My name is Michal, but I often end up being called Michael. I am a '27 from Lozorno, a small town outside Bratislava (Slovak capital). I am an exUWCer. I am passionate about climate change and sustainability in general. I want to devote my life to making this world a little more sustainable. I am an incredibly curious person and I'll be exploring as much of Dartmouth as possible from hardcore research to different sports to American culture. Please enjoy my adventures and thoughts on Dartmouth!
From my brief experience at Dartmouth, what makes or breaks a class is the professor and—more importantly—their attitude toward teaching. The good thing about Dartmouth is that the chances are in your favor since professors are excited to teach and want to see their students succeed. In my case, PHYS 15 (Physics 15) was taught by Professor Miles Blencowe. I already wrote a blog post about him, but in a nutshell, he single-handedly managed to reawake my love for learning in the midst of a high-paced course load. We covered the basics of mechanics, general relativity, and quantum mechanics. The course has had weekly labs that aim to show the real-world applications of the theory we covered in class. My final rating for this class is 4.9 stars out of 5.
Math 13 offers a perfect balance between being challenging and manageable. The course has enough workload to keep you engaged and fill a solid part of your day, but not so much that you can’t find time for friends. While the assignments provide valuable practice, they may feel like busy work for those who need less repetition. For a faster-paced option, Math 11 might be a better fit. Math 13 gave me a solid foundation in the Calculus of Vector-Valued Functions, enabling me to take courses like Physics 16 and various Engineering classes. It also introduced me to the value of Teaching Assistants (TAs) at Dartmouth, who host 2-hour sessions where students can ask questions, review the material in-depth, and get the intuition for the way vector-valued calculus works.
Physics 16 was the hardest class I took in my first year at Dartmouth. It wasn't that the material was impossible, but for the first time, I had to confront the limits of my imagination. The course focused on electric and magnetic fields of charges and currents, and while I can usually solve problems if I can visualize them, this class threw me off. Concepts like the Poynting vector seemed simple at first, but when combined with changing currents and capacitors, I struggled to keep up; although Differential Equations (Math 23) isn't a prerequisite, I strongly recommend having a background in it. Every time a new equation appeared on the board, I had to jot it down to research later; many classmates with stronger math backgrounds had no problem, so don't be intimidated—just make sure you know the math. This class ultimately reshaped my D-plan. I decided to prioritize math courses, not just to get through the material but to gain a deeper, more fundamental understanding of the engineering concepts I'll encounter later. This course made me realize I want math to be second nature when I return to my engineering courses so I can truly grasp the principles behind the problems rather than just apply formulas.
SummerSlovakia, Alaska, and Bulgaria
The goal of my summer was to take a break—not just from my goals but from my everyday grind in general. For the past three years, I've been operating at full capacity, constantly pushing myself. In that time, I've had the chance to explore different parts of the world, learn fascinating things, conduct research, fall in love, and fall out of it. I've experienced so much that I never really stopped to reflect. As Ferris Bueller said in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." So, I slowed down. I went hiking in Bulgaria (see my blog post about it) and traveled to Alaska—because who could say no to Alaska? I also spent a lot of time with my family, something I realized many of my college friends rarely get to do. They're so active and busy that they miss out on moments at home; I'm starting to realize that strategy might not be the best approach. Spending time with my family and taking it slow, reading books, and reflecting was my first step toward figuring out my place in the world. It felt like a strange, almost conflicting experience. On one hand, this was a betrayal of the carefree child inside me who just wanted to live in the moment. But on the other, it was a step toward becoming a better friend, a more thoughtful person.
Picking a favorite class this term has been tough since I’ve genuinely enjoyed all of them. I’m taking Linear Algebra (Math 22), Problem Solving via Object-Oriented Programming (COSC 10), and Cinematography I: Lighting and Composition (Film 44.09). Since I’m taking an art class, it’s been a more relaxed term in the sense that I’m doing more than just math and computer science. If I had to choose, CS 10 would be my favorite. The class is challenging, but Professor Timothy J. Pierson makes the material fun, covering object-oriented programming along with data structures and abstract data types. On the other hand thanks to my film class, I get access to Dartmouth’s media equipment, including a Bolex H16 film camera and 200 feet of Kodak color film, with development costs covered—truly a dream for a student cinematographer.
This semester, I’m taking mostly STEM courses—CHEM 5 (General Chemistry), ENGS 22 (Systems), and MATH 23 (Differential Equations). With two labs, it’s a relatively intense term. If I had to pick a favorite, it would definitely be MATH 23. MATH 23, in particular, stands out as one of the most useful classes I’ve taken. Over 10 weeks, we explore how relationships between variables affect outcomes and solve specific problems, offering a deeper understanding of how systems work rather than just how they are. Another reason I love this class is the professor, Robert Dougherty-Bliss. His energy and enthusiasm make the class not only engaging but genuinely enjoyable—I actually look forward to it!
ENGS 92, taught by Professor Markus Testorf, is an advanced engineering course cross-listed with the physics department and goes in depth into Fourier Transforms and basics of signal analysis, and the use of complex variables in, for example, residual calculus. By far, this was the most involved class this term. The class isn’t purely theoretical; the focus is on the use of MATLAB, and the ability to solve real-world problems was a remarkable experience, though it came at the cost of a very intense workload. One of the defining moments was when I was in my Control Theory class, and we were discussing the Nyquist stability criterion, and I could derive where it was coming from. I find it extremely interesting how the longer I study at Dartmouth, the less I have to memorise, and the more the world around me makes sense.
ENGS 62, taught by Professor Jason Dahlstrom, is the second class in the sequence with focus on digital electronics. The class emphasizes hands-on experience with deploying AI on microprocessors and working with Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). A key strength of the course is its use of industry-standard tools to address relevant, real-world problems. What made this class my favourite was its flipped classroom format: we watched pre-recorded lectures in advance and used class time for hands-on work and direct support. This approach allowed for more meaningful interaction with the professor and deeper exploration of the systems, rather than getting stuck on small bugs. On top of this, Professor Dahlstrom was incredibly responsive via email and Slack. From my experience, that is the Dartmouth difference: at Dartmouth, the professors are there by your side to guide your learning.
I wake up with a smile, because I know one of my favourite parts of the day is about to come: breakfast with my host mum. We usually eat some sort of Grieß (porridge), my favourite being Weichweizengrieß (semolina porridge). We only communicate in my broken German. Instead of obsessively correcting me, she encourages me and helps me fix only the most overarching mistakes. Sometimes I joke that I can speak German, but only with her.
After breakfast, I embark on a 55-minute metro journey to IBZ Berlin, the building where we have all our classes. A deep contrast to my 5-minute walk at Dartmouth. But I have been enjoying them. I get to listen to German news, read a book, or ponder life while listening to music.
After class, I go to one of my favourite coffee places: the fish restaurant. To this day, I am not sure of the real name of the place or what else they sell apart from fish. What I am sure of is that they serve some awesome doppios (double shots of espresso). I am a bit of a Stammgast (a regular in German). It also serves as a great reminder of my fish-loving bio friends at Dartmouth.
Once I am done enjoying coffee, my brain gets flooded with another wave of German in the form of German 44. This is probably my most important class because it lets me interact with Berlin itself. It's crazy to me how easy it is to go abroad and be so locked in on your work that you never truly interact with the subcultures of the city.
The same goes for my next activity of the day: climbing!
The BLOC board at Urban Apes, one of the climbing gyms in Berlin.
I am ready to make the case that climbing is the best thing one can do in a new city. Why, you ask? You get to meet cool people and bond over falling and trying to figure out new techniques. Finding friends is something I didn't really think about while at Dartmouth, because of how much on-campus programming there is. Whether it's fraternities and sororities, housing communities, small classes, or extracurriculars, if you have an interest there is for sure a club that bonds over that passion.
After climbing, I do a little study session, and then it's time for dinner. Usually my host father joins too. Both my host parents studied film. The mum has made three documentary movies. The dad is a professor at a local art school and a member of the German Film Academy. It's incredible to me what kind of families Dartmouth placed us in and how well most students bonded with their host families. I came to this study abroad to learn German, and learning it becomes a lot easier when you have interesting people to talk to. For example, last week I asked him whether he thinks any of his students have a film future, and whether one can see it in their work from the beginning. What followed was one of the most interesting conversations I have had in months. After dinner I do some more studying, shower, and then call my girlfriend back at Dartmouth.
I came to Berlin to learn German. What I didn't expect was how many interesting, caring people Dartmouth found for us. Whether it's my host mum's patience at breakfast, the dinner conversations that make me forget I'm practicing a language at all, or the professors. It's this awesome foundation that allows you to then interact with the world on your own, whether it's in the climbing gym or the fish café. If you decide to go, let me know. I will forward you their addresses.
Welcome back to Open Doors—your inside look at life in the Woods! This week, Isabelle Sullivan '26, an environmental studies and geography major, showed me around her room, where we discussed Dartmouth residence halls, classes, and campus life.
From a tight-knit study abroad cohort to intimate classroom moments and inspiring literary talks, French has grown far beyond a minor — becoming a thread that runs through the most meaningful parts of her Dartmouth life.
Green Key weekend at Dartmouth was filled with concerts, free food, live music, reunions, and spontaneous moments with friends. Read on to hear why this weekend reminded me what makes spring term at Dartmouth feel so special.
Amid the whirlwind of a ten-week term, the quietest moments — studying in the sun, cooking with a friend, running through Pine Park — turn out to be the ones worth savoring most.
Thanks to West House, one of the housing communities I'm part of, I got the chance to go on an overnight trip to New York City. Read on to hear all about the experience!
