Hello, Eda here: full-time learner, part-time writer, and pretty much a happy amateur at everything else. My hobbies include reading, discovering new movies, and looking at the pictures of my cat. On campus, you can find me peer supporting for the Mental Health Union and SAPA, writing for Spare Rib, doing research in psychology, or listening to Turkish & English alt-rock. Feel free to ask me about taking a gap year, transitioning to a new cultural space, or college in general!
This class discusses the concepts of sex and gender in the broader context of issues related to race, class, national identity, and more. I loved this class because it helped me better understand how systemic inequality affects individual lives and made me think about ways to change it. Professor A'Ness is such an inspiring prof!
In this first-year writing seminar, we discussed how avant-garde movements from futurism to punk rock have constituted a rebellion against the status quo. I loved all the readings for this class and Professor McCann inspired me to take more courses in the English department!
In this course, we learned all the basics of fiction: character, plot, setting, etc. My favorite parts of the course were receiving feedback from other students, reading my peers' work, and having fiction readings as assigned course work! I also appreciated all the guest speakers we had, who were experienced writers in their respective genres.
As an aspiring clinical psychologist, this course has been one of the best classes I have taken at Dartmouth so far. The class focused on the etiology, diagnosis, characteristics and treatment of various mental disorders. Professor Hudenko has been one of the greatest lectures I had the pleasure of meeting. As a clinical psychologist himself, he had extensive knowledge in not only the theory, but also the practice of clinical psychology. He also succeeded in making a lecture-based class feel interactive and dynamic.
We covered the complex neural and biological mechanisms of multiple mental health disorders ranging from common conditions like anxiety to more complicated illnesses such as schizophrenia. In addition to reading about the cutting-edge research in this area, we also read memoirs and watched documentaries about the mental illnesses to focus on how these conditions are affecting people in real life. Professor Funnell is one of the best profs I had!
As an aspiring clinical psychologist, this has been one of my favorite classes at Dartmouth. We learned about different therapy methods, how and when to use them, their advantages, and shortcomings. The class was incredibly engaging with Professor Hudenko's frequent demonstrations of methods, therapy videos, and guest speakers. I would recommend this class to every psychology major.
I worked at Dimock Health Center as part of my community health internship. I was part of a team of summer interns who were college students like myself. We worked as patient advocates that helped people reach out to resources regarding housing, food, utilities, etc. Most of our work involved calling patients, helping them fill out forms, and researching resources. I learned so much about community health resources and how to communicate with a diverse set of patients. It was an invaluable experience!
I took classes in the School of English and Drama at Queen Mary University of London. My favorite class of the term was called London Performance Now, which involved going to different performance events in London and discussing them in class. It was the perfect opportunity to explore the cultural landscape of London.
As the title of the course suggests, this class was about food: its history, economics, and cultural practices. I learned a lot through this course thanks to guest speakers, thought-provoking readings, and engaging assignments. My favorite assignment in this course was writing about a family recipe; I learned so much about my family's history as well as the cultural conflicts in my home country. Overall, it was among the best classes I have taken at Dartmouth. Plus, we even got to eat delicious food cooked by our classmates!
There's an undeniable sense of uncertainty that comes with applying to US colleges as an international student, especially if you are the first in your family to consider studying abroad. For me and my family, a big part of the uncertainty was about finances and affordability. Take a look at the Turkish lira's devaluation and rising inflation rates, and you'll immediately see what I mean. Life in Turkey was expensive enough; my parents could not afford the costs of an elite college like Dartmouth. Fortunately, my financial aid package alleviated most of my family's worries about finances. Here's my experience with applying for aid as an international student and what comes after you find yourself on campus!
I'll be honest - applying for financial aid was the most stressful part of the entire application process. Dartmouth requires the CSS Profile application and parent income tax statements for international financial aid applicants. It seems straightforward enough. But the process can be challenging to navigate if your parents lack English proficiency and you lack the financial vocabulary and knowledge to translate everything for them. I was fortunate enough to have experienced counselors in my high school who guided us through the financial aid application. I understand that this is a privilege not many students have. A helpful resource in such circumstances is Dartmouth's financial aid office. After I received my financial aid letter, the office helped me make sense of the parts of my financial aid package that were not immediately clear. I appreciated how honest they were as we discussed my options before committing to Dartmouth. Also, I mistakenly believed that I could not take a gap year because I was on financial aid, which applies to most Turkish universities. I was relieved when the financial aid office assured me that my financial aid package would be more or less the same if my financial circumstances remained unchanged when I reapplied for aid during my gap year. When I received my new financial aid letter at the end of my gap year, I was happy to see that my financial aid reflected the changes in the US dollar to the Turkish lira exchange rate. My financial aid covered my tuition and a significant portion of housing & food costs. But I was still worried: how affordable would social life be on campus?
I was ecstatic in my first few weeks on campus because I have found many opportunities at Dartmouth to be either free or affordable. All the tickets for live shows, movies, and workshops at Hopkins Center for the Arts at Dartmouth cost between 0-10 dollars for Dartmouth students. For the first two weeks of the fall term, canoe and kayak rentals were free for 25s. Not to mention the tons of free merch you get from your housing community. These are just some of the ways Dartmouth provides a fulfilling campus experience that is affordable!
Another worry on my mind was how to find a student job. I never had a job in Turkey because it was hard to find one if you were not lucky enough to have the right connections. I only had experience in writing for the student newspaper and magazines in high school, which I believe helped me get this blogging position for People, Places, Pines. There are a variety of on-campus jobs for international students that require varying degrees of experience, like working as an usher at the Hop, as a language drill instructor, or a front desk worker in campus facilities such as the gym or the library. Thanks to my student jobs, I do not rely on my parents to pay for my extra educational or living expenses.
There's no denying that being a low-income international student at a US college can be a challenging experience. But Dartmouth provides you with the opportunities and resources for an affordable academic and social experience that is enriching and fulfilling!
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!
In addition to blogging, I work as a Fellow for the Tucker Center, which focuses on promoting spiritual and ethical life on campus. As part of this role, I'm leading the Interfaith Alternative Spring Break Trip. Read on to learn more about my work!
