Welcome to the woods! My name is Matt Catrambone and I'm super excited to be joining the People, Places, Pines team as a new blogger. As of now, I am majoring in biology and quantitative social science (QSS), but who knows where I will end up! I will be sharing my journey as I try out classes, activities and research opportunities in various departments. Outside of the classroom, I like to listen to music, hike, ski and explore the surrounding area with my friends. Nice to meet you all!
Coming in with very little programming experience, I was pleasantly surprised by the beginner-friendly nature of this course. Although a very fast-paced course, CS1 gave me the academic confidence I needed my freshman fall. I was able to code games, maps and drawings all in 10 weeks, always surrounded by help from Vasanta (our lovely professor) and over 20 teaching assistants. I also made some close friends through the course, so I would highly, highly recommend it to anyone.
This has been my favorite class at Dartmouth thus far. Co-taught by a married couple, the introductory course fostered a challenging, yet welcoming environment for mainly first-year students. After learning about basics in epidemiology, immunology, microbiology and statistics, we dedicated entire lectures to specifically learn about over ten infectious diseases. I particularly enjoyed understanding treatment methods (vaccine, drug discovery, prevention) from both the scientific and epidemiological points-of-view, and the connections we made to current events. Now, I can confidently contribute to conversations about topics I used to be intimidated of.
A field that is often dominated by buzzwords and fear-mongering headlines, global health is a fascinating field that I was initially hesitant to engage with. And I'm so happy I did. Anne Sosin as a lovely professor who prioritized engagement and curiosity. Through weekly discussion posts, diverse sets of readings, three papers and a case study, we were able to explore four large areas of global health in conjunction with our interests. I focused on how rural health inequities connect to structural violence, colonialism, and biomedicine/technology advances. I was definitely one of the younger, less experienced students in the course, but the support was so accessible that I recommend this course to anyone interested!
As cliche as it sounds, the day I decided to come to Dartmouth truly does feel like yesterday. I remember being in your position, very conflicted on how to figure out where I wanted to spend the next four years. I had trouble trusting what current students and admissions officers were telling me, convinced they were only telling me what I wanted to hear. So, I talked to a few friends about how I could best encapsulate what the student experience is and they recommended that I share a list of the random "little" things we love about the school. I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed making it!
(1) Lingo - the thing that first comes to mind when I think about the Dartmouth community. We have a nickname for everything. Although it may appear intimidating and a little cult-ish on the outside, I think it builds such a distinct, strong sense of community and belonging on campus. We shorten words, merge them together, and create new sayings that you won't find anywhere except on this campus. I don't want to spoil what a lot of the words mean because I believe finding out their meanings on campus is a lot more special, but you can still guess as to what these stand for: FOCO, 3FB, @Now, Fookie, Fayesment, Trippee, Tripling, Lay-up, Sunrike, and Sunsike, to name a few.
(2) Collis smoothies - arguably the best, most customizable food on campus. Oh, and the free coffee, pool tables, market, and music venues, hidden away in the student center.
(3) Singalongs, especially on first-year trips.
Singing with friends at the Skiway
(4) Live music! The lively, intense support for student-led music groups on-campus is something I didn't expect to be so prevalent. Whether it's in greek spaces, at the Skiway, on the Green, or in on-campus events, you can tell that everyone is rooting for each other - and I think that's so beautiful.
Live music right behind us!
(5) Accessibility of the outdoors – it's right at our fingertips. If you like hiking, you can hit up Pine Park and about seven other parks with trails in walking distance – or head off-campus with daily offerings with the DOC. If paddling is your thing, you can head out with Ledyard or rent your canoe, kayak, or paddleboard. You can also fish, swim, climb, ski (alpine or nordic), and play intramural sports. It's a big part of campus culture, which may seem intimidating at first, but there are plenty of opportunities that welcome newcomers. In fact, exploring new things is an even bigger part of campus culture.
Cross country skiing with two friends!
(6) Flair – if you see a student if vibrant, neon clothing or an animal onesie, don't panic or pass judgment. It's very popular within student organizations, big events, or even just for fun.
Flair at a club ski event last term!
(7) One main dining hall – FOCO. Although we have many dining options on and off campus, there is one central dining hall that we call FOCO. You can always count on recognizing a familiar face or meeting someone completely new. I am never scared of going in there alone.
(8) Library – you have options. There are many study spots in Baker-Berry Library waiting for you to discover them. If you are looking for some companionship, you can hit up FFB where you may or may not finish your assignments. There are also quieter options as you move up the floors and many historic, more traditional study spots that are less popular. I try to switch it up pretty often and have never been disappointed.
(9) The Green – and the traditions associated with it. In the fall, we had the Homecoming bonfire where the first-year students were welcomed into the community by doing a huge lap around the Bonfire and the upperclassmen. In the winter, at midnight after the first snowfall, many community members came together to have a massive snowball fight to kick off the term. And as the weather is getting warmer in the spring, students are beginning to bring out their Spikeball nets, frisbees, and guitars.
Hanging out with friends on the Green (and a dog)
In fact, the energy and camaraderie on the Green is what pushed me to apply early decision to Dartmouth. I remember walking by and envisioning myself there alongside my classmates and the community I could be a part of. With that, I hope this helped illustrate a candid picture of everyday life and that you enjoyed it as much as I did!
On Monday, April 8, 2024, a phenomenal total solar eclipse occurred — and we happened to be within the path of totality. As a result, Dartmouth hosted a variety of eclipse-related events on- and off-campus. Find out how I spent the eclipse!
Traditionally, Dartmouth students take three courses during a term, but I decided to take four courses this term! Learn about course load and the academic system at Dartmouth.
