Hello! My name is Melissa and I'm a binge-watching, carrot cake-loving, undercover art aficionado from the West Coast (best coast). I'm excited to explore the Government, Latin American Studies, and Geography departments during my first year at Dartmouth. You can find me studying in the Black Family Visual Arts Center, working or hanging at Novack Café 24/7, and adding to my earring collection at Dartmouth's jewelry studio.
Why Dartmouth? (Why I applied and why you should too)
For all potential ‘23s out there, I’m sure you’re all pondering the question. Whether you’re trying to articulate your love for the “College on the Hill” in one 100-word essay or deciding if you want to apply to Dartmouth in the first place, I hope the following blog post can elucidate why I applied to Dartmouth (and why you should too)!
No. 1
Professors rule!
For my college experience, all I wanted were engaged professors and small class sizes. Dartmouth, in particular, stood out to me because of its commitment to undergraduate teaching. The only college in the Ivy League, Dartmouth always places its undergraduate students first! You won’t have to be competing with graduate students for research opportunities or receiving lectures from a teaching assistant. An endless amount of academic opportunities are available for Dartmouth students at any time of the year and students regularly interact with professors, who also happen to be some of the world’s leading experts in their fields.
This certainly has held true for my first fall quarter. I’ve gotten to know my professors incredibly well in small classes with no more than 15 students. My professors have been super accessible and have greatly facilitated my academic transition from high school to college! It goes without saying, if you’re looking for top-notch academics and easy-to-talk-to, knowledgeable professors, then Dartmouth is the place to be.
No. 2
Money
If you’re worried about financial aid (like I was), worry no longer. As a student from a low-income family, money posed a salient barrier to obtaining a college education but Dartmouth College is greatly committed to making school affordable for all. I applied to Dartmouth knowing that the cost of college wouldn’t be an issue. Whether you’re looking to start a new organization on campus or studying in a foreign country like Switzerland, Dartmouth will always provide its students with the necessary resources to make their academic endeavors a reality. No matter what your economic background is, Dartmouth will enable you to learn and grown in any way you want to!
No. 3
You can’t beat these views
Yet another reason I applied to Dartmouth was for its location. The Big Green is nicely nestled between the Connecticut River and the White Mountains. The nature surrounding the school is nothing short of breathtaking. Yet students aren’t only able to admire the gorgeous landscape, they can interact with it too. Programs like First-Year Trips and the Dartmouth Outing Club were yet another attraction of Dartmouth. The idea of spending time as one with nature was enticing. As a city girl from Los Angeles, I’ve done things I never thought I’d do - like daily tick-bites during my hike of the Appalachian Trail and sleeping under a tarp during a steady downpour in the middle of the White Mountains!
I was looking to immerse myself in the wilderness of New Hampshire and I certainly have accomplished that. If you’re looking to do the same, then consider Dartmouth!
At the beginning of the term, all of us bloggers gathered together to share a meal and catch up on our current writing and work ideas. One of the brainstorming activities we did involved compiling a list of words that encapsulated Dartmouth to us.
Space is important in Dartmouth College and several buildings receive special attention from the community. Dartmouth Hall, Baker Library, and the beloved Green are all notably significant locations in the history of the College.
