Hello there, friend! My name is Love and I am a '23. Aside from being on the pre-med track, I'm currently interested in studying math and public policy. I have a penchant for old things, learning languages, and the arts. I also love personality tests, irrespective of their actual validity—in case you're curious, I'm an INFJ, Scorpio, dragon, and type 2w1.
BIOL 11.07 (Major Events in the History of Life and the Human Genome) is a very unique class. We learn topics such as oxidative phosphorylation in conjunction with evolution and paleontology. In other words, where and when did ETC come from, and how can we support our hypothesis? Though not an easy class by far, every day the material I learn amazes me with the wonder of life, which is how biology should be!
MES 7.03 (Jerusalem: Vision and Reality) was my First-Year Seminar and such an interesting class to take! We explored Jerusalem through three main viewpoints (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam). The class had a bit of religion, literature, anthropology, sociology, and even geography—all things I love to study but don't necessarily have the space for with our three-class quarters. I often found myself going to office hours just to talk with my professor about questions I had outside of the reading!
COSC 10 (Problem Solving with Object-Oriented Programming) is a data structures course and the last pre-requisite for the computer science major. Though I added it as a fourth class on a whim because of COVID-19 and remote learning, it quickly became my favorite class this term because I loved the problem solving that CS has to offer. It is a difficult class but the emotional and academic rewards make it all worth it!
This was one of four classes I took during fall term and it was super interesting! We learned about healthcare systems and innovations from around 4 guest lecturers per week, and were able to do research on our own and propose a new system at the end of the term. Students came from all over campus and the course was very enlightening for me in terms of understanding how care is dispensed in the U.S. and how we can improve it.
Though this was my first "foundation" course in the Biology department and I still found it challenging, I really enjoyed learning the material and found it all super exciting! We learned about DNA replication, mRNA transcription and protein translation, genetics, and had the opportunity to do a literature review at the end of the term.
The dreaded Organic Chemistry sequence of my pre-med track came upon me faster than I thought it would, but it surprised me by being one of my favorite classes to date! I found it intellectually interesting (even though it was time-consuming), probably because I treated it like a STEM-and-logic puzzle instead of pure STEM or pure memorization. Am I great at it? Not necessarily. Do I remember everything I've learned? I'm not too sure! Am I mentally ready for Organic Chemistry 2 next term? Not at all! But I had a lot of fun doing this class and surprised even myself with how I tackled it.
I love dancing, story-telling, and learning about different cultures so I knew going into this course that I would enjoy it. Cross-listed in the theater and AAAS departments, this course let students have the privilege of working with Dance Theatre of Harlem members who were in Hanover for a summer residency. As a group, we analyzed a play ("The Purple Flower" by Marita Bonner) and transformed the text into a physical movement piece. Each student also had complete ownership of a personal final project, and I opted to do a self-choreographed dance. Overall, I loved getting the chance to work creatively in my academics this term and I also was able to broaden my perspective and knowledge of the African-American story in the process!
As a pre-med, I am constantly trying to learn more about the U.S medical system. This course was extremely engaging in all aspects, taking students through all of American history through the lens of healthcare within the span of 10 weeks. I particularly liked having a discussion session that replaced a lecture, since we were able to talk about the issues with the professor and think out loud about our readings. The course was definitely challenging and required a lot of synthesis across different time periods and topics, but I feel like I came out of it with a deeper and more profound understanding of our healthcare system and why it functions the way it does today.
WinterDetroit, MI
For my junior winter, I did an internship in clinical research! With COVID affecting so much of my college experience, this practical, in-person work internship was very important for me to not only hone my employable skills but also see what having a 8am - 5pm job looks like and how it could fit into my future.
Much like my other pre-med courses here at Dartmouth, Biochemistry was quite rigorous and fast-paced. It was certainly challenging, but I found the work extremely rewarding and I enjoyed learning about all the different mechanisms that happen inside of our bodies. Additionally, many of my friends were also in this class as well, rounding out final prerequisites for graduate school, and this fact made it all the more fun.
SummerDresden, Germany
For my junior summer, I had a research internship in Eastern Germany, working at the intersection between math, computer science, and biology! The learning curve was very steep since my project focus changed once I arrived in Europe, but I had a lot of fun and learned a lot about the content and myself. I am extremely thankful for all the support that Dartmouth has given me throughout my time here, without which I wouldn't have been able to do a 12-week European adventure!
As a pre-med student interested in health disparities, SOCY 75 was an amazing class to take! We covered numerous topics concerning how where one lives can impact their health outcomes. At the end of the course, students were also able to complete a final project of their choosing and I loved being able to tie my personal experiences into an academic course.
Throughout college, most of my science courses have been at the introductory level: one term of genetics, one term of cell structure, etc. Rarely have I had the chance to engage with something on a deeper level or connect the pre-med courses to human biology. This course was super interesting because I could finally connect everything I've learned throughout college into one cohesive course that connects to something I want to do post-Dartmouth.
You did it! Decisions have come out and you are most likely weighing your options, wondering how and where to take this next step. You may be happy about a lot of your choices, and almost certainly disappointed by a few.
I wish I could tell you what to do or provide some more concrete guidance during this time of your senior year, but the truth is, all of your experiences will be vastly different from my own and what was true for me may not hold for you. Instead, I leave you with a few suggestions to do both as you figure out where to commit and how to close out this chapter of your life. Though certainly not an all-inclusive list, these were things that I did (or wished I did) this time last year.
1. Thank the important people in your life who got you to where you are. For many of us, that will be our parents and/or guardians. The people who got food on the table, drove you places, and made it possible for you to graduate high school. They say it takes a village to raise a child, so also send out thank-yous to whoever helped along the way—other family members, teachers, and mentors. Virtually nobody gets anywhere in life alone. Since coming to college, I've realized more and more how much I owe to those who have put time into me, and how much I treasured their company. With everyone in quarantine or otherwise impacted by COVID-19, a few nice words would brighten anyone's day immensely.
2. Go through all of your old stuff and choose just a few things to keep. This primarily gives you the chance to throw other things away before you move to college (check with your mom before doing so, if she is anything like mine), but it also is fantastic for seeing where you've been and how you've grown. Remember when learning long division was the hardest thing you had to do? Life is really a journey of growth and though your childhood is now finished, what you learned during this time and the person that you became will forever be influenced by the earliest years of your life. This summer will be the last year you qualify as a "child." What else do you still want to do?
3. Look at the list of colleges that you have to choose from. Now that virtually all in-person visits are out of the question, you will rely on college programming and student interaction to provide the basis for your decision. As you make your choice, maybe keep some of these questions in mind:
What is the most important thing to you in terms of an undergraduate education?
How do you want to grow during college?
What kind of person do you want to become, and what institution would provide the best environment to do so?
If things such as money, prestige, or location weren't factored in, what school would you want to go to?
With these things factored in (as much or as little as you think they should matter), what school is the best choice then?
Why X College over Y?
What is the best institution to give you the best chance at success post graduation?
How would you quantify or qualify "success"?
What are you willing to sacrifice for this?
Where do you think you would fit in the most, having talked to current students?
Do you want to go somewhere just to fit in?
Note this: there are no perfect choices. Even for me at Dartmouth, where I am happily settled in, sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I went to another school or stayed closer to home. You will never know what would have happened if you had chosen another school, and that's a fact of life! No one school is going to be a perfect fit and every step is one step into the unknown, but remember that it is the intent with which you picked a school that will guide your path and hopefully help create the experience that you are looking for.
4. Plan a tour to say goodbye to your hometown. Stop by places such as your first school, the places you were at the most, and the places you wish you made more time for. With the virus, this may look a little different from when I did it, but it still is possible. Reflect on your past, and use your memories to help you make a decision about your next four years at college. Take pictures and soak it all in.
5. And lastly, I know that a good number of you are hurting. Some of you maybe didn't have Dartmouth as a first choice and are here on the blog, looking for some insight into this school. Others might have been denied or waitlisted and are struggling to move on. To both camps, I can sympathize with how hard it must be to have worked so long and not gotten the results you were looking for. I know that the world must seem so bleak right now, with college decisions on top of your senior year being postponed indefinitely and the general state of the world. I can't say when or how it will get better. But I can say that time will go on and you will continue to grow, learn, and improve, just as you always have. No one event defines you. Your character and the continual impact you have on the world is your legacy. You exist outside of societal structures of success, class, and prestige. Though we live within these institutions and use them to the best of our capabilities, it is still important to remember the person behind all of it. Continue to live with intention and be a community member and individual that you would be proud of.
Wishing you all peace, health, and happiness during these times. The Dartmouth Admissions team and larger Dartmouth community are on your side as we all look towards to a better future. This is it, High School Class of 2020! You've done it. Congratulations on your college acceptances and on all the work you've done so far. The fun is only beginning.
I applied through Questbridge's National College Match, but did not match. To others who also did not match, this is not the end of your application process! Here's what I did following match decision day.
Learn about the different programs Dartmouth offers prospective students to explore campus life, learn about Dartmouth, and enjoy an all-expenses paid trip to Hanover!
"What's it like working for admissions?" "Are you being truthful with your answers?" "Are you being scripted?" Let's dive right into all these questions.
It's been (almost) a full year since I was in your (figurative) shoes! Let's take a trip down memory lane and dissect my Dartmouth application process. Part one of a long journey!
Choosing the right college is a critical decision that extends beyond mere rankings. Without the benefit of campus visits, it's vital to thoroughly research and understand each institution to ensure a fulfilling and safe experience.
