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!
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
The Final Lap! Reflections from a Senior about Attending Dartmouth
It's hard to believe that I'm a senior at Dartmouth College already–the years, the leaves, and the snow have all flown by, only for me and my '26 peers to emerge as the definitive seniors on campus. My friends are taking interviews, applying to graduate schools, and taking pre-professional tests (I myself took the MCAT this past summer), all in preparation for the world that waits for us outside of our New England campus.
And as the leaves turn golden for the last time I'll be an undergraduate here, I'm brought to reflect on how attending Dartmouth has shaped my college experience, both in the formative and trivial. What has affected my experiences here the most?
1. The Rural Setting
The sight of lush trees and the sound of the breeze passing through the leaves never gets old, no matter how many times I cross the campus to go to my next class. Although I couldn't be described as the most active hiker among the students, I still appreciate the small-town quaintness and feeling of being nestled within the trees of New Hampshire. Instead of going shopping or finding new restaurants, our outings tend to consist of apple picking, skiing, and hiking (although I personally have yet to go skiing!). I like to play tennis or treat myself to a book at one of the local bookstores in town. That being said, without a car of my own, my adventures stay in the Upper Valley for the most part, with the occasional trip to Boston through the Dartmouth Coach.
I just went to Boston last week to catch a concert - it was a really amazing time!
2. The Greek Life Presence
Although I did not partake in the Greek life on campus, its significance on campus means that I ended up getting acquainted with the different houses on campus and the culture that follows. From the Greek letter-inlaid sweaters and sweatpants I see people wear in the dining hall to the emails for different open social events I get in my inbox every day from different houses, Greek life could be considered a foundational part of Dartmouth's social scene. With that being said, I've found people and close friendships outside of the Greek community, through my love of playing and making music, that help me stay engaged in the wider Dartmouth community.
For example, I've found a lot of friends through my acapella group, the Rockapellas.
3. The Quarter System
Who knew that I would start perceiving my time in weekly units in college? At Dartmouth, the ten-week quarters guarantee a whirlwind of events every term–when combining classes, social events, extracurriculars, and part-time work, there will always be something to do! That's rung true for each of my terms on campus, and when I notice that the calendar is displaying that Week 5 or 8 is approaching, I know that a week full of work is approaching…
The quarter system has also allowed me to hone in on three classes a term, providing me a deep dive into each subject while I'm taking the course, as well as a pleasant six-week "Winterim" between the fall and winter terms.
Every undergraduate experience is different, depending on the school you attend, and each school, with its unique settings, provides for a special experience. Dartmouth, I'd argue, is particularly interesting–not every school can say they have a giant forest park and pond on campus!
And sometimes, the sun glinting through the trees is all it takes for me to love it here!
One of the most unique traditions at Dartmouth is sophomore summer, where students stay on campus to take classes the summer before their junior year. My sophomore summer has been an incredibly special experience!
New Hampshire is such a glorious state with so much to offer in the fall! Come with me as I explore Plainfield, NH, and go apple picking at Riverview Farms.
Now that I'm a sophomore, I find myself in the possession of an extraordinary amount of 'Dartmouth lingo.' This is your formal invitation to get the inside scoop!
Now that I'm officially halfway through my Dartmouth career, I'm acutely aware of how fast time seems to fly. It seems like years ago that I first experienced Fallapalooza, a free concert for Dartmouth students hosted by Programming Board.
