Hi everyone! I'm Kabir, an international member of the class of '26, from New Delhi, India. I'm thinking of majoring in Psychology and Film & Media Studies. Outside the classroom, I enjoy watching movies, going on hikes, hanging out with my friends, and going on runs (if you see me on the streets of Hanover, say hi!) In the short while I've been here, I've come to love Dartmouth, so if you're interested in what I have to say, stick around! This should (hopefully) be fun :)
My Writing 5 class was definitely my favorite class this term — it opened my eyes to the realities of the food industry, strengthened my skills as a writer, and helped me make a ton of new friends.
My seminar was possibly the best class I've taken so far at Dartmouth. I learned about the importance of free speech and journalists in a democratic society, and how those rights to freedom are being stripped everywhere, all the time.
I've loved Cognitive Psychology as a class so far, especially because of the cool demos that the professor uses to illustrate every type of phenomena we learn about. From illusions to memory tests, it's so cool to see how the human psyche can be tricked so very easily.
It is week eight of my Domestic Study Program in Los Angeles! Each week, I have used my blog to summarize/document my adventures and provide insight into one of Dartmouth's incredible off-campus experiences!
Here are four awesome things I did this week:
Met Michael Ellenberg: This may not be a super familiar name for people not interested in film and TV, but Ellenberg is the mind behind shows like The Morning Show and Big Little Lies. Ellenberg also worked extensively on the development of Game of Thrones! He had so many stories to tell, so much advice to give, and so many methods to navigate the industry. He was super helpful and kind, and it was an insane moment to meet the person who played such a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of modern television.
Went to Sony Studios: This was the coolest thing ever! The film domestic study program visited Sony Studios in Culver City, and it was awesome. The best part? We got to visit the sets of For All Mankind, a show on Apple TV+ in its fourth season. It was amazing to see one of TV's biggest shows in person. We also saw a student production filmed with "Volume," a state-of-the-art machine that eliminates the need for green screens.
Visited Venice & Santa Monica: As I've touched upon before, studying abroad at Dartmouth allows you to explore a new city, making your city a big part of your learning experience. I went to Venice and Santa Monica and made a day out of it. Venice faces the beach and has lots of stalls and great beach food. I strongly recommend The Waterfront if you ever find yourself in the area. Unexpectedly, a movie was being filmed, so I saw some pretty cool faces through that experience!
Went to Griffith Observatory: Griffith Observatory is one of L.A.'s most famous landmarks, boasting the city's best views. I went up there with a few friends, and we made a day out of it. The observatory itself is super fascinating—it has very cool architecture, a strong scientific history, and great archives to peruse. I also loved the park, where you can relax, go for a hike, or just take in the views. This was another awesome place that I'd recommend!
Next week, the Domestic Study Program and winter term begin to wrap up, so I'll do closing reflections soon!
As a senior, one of the most exciting things for me is my thesis project. In this blog, I describe how to approach making a senior honors thesis. As Dartmouth focuses on their undergraduate research, many students complete a thesis, so let's dive in!
Near the start of every fall term, the Jones Media Center hosts the library's annual 48-hour film contest! This event encourages all levels of student filmmakers to create a short film using a specific prompt and prop given by the library staff.
