Hi there! I'm Nathan, a '27 from Lynn, MA (just outside Boston). I'm an intended Engineering Sciences Major and Studio Art Minor—I like to understand, design, and create things. I also love reading about history, writing, and photography (hence this blog). On-campus, I'm involved in the Triathlon Team, French Living Learning Community (LLC), and Magnuson Center for Entrepreneurship. Explore my posts for an inside perspective of everything Dartmouth has to offer!
I took this class to explore the Biology Department and it ended up defining my freshman Fall. I grew close with other biology-minded students and together we delved deep into cellular mechanisms and processes in a fast-paced environment. The labs were long but rewarding and everything about this class made me a better scientist—Professor Bezanilla is an amazing teacher! I would recommend this class to anyone with a passion for biology and research.
“Who do I want to be?” is a question that I frequently ask myself as an undergraduate (and I’m sure you will as well). A good place to begin answering this question, however, is “Who am I ?” Taking Investigative Memoir as my first-year seminar allowed me to explore this question via personal reflection and expressive writing—something that has helped me frame my identity at Dartmouth with the rest of my life. College can be a surreal experience, but Professor Sharlet’s introduction to the world of creative nonfiction has given me the ability to transform my own perceptions into tangible, recorded stories.
As a kid I drew a lot; I was inspired by architectural books like “Pyramid” and “Castle” and fascinated by illustrations in “The Way Things Work.” All of these books are by the author David Macaulay—and I had the opportunity to take this very class with him! I completed weekly sketchbook exercises, worked on visually communicating inventions, and was able to receive personal feedback. The theme of visual illustration as a tool in engineering resonated strongly with me, inspiring my interest in an engineering major modified with studio art. Given my long relationship with his work, this class was truly a dream come true.
SummerAmherst, Massachusetts
I interned at a running biomechanics research lab in Amherst, MA, to explore my interests in kinesiology and running shoe design! I was able to self-fund the internship through a grant from the Dartmouth Center for Professional Development (CPD). I spent the rest of my summer reading, spending time with family, and took a trip to Quebec before returning to campus.
I hope you enjoyed the Mushroom cover image. I could have kept walking down the sidewalk on the way to—you guessed it—writing things like this blog post, but I stopped to capture the moment.
If you're anything like me, sometimes you go weeks without writing anything. Sometimes you stop and take pictures of mushrooms to delay the inevitable (okay, maybe that's on another level). Regardless, you've probably struggled at some point when it actually came time to write something. If you're a rising junior or senior right now, you might be receiving a lot of advice about getting an early start on your college essays. I thought it might be helpful to share my experience and highlight the idea that it's quite possible to begin the writing process earlier—without necessarily putting your fingertips to the keyboard.
When I was applying to schools, I went down a rabbit hole of essay writing strategies and devoured examples of "successful" essays. I read a few books and probably listened to a full work week's worth of podcasts. Maybe this was my method of coping with the fact that I had essays to write that I didn't want to start yet—but I still found it very valuable. The more related information I was able to take in, the more I could begin to see how I might approach writing my own essays. I started the reflection process early and my ideas were able to marinate.
All this is to say that the actual, deep work that was required for me to end up with essays I was proud of came from the process of not writing. I was intentionally keeping track of ideas through notes, but I was also subconsciously processing how I could present myself in my essays. When it came time to actually write, the task became to convey my thoughts in the most effective way possible—and that simply came through grammar, vocabulary, and some storytelling strategies.
I also knew the methods of expressing my marinated ideas, so to speak, were important, but I came across an insight. You can take my word with a grain of salt, but from my own college essay journey, I found that it can be easy to get caught up in flowery language, complex syntax, and experimental writing structures.. It would have been easy to deem the way I was telling my story into the 'content' of the story, but I realized a focus on the content itself and working backwards yielded a more authentic representation of myself.
Anyways, I hope this alleviated some pressure to have your college essays fully fleshed out by the end of summer. Have ideas and be constantly thinking about who you are, who you've been, and who you want to be. The writing will come.
I applied through Questbridge's National College Match, but did not match. To others who also did not match, this is not the end of your application process! Here's what I did following match decision day.
Learn about the different programs Dartmouth offers prospective students to explore campus life, learn about Dartmouth, and enjoy an all-expenses paid trip to Hanover!
"What's it like working for admissions?" "Are you being truthful with your answers?" "Are you being scripted?" Let's dive right into all these questions.
It's been (almost) a full year since I was in your (figurative) shoes! Let's take a trip down memory lane and dissect my Dartmouth application process. Part one of a long journey!
Dartmouth students enjoy diverse summer experiences, balancing productivity and leisure through local jobs, remote internships, and programs like the First-Year Fellows, each offering unique opportunities for personal and professional growth.
