People silhouetted on the summit of Moosilauke

Michal Demeter Tvrdoň

Class of 2027
A proffesional snapshot of me waring a polo t-shirt, smiling and leaning forward, it was taken during the Thayer engineering career fair
Bio 

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!

Academic Program 

Electrical Engineering

Favorite Thing Right Now 

Nature

Hometown 

Lozorno, Slovakia

Pronouns 

He/Him

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Michal Demeter's D-Plan

What's a D-Plan?

    • FallHanover, NH

      Favorite Class: PHYS 15 Introductory Physics I, Honors Section

      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.

    • WinterHanover, NH

      Favorite Class: MATH 13 Calculus of Vector-Valued Functions

      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.

    • SpringHanover, NH

      Favorite Class: PHYS 16 Introductory Physics II, Honors Section

      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.

    • FallHanover, NH

      Favorite Class: COSC-10 Problem Solving via Object-Oriented Programming

      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.

    • WinterHanover, NH

      Favorite Class: MATH 23 Differential Equations

      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!

    • FallHanover, NH

      Favorite Class: ENGS 92: Fourier Transforms and Complex Variables

      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.

    • WinterHanover, NH

      Favorite Class: ENGS 62 - Microprocessors in Engineered Systems

      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.

The image presented is of me climbing in a blue jacket, and dark pant's 30 feet about ground

The Importance of Extracurriculars in College

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Choosing a college is a major decision. It determines not just your activities but also your lifestyle. It is crucial to consider what you want your life to look like when considering where you want to go to college. 

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Posted 05/24/2024 at 9:00 AMAll Text Posts
Image of a projected Wikipedia page with one of my friends making the heart sign over it

Can you imagine living a life which doesn't revolve around information?

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I can't help but wonder how different life would be if it didn't revolve around a constant flow of information. Do our parents, or the generations before them, remember a time when intellectual stimulation wasn't an integral part of daily life?

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Posted 12/25/2023 at 9:00 AMAll Text Posts
A picture of New York Skyscrapers from the central park

My winterim expedition to my distant family in New York and a bit of Slovak history

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At the start, coming to the US revolved around pursuing education at Dartmouth and exploring both South and North America. However, this purpose gradually changed as Thanksgiving approached to reconnecting with a previously unknown part of my family.

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Posted 12/11/2023 at 9:00 AMAll Text Posts
A picture of my new friends and me

Choosing the Right University: Beyond Rankings and into the Heart of the Institution

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When we think about the process of choosing a university, it often revolves around factors like rankings, financial aid, location, and class sizes. It's a logical approach, but it totally omits the spirit of the institution. Let me explain.

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Posted 11/30/2023 at 9:00 AMAll Text Posts
Miles Blencowe, teaching physics 15.

Can You Hear the Shape of a Drum?

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Around half a century ago, the Polish-American mathematician Marek Kac posed a rather intriguing question: Can you determine the shape of a drum by listening to its sound? Surprisingly, it took a while before we could answered this question..

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Posted 11/29/2023 at 9:00 AMAll Text Posts
A picture of my new friends in the climbing gym, these will be your best friends if you become a climber.

Navigating Campus Life and Building Genuine Connections at Dartmouth (Finding friends at Dartmouth)

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It has been 6 weeks since classes started, and I still haven't found friends. Jokes!! I found some, and today I am gonna share a few lessons that you must hear to find friends at Dartmouth.

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Posted 11/11/2023 at 9:00 AMAll Text Posts

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