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.
What My Family Really Wants to Know About Dartmouth
I've spent the past couple of weeks catching up with my family and hometown friends, which has been great! However, I've noticed that a few recurring questions about Dartmouth have kept popping up. In this post, I thought I'd answer a few of the most common!
1. Why is your winter break so long?
Dartmouth runs on the quarter system rather than the traditional semester schedule, which means our academic calendar is divided into four terms that follow the seasons. Winter break—or "Winterim," as we call it—is long because the fall term finishes before Thanksgiving and winter term doesn't start until after New Year's Day! This gives us nearly six weeks off, an extended break perfect for spending time with family, relaxing, traveling, or even pursuing internships and research opportunities. Some students remain on campus for Winterim, where there are events and shared meals!
2. Why do you go to school so far away from home?
To be honest, I always knew that I wanted to go away for college and experience something different from where I grew up. Dartmouth offered the perfect opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and meet people from all over the world, while still feeling connected to a close-knit community.
Being far away from home has allowed me to become more independent and see the world from new perspectives. It's been challenging at times—but that's nothing a quick phone call home can't fix, and it's worth it in the end.
3. Where even IS Dartmouth?
Dartmouth is in Hanover, New Hampshire, a small town in the Upper Valley region right next to the Connecticut River. It's about a two-hour drive north from Boston (and yes, there's a bus that goes there) and a three-hour drive south from Montreal (there's a bus there too).
Campus is surrounded by mountains and forests (great for exploring), but everything you could want is within walking distance in the charming downtown area. And if you can't find what you're looking for, there are buses to neighboring towns with stores like Walmart and Target!
My friend Noah and I went to Target this term so we could buy Halloween candy!
4. Hanover?! What is there to do in Hanover?
Hanover is small, but it has plenty to offer! I might not be the best person to answer this question, because my hometown is MUCH smaller than Hanover—meaning I'm just happy there are a few coffee shops to pick between and a movie theater within walking distance.
Since Dartmouth itself is always buzzing with student activities, I've never felt bored in Hanover. There are shows at the Hopkins Center for the Arts, restaurants to explore downtown, and tons of trails for hiking, running, or just enjoying nature.
One of my favorite stores in Hanover is the Dartmouth Co-Op, which sells Dartmouth-branded items that are perfect for gifting!
5. How about during winter?
I LOVE winter in Hanover. I think one of my most-used phrases last winter was "We live in a snowglobe," and I stand by that! The snow transforms campus into a winter wonderland, which students embrace with activities like skiing (at our very own Dartmouth Skiway), ice skating on the Green, or cozying up with a book in the library. The cold is definitely an adjustment, but fun activities like Winter Carnival and the annual first snowfall snowball fight make the season super fun!
6. What's so special about Dartmouth?
This question is my favorite—but it's also the hardest to answer because Dartmouth means something different to everyone. For me, it's the tight-knit community and the sense of belonging I feel on campus that makes it special.
Hanover has become my home away from home, and the people there—my friends, professors, and the people I work with—have provided me with endless opportunities to grow and support. Dartmouth has pushed me to improve myself, both academically and personally, in ways I never expected.
I can't wait to celebrate Winter, so I just had to write a blog post all about it. Read on to hear about all the fun (and affordable) Winter activities at Dartmouth!
After experiencing this Dartmouth winter term, I am ready to write an ode to this cold weather! Here is what a weekend in the Hanover winter feels like.
My first week back on campus– full of lots of hugs and an extensive amount of time spent making my Google calendar! Cold days and walking to classes after six weeks at home can be an adjustment, but my friends at Dartmouth make it all the more fun!
