Hi everyone! I'm Julia from Seattle, WA. This blog was very influential during my college search, so I am excited to be writing to you all now! I'm majoring in Quantitative Social Science with a concentration in Geography and minoring in French and Religion. Outside of class, you can find me in Robinson Hall participating in various Dartmouth Outing Club sub-clubs, cooking in the Sustainable Living Center, or chatting with friends while waiting for my go-to Collis Cafe smoothie order. Talk soon!
Academic Program
QSS major; Religion and French double minor
Favorite Thing Right Now
Beautiful (and free) dinners at Moosilauke Ravine Lodge!
I've lived in Seattle for my entire life. I've lived in the same house for thirteen years, and I've only attended two schools. All of that to say, coming to Dartmouth has been the biggest change of my life. Here are some of my tips for settling into a new space.
1: Tell people when you need support
In my first few weeks here, I remember someone mentioning that Dartmouth students tend to be pretty transparent if you open up to them. I couldn't agree more; everyone here is willing to talk to you when you're down. I can't imagine making it through the first few weeks of school without people like my roommate (Riley AKA the light of my life), my floormates, and even Trips croo (the way we spell "crew") members. People are ready and eager to support you through thick and thin.
On my way to go swimming during O-Week with my friend Julia!
2: Make your dorm feel like your own
This one kind of goes without saying, but the space you live in matters. I found it helpful to decorate my dorm like my room at home by hanging the 4x4 photos I'm used to, similar posters, and the same fairy lights I had before. I even took one of my blankets and brought it here! Being able to fall asleep in a similar environment to what I was used to helped me acclimate to my new surroundings (especially given my initial jetlag!).
3: Take breaks when you need to
Over the summer, incoming students had the opportunity to meet the Undergraduate Deans via Zoom to talk about what the first few weeks would look like on campus. Dean Natalie Hoyt mentioned that O-Week can be overwhelming and thus, it's normal for kids to take time away from sessions. At the time, what she said didn't resonate much with me. How would O-Week be overwhelming? We wouldn't even be in classes yet. It turns out, though, that Dean Hoyt was right. O-Week was a lot of fun and it was also the most exhausting week of my life. I took up Dean Hoyt's advice on many occasions and most of my friends did, too. Taking time to pause—whether in my dorm, on a walk around Occom Pond (known as a "woccom"), or on a random couch in Berry Library – was crucial to my initial success.
A beautiful view from a recent morning woccom.
Arriving at Dartmouth for the first time as a student comes with all of the emotions, good and bad. On one hand, I felt overjoyed to be in the place that I had been dreaming of for so long. On the other hand, though, I missed Seattle deeply and felt like this place might never feel like "home." I embraced all of the feelings and, just a few weeks later, I can confidently say that this is where I am meant to be.
The River Cluster (the group of residence halls closest to the Connecticut River, including French and Judge Hall) has a reputation…and some of it is warranted. But there's more to living in the River than you might expect!
Welcome back to Open Doors—your inside look at life in the Woods! This week, Isabelle Sullivan '26, an environmental studies and geography major, showed me around her room, where we discussed Dartmouth residence halls, classes, and campus life.
