I am an arts -lover and passionate debater still navigating my way through Dartmouth. I have also been, slowly but surely, adjusting to Hanover’s weather from Saudi’s constant heat (and learning the importance of layers and insulation). I draw editorial cartoons for The Dartmouth, our college newspaper, and am interested in everything and anything related to foreign affairs! This time of the year, you will likely find me gazing at the snow outside a window in Baker-Berry Library.
My name is Lamees Kareem, and I am a ’22 (freshman) from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
As you maneuver your way through the somewhat nerve-racking college application process, let my blog be a source of insight for you about life at Dartmouth! Whether you are an international student or not, I am sure you will find my fellow bloggers’ and my experiences rather informative as to what the dynamic at Dartmouth is like.
I am from Jeddah, a coastal city onlooking the Red Sea on the West of Saudi Arabia.
A place I’ve been calling home for my entire life, Jeddah has been undergoing drastic, lively changes lately with movie theaters launching and women on the road (woohoo)! My favorite part about it, besides family, friends and food, is probably the beach; the Red Sea is a gorgeous oasis, especially if you are a scuba-diver (you might just fall in love).
I’ve been blessed with an incredibly supportive family who pushes me to pursue my dreams, even if they take me 6188 miles away (right, Baba?).
The most common question I get, which you may be curious about, is: “Of all the places in the world, why did you choose Dartmouth?”
Dartmouth, a college precisely in deserto (the wilderness, as our college motto accurately says), is so different from the environment and lifestyle I am used to. Yet, that is precisely what inspired me to come here! From freshman DOC Trips to seeing snow for the first time, the experiences I will encounter at Dartmouth will continuously encourage me out of my comfort zone in the best way possible.
During my fervent search for colleges across the country, I simply did not find a place that cared more about its undergraduates than Dartmouth did. Whether it was from the constant outreach I received from Admissions or the upperclassmen reaching out to chat, this community just seemed like a nurturing, welcoming patch of green I could see myself spending the next four years in.
As I shop for snow boots and brace for the cold, I want to welcome you again to my page and invite you to embark on this life-changing journey with me.
Their choice of venue was pretty incomparable: Dartmouth’s Hood Museum! We dressed up for the event that was impeccably organized with catering, live performances from student groups (such as Street Soul), and a DJ.
Space is important in Dartmouth College and several buildings receive special attention from the community. Dartmouth Hall, Baker Library, and the beloved Green are all notably significant locations in the history of the College.
absolutely loved being a Resident Advisor and resource for my group of Dartmouth Bound students, and I was so impressed with all of them and their willingness to get to know each other even within such a short time frame.
I only discovered Dartmouth in August, and instantly felt compelled to apply. Let me explain to you something from a student perspective, the thing that makes me say this is the best College there is.
Whether you’re trying to articulate your love for the “College on the Hill” in one 100-word essay or deciding if you want to apply to Dartmouth at all, I hope this can elucidate why I applied to Dartmouth (and why you should too)!
