Welcome to the blog of an Englishman studying at Dartmouth—do take a look around! Hopefully, my blogs will provide you with an insight on life at Dartmouth, and specifically through the eyes of an international student. Dartmouth has a ton to offer from the staggering natural beauty of its surroundings and stellar academic programs to the wonderful people you meet along the way. So stay a while, I'll make us cups of tea, and take a moment to discover life at the College on the Hill.
As of late, the admissions office has been crackling with energy, as Dartmouth opened its doors to admitted students for the first Dimensions cohort since 2019! What is Dimensions, I hear you ask? Well, Dimensions is an incredible opportunity for committed and undecided admitted students to experience a literal 'day-in-the-life' of a Dartmouth student! Potential '27s are matched with a student host and spend a day attending classes and sessions about life at Dartmouth. I've often said that the reason I (and many others) adore Dartmouth isn't something that can be fully captured in writing or even video. The buzz of life on campus is to be felt, not seen, and Dimensions is a tremendous opportunity to do just that.
Working in the Admissions Office, I've been blessed with the opportunity to meet many of the students attending Dimensions. In a way, it has reminded me of the first time I hit campus. COVID being rampant at the time, my first impression of campus was fated to be the day I arrived and began orientation – something that was simultaneously exciting and liberating, but also scary. I feel like these '27s have such an awesome chance to see this campus when deciding, and if I could roll back the clock and relive my first few days at Dartmouth, I can assure you that I would!
A photo from my first ever walk around campus!
I remember hitting campus vividly. After 25 hours of traveling – weary and worn – I stumbled from the Dartmouth Coach, landing in front of The Hopkins Center for the Arts. As the coach rolled into town, it was filled with sounds of excitement, many too enthralled by the passing views to even bring out their phone to record! Upon arrival, I walked home to sleep. I didn't sleep long. I woke up full of excitement at around 5 in the morning (jet lag is HUGE), and decided to take a walk around campus! Throughout my first day, I met probably around 30 different people, and I am still friends with about 10 of them! I remember the energy as international student pre-orientation rolled by – everyone was just so excited to meet one another, and I was instantly accepted into the fold of my class.
An interesting thing that I have noticed about the community at Dartmouth, is that it exists in layers. As you spend more time here, you peel them back – descending deeper into the community that we have here on and beyond campus. I started as an international student here, then I was a freshman, then after Homecoming, I was (in many ways) a full member of the student cohort. In my sophomore year, I joined a Greek house, and many people will join a secret society in their Junior year. Finally, you leave Dartmouth, and you become an alumn. It keeps going, and it is amazing just how far it goes. I love it because I have always found myself exploring this small but at the same time vast and deep community. A community that is, yes, centered around a little college on a hill, but permeates every facet of life.
While the Hanover community is always strong and thriving, it's hard to imagine what it's like when you are thousands of miles away from The Green. Read on to learn about my Dartmouth life in Rome, and the community within Dartmouth while abroad.
In one of my previous posts, I mentioned how I joined a sorority earlier this fall by going through the recruitment process. I've come a long way since then. In fact, I am living in my sorority house for my sophomore summer!
Dartmouth is not just a college. With world-renowned graduate schools, why would we choose to call ourselves a college instead of a university? The story behind that decision dates back to a significant Supreme Court ruling.
On a quiet spring Saturday in Hanover, I traded the usual campus buzz for Monet in the morning and archery in the afternoon—a reminder that Dartmouth weekends can be just as meaningful when they're slow, reflective, and a little unexpected.
During my sophomore spring quarter, I took on the challenge of four STEM courses, and while it has been intense, the unexpected connections across subjects and the joy of learning have made it one of my most rewarding academic experiences yet.
Read about the Sophomore Summer Soiree and how I got to witness the beginning of something that hopefully grows into a long-standing Dartmouth tradition!
