experience, I have grown and learned about the world in ways that I would never have anticipated. How do I feel about it? Where do I hope to go next?
Choosing the right college is a critical decision that extends beyond mere rankings. Without the benefit of campus visits, it's vital to thoroughly research and understand each institution to ensure a fulfilling and safe experience.
