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.
If you've been following my blog this term, you'll know I have been on an off-campus program in Los Angeles with Dartmouth's Film & Media Studies department. It's been a whirlwind ten weeks (that went by way too fast!).
If you're an aspiring film major and are unsure whether or not an Ivy League education will help you on that path, I'd encourage you to read on—I've discovered many helpful things this term!
The Dartmouth alum network is phenomenal. People always say the alum network is fantastic. I went into my Los Angeles experience expecting the praise to be overhyped. But let me say: they weren't wrong. Dartmouth's alum network is exceptionally strong and consolidated—every alum we met on this trip was more than willing to help. I suspect it's because of their close ties with Dartmouth and their desire to give back to it. In an industry built on connections, having the Dartmouth alum tag makes you instantly part of a fantastic group of people looking out for each other.
Dartmouth has a small but mighty Film Department. Dartmouth's Film department isn't the biggest; there are only a few of us, but we're a passionate bunch. Every single person I've met is dedicated to filmmaking, and the tight-knit group makes that passion even more concentrated. People are very willing to help out, always. There were even a few film majors—not on the Domestic Study Program (DSP)—in Los Angeles who were working on their off-terms, but we collaborated throughout the term. It was awesome.
This Domestic Study Program is really worth it! This DSP is a great way to peek into Hollywood's workings. I've walked away with a much more holistic idea of how Hollywood works: I never could've understood without this experience. This program offers the perfect opportunity to dip your feet into the world without being fully engulfed in it. Also, you make great friends on the DSP who share your passion!
Los Angeles is a great place to learn about the industry, but Dartmouth is a better place to learn about yourself as a filmmaker. This is a super long thought, but in essence—I think that Dartmouth's lifestyle, surrounded by nature, has allowed me to hone my voice as an artist way better than a city ever could. Los Angeles is a great place to learn about the industry and its inner workings; there's no doubt I couldn't do that at Dartmouth, but on campus, I feel the most creative I've ever felt.
That was pretty much it from me this term! Best of luck with your college decisions :)
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.
