Welcome to the transition diary from a big, cold Brazilian city to a small, very cold American town! I fell in love with Dartmouth, and I'm sure my first term will expand my love, as there is a lot to enjoy here in the woods: majors and minors, extracurriculars and clubs, many new open doors to a curious mind like mine! This was written to lofi hip hop, which I could listen to all day if I could, so come to me if you want some nice music to study or relax to. Hope you guys like the content!
Introduction to the amazing language of Chinese, taken with Mao Lao Shi. Really got my mornings going! I think all Dartmouth students should make the most out of their language classes, as they offer unique cultural opportunities and stick with you for life. I'm grateful for all who shared that classroom with me, and I am very happy to realize how much I have progressed in a subject so new to me.
My writing seminar, themed on Asian Conflict and Cooperation. I got to discuss a topic beyond my comfort zone, and had a blast! My classmates were really giving their best, and professor Rezvani gave us an incredible learning experience and an organized debate environment. This class opened my horizons , and I am really happy I took it, having looked forward for each class! My writing style improved greatly due to this class, which makes it all the better!
Two months before the Early Decision deadline, I had no idea what the Ivy League was, and "Dartmouth" sounded like a funky word. Imagine my surprise when Greg Manne, the admissions officer for this 'Dartmouth College,' came to my town and made me fall in love with this small institution in just 20 minutes. There and then, I decided to include Dartmouth in my college list. But it was during my own research on the College that I discovered the thing that made me apply early: it has one of the best liberal arts programs out there.
Liberal arts is a teaching style with roots in Hellenic Greece. Back then, students had to master all areas of knowledge (albeit only seven disciplines were studied back then) in order to have a broad perspective of existence in an attempt to discover the principles of the universe. Many would say this style of education has long passed us by: today we have infinitely more subjects than we had back then, and the complexity of the modern world warrants focused study, they say. I could not disagree more. Technical knowledge will only get you so far; after all, we are human, and we were not built to simply keep things running. We were born to innovate, to create — not to simply stand by. I might be a dreamer, but I recall the great thinkers, like Da Vinci, Newton, Ben Franklin, and so many others that showed expertise in many fields. Crossing information from one science to another, they were able to think further than anyone ever had. And when you think about it, doesn't it make sense? All subjects verse over the real world, therefore isn't it obvious they would all be connected? This is the kind of thought liberal arts fosters inside its students, and that makes liberal arts students stand out.
The original liberal arts, philosophy at their core. This is what inspired Dartmouth. Image from the Hortus Deliciarum, 12th century.
Okay, the system is incredible in concept. Why do I think Dartmouth excels in it? Because this College truly allows you to pursue knowledge in as broad a way as you desire. You can focus on something and major in it, you can double major, you can acquire minors or even take classes just for the fun of learning. There is no barrier stopping a math major from taking an arts or history course, for example. The opportunities do not stop with courses, however; international programs, artistic presentations, clubs, renowned speakers, a whole structure built around allowing students to develop a broad sense of the world so they can innovate in the field they choose, while keeping ethics, politics, social issues, ecology, and so many other facets of our complex world in mind. Dartmouth's liberal arts is an invitation to world changers, and I say: world changers of the world, attend to the call!
Admissions, searching for the brightest minds of tomorrow- minds like yours!
I hope you decide to join our community of innovation soon.
Like many of my classmates, Dartmouth is the first private school I've ever gone to. Coming from a small Southern town, the vast majority of people I know don't travel more than a few hours away for college.
As I noted in an earlier blog post, we promised to adapt our admissions requirements as the situation evolved and as warranted. The situation has evolved, and a policy pause is now warranted.
Here's a counterintuitive thing about a college search as it takes shape: it's not about a college. A college search is your search. So start with you. Hello, you.
"The Search," the podcast that made me a podcaster, launched this week. I'm calling it an act of admissions citizenship, a conversation about college admissions for stuck-at-home high school juniors.
The college selection process was far more challenging as an introvert. During my freshman year, I've had the opportunity befriend people who fall all over the introverted/extroverted spectrum.
For those of you who have committed to Dartmouth (yay!) and are wondering what you should do now, here's a little bit of advice (Hint: it's pretty simple). Thanks for reading!
