Griselda Chavez

WHY? After taking ECON 1 my freshman spring and thinking I wanted to major in economics, I decided to take another course that focused more on my concentration rather than taking another prerequisite for the major. My interests lie in public economics and this class has made me certain that the track and major are a proper suit for me. 

FAVORITE THING: I enjoy our class discussions the most because I get to learn from my classmates and why our opinions differ from each other. Hearing about their concerns helps me understand and consider issues I would have never thought about while advocating for a policy. 

WHY? At Dartmouth, there are “distributive and world requirements” we have to complete and one of them is taking a course that is considered to be TMV (Systems and Traditions of Thought, Meaning, and Value). Philosophy classes tend to be categorized as TMVs. Therefore, I decided to take a class that intersects with economics and see if I could make connections with both of my courses. 

FAVORITE THING: I enjoy talking to other classmates about the various theories we read about in class. It’s cool to see what arguments they consider to be plausible and understand how philosophers have shaped the way our government functions in the United States. Moreover, talking to other classmates helps me understand the material more since everything is very new to me, and it is difficult for me to always be questioning philosophers’ validity. 

WHY? After deciding I wanted to minor in Environmental Science, I started creating a layout of classes I had to take and ENVS 3 was one of the requirements. I decided to take this class earlier since it is only offered once a year and wasn’t sure whether I would have space during my fall term. 

FAVORITE THING: The class is structured as a lecture with more than 100 students. Therefore, group discussions are more difficult compared to other classes. However, the readings and material of the class are always very interesting and informative because environmental problems are tackled through several lenses of social science disciplines. I like how there are two professors with similar and differing teaching styles which keeps the class entertaining.

For some students, dorm buildings can be a great place for studying! Depending on the building you are in, you can have large common rooms to work in. My dorm building, Streeter (part of Allen House), does not have the best studying environment but across the street from me there is Fahey (part of West House) and it’s great! There is a porch where I can sit down to take in some extra sunlight and see some fall foliage with just the perfect amount of outside noise. Because the sun has been setting earlier, I have taken advantage of enjoying as much warmth as I can while I have the opportunity. There are also common study areas on each floor which makes it convenient for students living in the building to have a study area accessible to them at all times. 

Sanborn Library is home to the English Department and is a nice study area for when you want to feel very warm, cozy, and motivated. Before COVID-19, there was also a time specifically for students and faculty to enjoy some tea and cookies. The study area is super quiet and has the right amount of sunlight in the morning – a perfect environment for writing philosophy papers. My only complaint is that the internet connection can be a bit poor throughout the day. 

The Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Public Policy and the Social Sciences was one of the main attractions of Dartmouth for me but was closed last year. Therefore, it is especially nice to be able to finally step in, take econ classes, and utilize it as a study area. I enjoy spending time here because there are several comfortable couches where I can review class material prior to office hours or classes. Most of my friends tend to be in the STEM field, so it is uncommon for us to be hanging out at Rocky, but I enjoy spending my time here and familiarizing myself with professors and classmates in the social sciences. 

College blogs, especially Dartmouth's, were super insightful about what it was like to be a student on their campus. Blogs were able to touch on several topics such as what it's like to be a low-income student to what dining looks like. They also enabled me to view the paths that upperclassmen took and showcased all of the opportunities that were available for its students. In addition, some blogs like Dartmouth include features where students can submit their own questions and have bloggers answer them. You could also use this as an opportunity to see how different types of students with similar identities to yours were able to create a space for themselves. 

One of my favorite resources to learn more about life on campus was the Dartmouth Admissions page on Instagram (@dartmouthadmissions). The official college accounts are helpful because they provide several images of what Dartmouth may look like, especially for students that are unable to visit, and they contain several reminders and promotional posts. For instance, Dartmouth Admissions' Instagram creates highlights for prospective students where they can view "student takeovers," dorm tours, and learn more about the application process.

College videos on YouTube are also helpful and an easy way to learn more about life on campus! You can play them while focusing on other tasks and you are able to see how students interact with their school environment. There have also been several college YouTubers who continue to document their experience, even during the pandemic, which can provide students with a more current perspective. My favorite types of videos were the short, two-minute trailers that advertised the schools and showcased all of the opportunities on campus.