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.
There are many ways to spend the six weeks between the fall and winter terms, but there's nothing like spending them at home. Here's what I've been doing during winterim!
Preparation for future classes
The extended interim offers a unique opportunity to brush up on topics for future classes that I signed up for (or plan to sign up for). For example, I plan to take a chemistry class in the spring, but I haven't taken one since junior year of high school. I plan to brush up on the basics so I'm not completely thrown off kilter when I take the class!
I am also practicing piano for my IIP to make sure that I don't forget what I've learned in the past term and to get a head start on the next pieces for the winter term!
Spending time with family and friends
Of course, going home means that I get to see my family and friends—I've enjoyed waking up and saying hello to my brother and parents each morning, and watching shows together in the evenings (playing video games, too!). Catching up with friends and learning about how they've spent the last couple months has been very interesting too; despite the different paths they've gone on and experiences they've had, we all share similar feelings, from relief about being home for the holidays to nervous excitement about all that had happened.
Truly reflecting on the term
Since I didn't have much time to stop and think about the term in the middle of the term, having some time to process afterwards has been helpful. What classes did I like, and what did I like about them? Or not so much? From changes to my lifestyle, to bringing new things to New Hampshire next term, to thinking about potential majors I'd like to aim for, there's a lot to think about, but plenty of time to mull it all over.
Rest
But, in the end, a break is just that: a break. As much as I'd love to spend all day working on personal projects or hobbies, spending time just relaxing has been fruitful too. The pressure to constantly work looms, but I like to think that prioritizing physical and emotional health is never a regret. I've spent my rest by watching comfort shows and playing video games—it's been a wonderful time.
Went on a hike, too; the foliage of Los Alamos is a stark contrast from Hanover, but equally pretty!
"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.
Welcome to my blog! Here you'll find snapshots of my life and explorations at Dartmouth, ruminations on life, outdoor adventures, process of finding my major and more. I can't wait to show you around!
My time at Dartmouth has been filled with a lot of change, yet I'm struck by how similar Dartmouth is to my life back home, or rather, how Dartmouth is quickly becoming a place I call home.
