I'm Kalina, a '27 from Sofia, Bulgaria. I love books (I love reading and writing them), and I particularly love fantasy (i.e., I'm an expert on Middle Earth and Hogwarts studies). I'm fascinated by the human brain and the real-world magic of science. I also love hiking, bird-watching, climbing, and em dashes.
Instead of taking a normal Writing 5 course, I decided to fulfill my first-year writing requirement by taking HUM 1. This course helped me strengthen my relationship to literature and writing. It changed the way in which I thought about classics, both books and movies (we saw Wall-E, by the way). And it also changed the way I thought about academic writing and literary criticism. A third of the course was made up of lectures by professors from different departments, while the other two thirds were discussions with a single professor and a small group of 15 students.
Intro to Neuroscience was the first course I was truly excited about. It wasn't an easy course; we had a weekly quiz of ten to thirteen questions covering the lectures from the past few days, but it was very interesting and also very funny (Professor Winter's humor is legendary). We learned about the human brain at the level of individual cells. We also studied it at the level of different systems, from the olfactory system to the parasympathetic nervous system. And last, we learned about cognition: learning, attention, language. We saw a real human brain with formaldehyde dripping from it. We saw a real sheep's brain. And a rat's brain. And we pocked each other with paper clips to determine the sensitivity of our touch receptors.
Journalism with Professor Alexis Jetter was an enjoyable class, sometimes challenging but very satisfying. We covered a lot of US history through the lens of the media, and we started every class with a discussion of the current news and events (thanks to these discussions, I feel like a real adult now—not so lost when the conversation turns toward politics). Several guest lecturers—from former students of Professor Jetter who're now journalists to a New York Times war correspondent—brought us real stories from the field. In the middle of the term, each of us had to find someone over 30 years old in the Upper Valley, spend a day with them, and write a profile.
SummerSofia, Bulgaria
I'm spending my first summer back home, helping my family care for my newborn sister. In my free time (changing diapers takes a lot of time!), I'm doing research for the cognitive neuroscience lab FINN Lab, preparing for my classes in the fall, and working on a new book.
I started my first year at Dartmouth feeling incredulous.
"I never thought I'd come to America to master French," I remember thinking on my way toDartmouth Hall, where I took a French placement exam before the school year started. The test was designed to determine whether I should be enrolled inFrench 10(the first course in theFrench major and minor sequence) or French 8 (the fourth course in the sequence for learning the language, after French 1, 2, and 3). You can skip the first three courses–French 1, 2, and 3, introductory French–if you have a good grade on the Advanced Placement exams in high-school or if you do well on the online placement exam you can do on Canvas in the summer before their first year starts.
I did well on the online placement exam (and effectively skipped the first three French courses) and that's how I found myself taking the in-person exam with a French professor whose name I sadly don't remember.
By now, you've probably scrolled up to check what my major is–it's not French–and you're probably wondering why I had to take French placement exams. Well… there's this thing calledthe foreign language requirement. Whether you speak a foreign language or not (that is, a language different from English), you'll need to take a language course or two (maybe three) in your college career.
If you don't speak any language different from English, you're on theBIG GREEN PATH. This means that you'll have to take the first three courses in a foreign language (e.g. French 1 through 3) or go on a Language Study Abroad program. I have a lot of friends who are in Rome this summer, taking Italian courses 1 through 3 and having an amazing time! You can read about the Rome experience of People Places Pines blogger Lauren here.
If you speak a language that is TAUGHT at Dartmouth, then you're on theBEMA PATH. This means that you can either start a new foreign language and take it's first two courses (e.g. French 1 and 2), or you can take a more advanced course in the same language (in my case, that was French 8), or you can take an accelerated-beginning language course such as Italian 11(this course includes the material for Italian 1 and 2). You can also go in a Language Study Abroad program (also called an LSA).
Back in the spring, I saw these two friends in College Park, the park near the actual place on campus called Bema. (Not so bad to be on the Bema park, eh? You can see cute deer.)
Last, if you speak a language that is NOT taught at Dartmouth (like Bulgarian, for example), then you're on the LONE PINE PATH. It's a common misconception that international students (like myself) don't need to take a foreign language course at Dartmouth, but we do. We have the same options the BEMA PATH gives, and we also have the option to take a Language Requirement for Proficient Speakers (LRP) course, which includes courses in linguistics, sociolinguistics, and translation (part of the Comparative Literature department).
I completed my foreign language requirement by transferring from the Lone Pine Path (I was placed there because I'm a native speaker of Bulgarian) to the Bema Path (I was placed there because I also speak French which is taught at Dartmouth) and taking an advanced course in French (French 8). I have a friend (also Bulgarian and on the Lone Pine Path) who decided to start a new language at Dartmouth, fell in love with it, and is now on the way to becoming an Ancient Greek minor. Other international friends of mine have taken linguistics courses or brushed up foreign languages they already speak like me.
I never thought that I'd come to the US - or even Dartmouth specifically - to master French. But that's exactly what happened.
Being an international student at Dartmouth also has one final perk when it comes to foreign languages. Introductory language courses often have a component called drill. These are speaking-practice sessions led by a student who is either proficient in the language or is a native speaker of the language. A lot of my Brazilian friends, for example, work as Portuguese drill instructors and they say it's rather fun.
Here's one final linkto help answer any questions you might have. If you still have questions about the foreign language requirement, don't worry, once the time comes, your undergraduate dean will explain everything.
The thrills and whirlwind that is Freshman Fall was an extraordinary time in my life. Reflecting on two years back, I want to explore the many events and emotions I went through during this time.
I recently completed a language-pledge homestay week in the village of Orvinio, Italy as a part of the Dartmouth F.I.R.E. Italian study abroad program!
How do Dartmouth students balance their classes and social life in a reasonable way? Somehow, we manage to get good grades and prioritize our academics while also making life-long friendships and memories.
What to bring to Dartmouth and what to buy when you are here? A stress inducing decision making process for most incoming students, here is my perspective on some truly important things to bring to Dartmouth and what to leave behind!
As much as I love studying abroad on Dartmouth's Full Immersion in Rome Italian program, I also really miss campus! Here's a look back at some of the places I can't wait to get back to soon.
