I'm Kennedy, a literature nerd and creative writer from the outskirts of Memphis. I'm also a senior here at Dartmouth. When I'm not working in admissions as a senior fellow, I'm a student employee at the library and a research and teaching assistant in the English department. I love music (I collect vinyl!) and analyzing teen drama TV (think Riverdale and Pretty Little Liars). I'm currently applying to law schools. I've had such a great time at Dartmouth and am excited to share that with you!
Professor McCann is my advisor, but that's not the only reason I took this class. Since it was a senior seminar with only 9 students, we got to dive deep into the fascinating material, including with Victorian-era pulp fiction books, advertisements, and psychological treatises, plus some good old fashioned canonical works like The Picture of Dorian Gray and Dracula. [Fun fact: I've read Dracula three times at Dartmouth... it's an English department favorite!]
WinterHanover, NH
This was an off term for me, but I love Hanover so much I hung around anyways! I worked for admissions and Baker-Berry Library, read a ton of J.G. Ballard, and stared out the window at the snow for an embarrassingly long amount of time. I also visited my parents in Tennessee during Christmas.
Professor Nachlis went out of his way to act as an unofficial pre-law advisor for all of us in this class, not only by introducing us to some of the most pressing issues in American government, but also by dedicating the final two weeks of class to a module called "Should you go to law school?" A question I was asking myself!
SummerHanover, NH
Another off term again, and this time I'm working full-time for admissions as a senior fellow! I'm also doing a lot of preliminary reading for my honors thesis. Anyone heard of Friedrich Kittler's Discourse Networks? Well, I'll have read it twice by the time this term is over.
Con Law with Professor Bedi was one of my favorite classes at Dartmouth. Our in-depth examination of the Constitution and landmark case law built up a "science of the Constitution" (in Prof Bedi's words). Our class of 9 students rarely agreed on anything, which was what made it so fun!
My final paper for this class was an analysis of a civil rights leader's memoir that I actually worked on back during my internship at the University Press of Mississippi! I learned so much in this class, and it was gratifying to return, now with new knowledge, to a text I had a personal relationship with.
The College Search: A Series of Thorough Questions
I want to share with you some of the most valuable questions I asked myself when I was deciding where to go to college, as well as some things I didn't ask myself but wish I had. I've sorted these into categories for your convenience. These may help you with note-taking during tours or while exploring websites. They might aid you in deciding where to apply or deciding which of your admittances to accept. Regardless, I earnestly hope they help; this is a complex process, but a little logic, reflection, and self-awareness go a long way.
1. Location & Size
What kind of environment would I like to go to college in? (A good way to rephrase this question is—where am I now? A rural, suburban, or urban area? What do I like about that? Dislike? Do I want to try something different?)
What is within walking distance of the campus? What are my transportation options outside of walking? Is there public transport? Are cars allowed?
What opportunities (career, leisure) are near this school?
How far from my family and support network am I willing to be? Do I want to go to a place where I know no one?
What size school will benefit me the most? (Once again, comparison to your current situation helps. What's the size of your high school, and what do you find to be the benefits and drawbacks of that size?) Do I want to see familiar faces when I'm in class, or would I prefer to be at a large school where I am always surrounded by new people?
Are you willing—or perhaps even eager—to hop on a plane or two to get to your future college?
2. Academics
What do I like and dislike about my current education?
How important is doing undergraduate research to me? How about mentorship? Study abroad? Independent research? (You should be able to find statistics about undergraduate research, student-to-faculty ratios, and so on, which guide you here based on your answers.)
What are the general education or liberal arts requirements of this school, if any? Do I want to take those classes and explore, or would I prefer to jump straight into my area of interest?
How do current students describe the workload? Do I want a fast-paced schedule, or do I learn better when things are slower? Am I someone who loves a rigorous academic environment, or will that stress me out and perhaps prevent me from receiving my degree?
What programs, areas of study, and resources does my school need to have for me to explore all my options or chase my dreams?
How flexible is the academic program if I want to pursue my own unique path or change my mind about my major? How much does it matter to me?
3. Outcomes
What do alumni say about this school?
What are my personal goals right now? Do I want to continue my education after undergraduate? (It helps to have a narrow and broad answer to this question: i.e., a specific job you're interested in AND a more general sense of I'd like to live in X kind of place, I'd like to make Y amount of money.)
What does this school's Office of Institutional Research say are recent graduate's outcomes after leaving this school? How much do they make? Are they getting into graduate and professional schools?
4. Finances
How much debt, approximately, will I have after leaving this school? (Many schools have financial aid calculators you can use, and their broad policies on financial aid are also helpful.)
What are the restraints on financial aid? Is it available to me specifically (for instance, if you're an international student)? Must I maintain a specific GPA? Is financial aid at this school furnished by loans I will need to repay?
How does this school determine financial aid packages? Need alone, or need and merit?
What are my family and I willing to pay for my college education?
5. Quality of Living
Is the food good? (Especially important to research if you have a dietary restriction and how the school is equipped to manage that—you should be able to find this information through the school's dining team.)
What are my nearby healthcare options, and how accessible are they?
How do people make friends here? Greek Life? Clubs? Sports? Residential houses? Am I willing to try those things? If not, am I willing to work a little harder to make friends outside of those circles?
Is the campus well-kept and accessible? (Accessible means something different for everyone!)
What are other things I'd like to have provided by the school? (Gym, library, movie theater, mental health services, etc.)
Learn about the different programs Dartmouth offers prospective students to explore campus life, learn about Dartmouth, and enjoy an all-expenses paid trip to Hanover!
For those who want to attend medical school after their undergraduate education, the infrastructure of a "pre-med" track is an important factor when choosing a school to apply to. Here's how the premed experience has been for me at Dartmouth!
"What's it like working for admissions?" "Are you being truthful with your answers?" "Are you being scripted?" Let's dive right into all these questions.
It's been (almost) a full year since I was in your (figurative) shoes! Let's take a trip down memory lane and dissect my Dartmouth application process. Part one of a long journey!
Choosing the right college is a critical decision that extends beyond mere rankings. Without the benefit of campus visits, it's vital to thoroughly research and understand each institution to ensure a fulfilling and safe experience.
Summer is a great time for high school students to visit campuses and better make sense of the schools they want to apply to. In this blog, I will talk about some advice to make the most of your campus visit.
