Hello, and welcome to my corner of the woods! I'm Lauren, a '27 from Munger, Michigan. On campus, I enjoy writing sports for The Dartmouth, going on as many DOC trips as I can, and hanging out with my friends. I also love Woccoming, doing the daily NYT mini crossword, and paddling!
I took this class as part of Dartmouth's first year writing requirement. We read a pro cyclist's life narrative, discussed research papers on controversial topics in sports, and wrote our own papers on a contentious sports technology of our choice. I really enjoyed this course's emphasis on discussion, and the small class size!
This was my first class in the classics department, which was super exciting as a classical studies major! We learned about the ancient Olympics and the connections between athletics and other aspects of ancient Greek society. I loved the final project in this class, which involved creating an argument about how the ancient pentathlon was scored!
To conclude my language requirement, I took Latin 3! This class was super exciting because we began to read ancient texts and poetry. We also took a class trip to the Rauner Special Collections library so we could physically handle and read some manuscripts. And as an added bonus, Latin counts as a prerequisite for my classical studies major!
As a part of my language study abroad in Italy, I also took a class on Italian history and culture! We went on field trips to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, participated in walking tours of Rome, and watched a lot of great cinema in this class! I loved it so much that I decided to minor in Italian.
This class, in addition to being a pre-requisite for both my major and my spring study abroad, was super interesting! I loved learning about archaeology in a chronological sequence, and I feel so much more prepared for my trip to Greece after completing this class.
For those who don't know, there's a helpful button on the side of this page that says "What's a D-Plan?" and can answer all your questions (or you can click here). As someone who's been navigating academic life at Dartmouth for a little over a year now, I've had a lot of time to form my opinion regarding the D-Plan. Here's a quick breakdown of the pros and cons, at least from my perspective.
The Pros
1. Flexibility
I think the hands-down biggest advantage of the D-Plan is the flexibility it provides. You can choose (within reason) when to be on campus, meaning you can tailor your college experience to fit your interests, needs, and goals.
2. Small classes
The most tangible effect of the D-Plan during my first year at Dartmouth was the small class sizes. Since not everyone is on campus at the same time, class sizes can be reduced—making it easier to connect with classmates and instructors and leading to a deeper understanding of the material.
Most of my classes have 15-20 students, with a specified enrollment cap!
3. Opportunities
Since the D-Plan allows you to take unconventional terms off (like winter!), you may be able to find internship opportunities more easily. This can be a game changer for gaining work experience or exploring career paths.
4. Variety
With the D-Plan, no two students have the same Dartmouth experience. This creates the opportunity to form a truly unique college journey that I think highlights the individuality and creativity of Dartmouth students.
The Cons
1. Inconsistency
Since everyone is on different schedules, it can be difficult to maintain a consistent large friend group at Dartmouth. You might have close friends who are off-campus when you're on, or vice versa—which can be tough. It is nice to have a chance to expand your circle of friends, though!
At the end of each term, club meetings (like this Ledyard Council) are filled with goodbyes because of the D-Plan!
2. Mapping out D-Plans
The D-Plan requires a somewhat significant amount of foresight. You have to plan your courses, internships, and off-terms in advance, which can be overwhelming. Thankfully, there are a lot of resources available to help you during this process. (Like the People, Places, Pines blog)!
3. Limited course availability
Not every course is offered every term at Dartmouth, so you have to consider which classes you want (and need) to take when forming your D-Plan. This can be frustrating if you have a specific academic plan in mind or want to take a unique class for a distributive that does not line up with your D-Plan. Thankfully most majors and minors have a lot of flexibility in terms of what courses you can use to fulfill the requirements.
I wanted to take CLST 40 Translation: Theory and Practice, but it is only offered during my 25W term abroad
The D-Plan is both liberating and challenging. It offers an unprecedented level of flexibility, but it also requires a lot of organization and proactive planning. Everyone's Dartmouth experience is unique, and the D-Plan is a major factor of what makes that sentiment true.
My D-Plan still isn't set in stone, and that's okay! There's no shame in asking for help when trying to make big decisions like which term to take off. I encourage you to check out some of my fellow bloggers' profiles to take a peek at their D-Plans!
Walking around the Wellelsey campus, it's clear that it was built with intentional incorporation of the surrounding nature. The architecture of many buildings were also mindfully crafted to support Wellesley's unique principles.
My first time in Chicago at the Society of Women Engineers Conference in Chicago, Illinois! Fully funded by Dartmouth, I had a great time meeting amazing companies and getting to know fellow women engineers.
Through Dartmouth's Guarini Institute for International Study, I am getting to take classes and experience life at Wellesley College, an all-women's school!
Academics can be challenging at Dartmouth. But there are lots of groups across campus here to support you through your academic journey. Read on for my experience asking for help and a few organizations that might be helpful to you!
Every Dartmouth student is required to demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English. Here's my experience navigating the language requirement!
