Welcome to the woods! Dartmouth is hands-down my favorite place, and I look forward to coming back every term. I'm not even kidding. After a day and a half of traveling, I step off the Dartmouth Coach and breathe in the crisp Hanover air. Dragging my two humongous suitcases, I trudge across campus, climb three flights of stairs, fumble for the key in my pocket, and finally open the door to my new corner dorm. I let out a sigh of relief at the sight of my bare twin XL mattress.
Coming in with some Python background, I still find this class challenging. Yet, I always enjoy going to Vasanta's lectures and working on the short assignments with the help of the TAs. Awesome experience.
Professor Pierson taught the class really well—his lectures always start with a hook that keeps me engaged. Although the material is definitely more challenging than the prior class, I learned a whole lot more. My CS1 professor suggested we learn Java before taking CS10 (she even sent us resources for it!), but of course, I didn't. It was a language I continued picking up as I did my short assignments and PSETs with my partner. The workload is not light; however, I felt like everything was worth learning!
Initially, I felt daunted by the thought of taking Data Visualization due to its rigorous materials and challenging projects. The course is structured as a flipped classroom, encouraging us to read textbooks before class and complete assignments with guidance from Professor Horiuchi. This approach was incredibly beneficial; he allowed us to solve problems independently, answered our questions, and provided valuable insights at the end of each session. Although the exams were tough, they directly reflected our in-class practice. Additionally, I applied what I learned during my first summer internship!
Professor Beaudoin is one of my favorite professors and lecturers at Dartmouth! I have always been interested in classical music, and this class allowed me to completely immerse myself into it. Early Classical Music was vastly different from traditional college classes – we listened to pieces from ancient civilizations, flipped through preserved music scripts written on cattle skin, copied down old music notations, and attended a Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra performance. For our final essay, I read extensively about Élisabeth Claude Jacquet de La Guerre, a French harpsichordist from the 1600s. This experience not only enhanced my knowledge of Jacquet de La Guerre but also taught me how to efficiently navigate the library and utilize its resources.
Taking ENGS 012: Design Thinking with Professor Steinhauer (Rafe) was one of my best decisions. The class significantly enhanced my creative thinking and collaboration skills. We worked on various projects, each with different groups. My favorite project involved building a foamcore rollercoaster for a ping pong ball. The class became really close and it felt like high school all over again!
In this course, my team and I built a motorized gutter system! The class focuses on applying design thinking principles from ENGS 012 to create need-based solutions for specific user groups. With the theme of 'rural living' this term, my group targeted homeowners in snowy areas with gutter systems. Our motorized gutter system aimed to prevent ice dams and gutter damage during winter.
Honestly, I can’t recommend taking classes with Professor Loeb (Lorie) enough! Since my first year fall, I’ve heard numerous glowing reviews of this class, and I immediately joined the waitlist—even before I knew my major—since it’s such a popular course. Lorie’s class structure is amazing. She focuses on hands-on lectures and collaboration and is always available for after-class consultations.
This class has daily homework that gradually builds your understanding of UI and UX, culminating in a final project that reinforces those skills. I also love that Lorie grades assignments using emojis instead of letter grades. It’s such a fun and fitting approach, especially since there’s no right or wrong in creativity.
Sophomore summer at Dartmouth has officially kicked off, and I've lost count of how many times I've had to explain this awesome tradition to friends back home. Imagine this: the whole sophomore class enjoys the campus to themselves, creating a laid-back yet lively atmosphere with endless chances to socialize. The warm weather turns the outdoors vibrant, and we're all geared up to have fun!
With a few exceptions, domestic students are required to take their sophomore summer "on," meaning being enrolled in classes. International students like me often have this term as an "off" period due to visa constraints, but many of us choose to stay on campus anyway to enjoy the unique summer experience.
I decided to spend my "off" term here, and it's been an incredible choice. There's plenty of housing available, and my fees are waived for the summer, making it accessible for those of us on financial aid. This setup lets me fully immerse myself in the sophomore summer experience without worrying about costs.
One of my summer goals is to up my cooking game. TikTok has become my culinary guide, and I've already nailed dishes like Gochuchang beef, tomatoes and eggs, and fried pork belly. Cooking has turned into a fun group activity with friends, and our kitchen series has become a highlight of the summer.
In addition to my culinary adventures, I'm diving into research through the Undergraduate Research Assistantship at Dartmouth (URAD) program. Dartmouth offers a range of research grants for undergraduates, supporting both "on" and "off" term students. I've been working with my lab since the start of my sophomore year, and I'm excited to see what we uncover by the end of the term.
With only sophomores on campus, campus dance groups held auditions for new members in the summer. After four hours of dancing this past Sunday, I got the thrilling news that I made it into UjiMELT, the summer group of Dartmouth's oldest dance organization!
This summer is all about embracing the best of Dartmouth: sunny skies and the unbeatable energy of the '26s.
An international student's perspective on Dartmouth's unique and inclusive Greek life culture, exploring the diverse motivations, experiences, and social dynamics behind joining a sorority.
Starting college in a new country is a big leap, but with orientation programs, cultural connections, and helpful resources, Dartmouth quickly became more than just a campus—it became home.
My journey home for winter break (winterim) after an entire year of being away from family and friends! The winter break is six weeks from late November to Early January, and students may stay on campus with provided housing and meal plans.
