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!
Hello, and welcome to my blog! My name is Lauren, and I'm a '27. I was born and raised in Munger, a rural community in Michigan. I love listening to (and making) music, writing, spending time with my friends and family, watching sports, and traveling (especially road trips).
I was unable to visit Dartmouth before I applied. Everything I knew about New England came from Gilmore Girls until I stumbled upon a People Places Pines post. I spent the next few hours exploring the blog (which I encourage you to do!) and quickly fell in love with Dartmouth and all of its traditions.
I ultimately decided to attend Dartmouth because I loved my hometown. Wait—let me explain myself. Despite being separated by over 700 miles, Munger and Dartmouth share two important similarities:
1. Community
Dartmouth features an incredibly close-knit community. I've only been on campus for two weeks, but I've already become accustomed to seeing friendly faces wherever I go. While walking across the Green, grabbing food at Foco, or studying in Blobby, I've met a multitude of kind, welcoming, and friendly Dartmouth students.
My friends and I won trivia at Collis, and were rewarded with these cool Dartmouth Winter Carnival posters!
2. Connection to the outdoors
I'd like to consider myself a pretty adventurous person, but I'm not the most outdoorsy. Luckily, no matter your level of expertise, Dartmouth has an outdoor opportunity for you! The Dartmouth Outing Club (DOC) is comprised of 23 sub-clubs, which range from Nordic Skiing to Surfing to Organic Farming. I'm excited to engage with these opportunities and explore the beautiful Upper Valley (and beyond!) over the next four years.
My friends and I have been enjoying walks by the River and studying on the Green!
In addition, Dartmouth provides a world-class liberal arts education and unparalleled opportunities. I'm academically interested in Quantitative Social Science and Cognitive Science, and here at Dartmouth, I'll easily be able to explore both. I've also already engaged with multiple clubs, including the Dartmouth Sports Analytics Club, Cabin and Trail (a DOC sub-club), and the Dartmouth Democrats.
I'm not going to mislead you—I was incredibly nervous to come to Dartmouth. But discomfort leads to growth, and I've already grown so much here. I've found myself saying yes to every opportunity I can, introducing myself to people wherever I go, and smiling almost constantly. I've also met some incredible friends and been incredibly engaged by my professors so far.
I hope that I can represent student life at Dartmouth authentically through my blog posts and that you are excited to learn more about this wonderful place along with me. Go Big Green!
Walking through Dartmouth's vibrant fall foliage and reflecting on my Sophomore Fall experiences underscored the importance of community and embracing opportunities.
On busy autumn weekdays, when mornings are filled with classes and half-finished coffee cups, my friend's car and some empty stomachs lead us to quick off-campus brunch trips to The Skinny Pancake in Quechee, Vermont!
Are you artistically inclined? Are you not artistically inclined but still love making art? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the Dartmouth Donald Claflin Jewelry Studio is for you!
It's hard to believe that it has been a year since I wrote my first end-of-fall-term reflection. It felt like only yesterday that I stepped into my dorm room this September, eager to reunite with my friends.
