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.
An Interview with the Creator of a New Dartmouth Podcast!
Today, I interviewed Gabe Gottesman '26, an economics major who runs a podcast called "Big Green Economics" about the economics research professors and students are pursuing at Dartmouth. Gabe has just released the eighth episode, which is a series of interviews with students who took Econ 70 during the fall term and then traveled to Argentina and Chile during winter break. If you're interested in economics, studying abroad, or starting a project like Gabe has at Dartmouth, I highly encourage you to listen to that episode. And read this blog post, of course!
Q: Before we get into it—could you tell me about yourself and what you do on campus?
A: I'm a sophomore majoring in economics, and I'm interested in adding a computer science minor and a Spanish minor. I'm currently applying to do a Spanish study abroad. I'm involved with the club running team, the club triathlon team, the sports analytics club, and a fraternity. I'm originally from Mercer Island, which is near Seattle. I'd like to do the Dartmouth Economics Research Scholarship program—I have to apply, but if I got in, I'd do two terms of research with a professor. I'm interested in international relations, but anything involving economics would be cool.
Gabe '26
Q: How did you get the idea to do this podcast?
A: During my first term I wasn't sure what I wanted to do here—I dipped my toe in everything, which a lot of first-years do. My mom was the one who said, "What about podcasts?" I did radio broadcasting and podcasting in high school, and I love the Freakonomics podcast. I emailed Professor Petre, and she said, "This sounds like a great idea." She connected me with the department technology manager, who connected me with the head of the department, and we talked about what the podcast could be. He offered to be on the first episode, and I did the second episode with Professor Petre. As a student, you can talk to your professors and gather all this support. Especially at Dartmouth, since it's a smaller school, there are a lot of people who can and will help you. For me, this podcast is about getting to tell a story and adding that creative element to economics.
Q: What goes into making an episode?
A: The next interview I'm doing is with Heidi Williams, a new professor from Stanford. I'll be doing that interview in the Jones Media Center (JMC) because they have recording studios there. So far, I've been doing interviews over Zoom—which is easy—but in terms of the quality, JMC is a cool resource because I can make things sound more professional.
Q: Do you have a favorite episode you've made so far?
A: The most recent one, about Econ 70, was probably my favorite to make. I got to interview four students, and that was really fun because I got a diversity of experiences. I interviewed the students before and after they went to Argentina and Chile. Episode three with Christopher Snyder was one of the most interesting. He talked about how the US government is preparing for the next pandemic and what the cost is of investing money toward a pandemic that could happen in a hundred years or in ten years.
Q: What do you think prospective applicants should know about our economics department?
A: The Econ 70 episode is a microcosm of what the department provides because it's a story about students going abroad through the economics department in a program run by two professors, and that story is told by someone who started a podcast with the help of the economics department. If anyone is nervous about whether their passions will be transferrable to college, they should know that the support systems in the departments and the school as a whole allow them to do whatever they want. The economics department is full of amazing professors who do incredible research but who are also always available to talk. I imagine other departments are similar. Anyone who's applying to Dartmouth should understand what it means to go to a small school. It means you have access to professors and resources.
Thank you, Gabe! And thanks to everyone for reading! If you want to learn more about the courses offered in the economics department, the faculty who work there and the research they're pursuing, and the unique opportunities for undergraduates, check out their department wesbite [link: https://economics.dartmouth.edu/]. We also have a plethora of blog posts about the economics department, like this one about the economics exchange program by Sydney Wuu, this economics professor interview by Toni Fabian, and this post about the economics major by Robin Martinez. And, obviously, listen to Big Green Economics. Until next time!
At Dartmouth, there is an undergraduate requirement for language; after all, it is the liberal arts! Fulfilling this requirement looks different for various people and I will focus on my experience.
Traditionally, Dartmouth students take three courses during a term, but I decided to take four courses this term! Learn about course load and the academic system at Dartmouth.
As I approach the halfway mark of my Dartmouth journey this spring, I find myself reflecting on the significance of distributive and world culture requirements in shaping my academic experience.
This is my final term before senior year, which is both exciting and terrifying at the same time. One thing I am excited about is the classes I am taking this term, so let me tell you more!
