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!
This week, I decided to interview my partner about his study abroad at the University of Copenhagen - a popular Dartmouth exchange program through the Sociology department.
How did you decide to apply to this program?
One of my majors is Sociology, so I was interested in this program because it is through the Sociology department. Copenhagen also seems to be among the few places Dartmouth offers that I have no experience in. I have been lucky to see a lot of places in Europe before, but I had very little exposure to Danish culture.
What classes are you taking?
I am taking three classes. One is Introduction to Danish Culture, a big lecture class with over a hundred people in it, which is the type of class we do not often have at Dartmouth. There are also excursions outside class periods, which are primarily for exchange students.
My second class is Latin American Politics, which is interesting because we have a lot of exposure to Latin American culture in the United States, but it seems foreign to the Danish people. Despite the foreignness, the professor is doing the topic justice. Honestly, this might be my favorite class because of that reason.
Arctic Politics is my third class. Denmark is in a unique position in international politics due to its association with Greenland. You can take this class in the United States, but there is something special about being in a place where these topics are not merely theoretical, but also lived experiences.
What is your living situation like?
I have a modern and cozy apartment twenty minutes away from the campus. There is a grocery store and a gym literally downstairs. I got super lucky with my accommodation.
What is your favorite thing about your study abroad experience so far?
Seeing how people in another culture get to live, especially one that is so different from any other country I have been to.
What are the challenges of the program?
Living in Copenhagen is more expensive than living in Hanover. It is also difficult being away from friends and clubs that I am a part of at Dartmouth. It is an entirely different city and environment. Despite it all, it is still a privilege to be there. Even though I would not want to live in Copenhagen again, I would definitely want to visit again.
What are you looking forward to in your study abroad?
Christmas in Copenhagen, having my brother visit, and trying more traditional Danish food.
After returning from an enriching study abroad program, I'm diving into a bustling spring semester here at Dartmouth. Here are my four courses I'm taking this term!
Dartmouth's liberal arts curriculum pushes students to explore new departments and draw connections between seemingly disparate disciplines. Come explore my Economics, Physics, and Asian, Societies, Cultures, and Languages classes!
Over half of Dartmouth students study abroad at least once during their undergraduate journeys—quite a high percentage, right? Do you want to know how to best prepare for your own abroad experience? Come check what it was like for me.
