Los Alamos

Olivia Koo

Class of 2026
Olivia Koo profile picture

Bio 

Welcome! I'm Olivia Koo '26, hailing from Los Alamos, New Mexico. I am studying biological chemistry on the pre-med track, and I'm excited to be supplementing it with music, as a classical pianist and singer-songwriter! Some of my favorite things to do are watching YouTube videos about video games, singing and playing my guitar, and reading New York Times op-eds. Look through my page for information about Dartmouth's pre-med track, STEM research, acapella/music, and study abroad opportunities!

Academic Program 

Biological Chemistry major, pre-health

Favorite Thing Right Now 

Stardew Valley

Hometown 

Los Alamos, New Mexico

Pronouns 

she/her/hers

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Olivia's D-Plan

What's a D-Plan?

    • FallHanover, NH

      Favorite Class: BIOL 11.07: Major Events in the History of Life and the Human Genome

      Unsure whether I would enjoy the biology-heavy pre-health track, I took an intro biology class. I surprisingly found myself so invested each class—I didn’t think I’d ever be excited trying to determine if the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA) had DNA or RNA, but here we are! I found it a great introduction to thinking processes at Dartmouth.

    • WinterHanover, NH

      Favorite Class: WRIT 005: Authenticity: Self, Society and Culture

      I loved coming to this class with its supportive environment! The professor's feedback really helped me improve in my writing. This course guided us through personal narratives and organizational writing while discussing what it really means to be authentic. It also introduced me to the library’s resources for writing and research!

    • SpringHanover, NH

      Favorite Class: CHEM 11: General Chemistry

      This class was definitely not easy! The accelerated version of general chemistry, it was my first class at Dartmouth that used a textbook, and I had to adapt and learn how to use a textbook for a class properly. But that didn't mean I didn't have a good time! The classes were full of physical demonstrations, and I felt very supported in the lab and beyond.

    • FallHanover, NH

      Favorite Class: MUS 42: From Plato to Mozart (Early Classical Music)

      This was the first group music class I took, and I loved it! Each class we'd move a little forward in time; one day we'd talk about medieval chants, and by the next couple weeks, we talked about Baroque music. We even got to observe original medieval music scores from the Rauner Library, and attend a performance of Baroque music by the Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra!

    • WinterHanover, NH

      Favorite Class: MUS 36: Songwriting I

      Songwriting 1 was the first time I was able to work on something creative/in the arts at Dartmouth, and I really loved it! I got to learn how to improve my songwriting and get to know a community of fellow songwriters on campus. The class was both supportive and constructive, and I pushed myself to my creative limit with the assignment of writing one new song a week. This class inspired me to continue writing and being expressive, whether in an academic setting or not.

    • SpringLondon, England

      Favorite Class: MUS 70 Perspectives in Music Performance

      For one of my classes on the London Music FSP, I got to attend a myriad of musical performances in London and discuss them with my class! It was a once-in-a-life-time experience–getting to watch multiple operas, ballets, jazz sets, and a musical, as well as seeing beautiful performances from the London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic, and more, helped me grow my ear so much and my inspirations as a musician.

    • SummerHanover, NH

      Favorite Class: ENGL 55.27 Introduction to Literature and Medicine

      I took this class to learn a little more about the social landscape around medicine, and this class delivered that by a mile. From environmental exposure to racial inequities in medicine/health to the discussion of medicine itself as a manipulative tool in colonialist social structures, this class helped me rethink medicine and my role within it.

    • FallHanover, NH

The Homecoming Bonfire illuminating a dark night

Should I Apply Early Decision or Not? My Thoughts as a Non-ED Student

Applying early to a university can be overwhelming and confusing. As someone who did not apply to Dartmouth through early decision, here are a couple tips that I could have used when thinking about applying early to a school!

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Posted 12/22/2024 at 9:00 AMAll Text Posts
An image of a sunny lawn with fall leaves on the grass

The Pre-Health Experience at Dartmouth College

For those who want to attend medical school after their undergraduate education, the infrastructure of a "pre-med" track is an important factor when choosing a school to apply to. Here's how the premed experience has been for me at Dartmouth!

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Posted 10/29/2024 at 9:00 AMAll Text Posts
An image of Baker-Berry Tower and a tree in the sunset

From One Small Town to the Next—Transitioning to Dartmouth from a Rural Place

Dartmouth College is known for its small, tight-knit community and town, which takes some adjustment for some who didn't grow up in rural areas. So, what is Dartmouth like for those of us who grew up in small communities? Let me share my experience!

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Posted 10/15/2024 at 9:00 AMAll Text Posts

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