Hi everyone! I'm Oscar, a '28 from Flushing, NYC. My academic interests are a mix of the arts (studio art, graphic design), the sciences (psychology, biology, sustainability), and maybe even anthropology? All of which I'm thinking of merging with a major in Cognitive Science with a focus area on Design. Outside the classroom, I'm passionate about giving back to my community, fiber arts, and em dashes. Welcome to my blog—I'm excited to explore Dartmouth together!
My first term at Dartmouth is already over! It seems like it was just yesterday when I moved in for orientation in September. This past term, among many things, involved sleeping on a farm, running around a bonfire, going apple picking, and meeting so many new people. 24F (Dartmouth slang for Fall 2024) was a combination of excitement, stress, and getting very sick (first year flu is very real). Here are a few thoughts to close off 24Fall.
On The Quarter System:
Ten weeks go by fast.
I seem to be repeating the word "fast" quite a bit, but it's true! I had gotten more comfortable in my classes, I've been building connections with my professors, and feeling like I've learned a lot—and then the term ended. The quarter system is no joke. In CHIN 4, I finished two whole textbooks—what I normally would have learned across two years in high school—crammed into one term. Thankfully, Dartmouth students usually take 3 courses a term rather than the 5-6 courses of the semester system to balance out the workload. Thus, Dartmouth students' courses go faster, but they have fewer classes to manage than a traditional semester schedule. I admit, I didn't think much about the pace of the quarter system when I applied to Dartmouth. If you are currently considering Dartmouth, think about if a faster-paced, more intensive schedule where you can explore a variety of topics seems appealing. If so, the quarter system might be for you.
At the end of the term, it felt like a whole year of high school was over. Next term my schedule would be different, my classes would change, and the people on campus would be different because of the D-Plan. The quarter system moves by fast, in terms of curriculum, scheduling, and social life. Due to this, there's a sense of flexibility and impermanence on campus that makes it even more important to take advantage of every moment.
My friends made brownies topped with salted caramel to celebrate the end of finals season!
On Finding Community:
How will I make friends? Will I fit in?
Those were the kind of questions I was asking myself on the bus ride to Hanover. It was a jarring transition moving from NYC—where my friends and family are—to Dartmouth, where there are a few familiar faces, but I largely had to start my social circle anew.
During my pre-orientation program, the First-Year Student Enrichment Program (FYSEP), Jay Davis, the Director of the First Generation Office, gave me a piece of advice that really stuck with me: "Everyone is excited to meet you, you just have to put yourself out there." And by following his advice, I've met friends through the First Generation Office, my house community, the Office of Pluralism and Leadership (OPAL), classes, clubs, blogging—the list goes on. Everyone truly is excited to meet new people, form connections, and explore Dartmouth together. If you're nervous about moving far from home, that's totally valid! It's scary moving away from everyone you're familiar with. But everyone's kind of in the same boat, everyone's ready to meet you, so take the leap!
Here's to good luck and new adventures for 25W!
On 25W: Post-Winterm (Win·ter·im (n.) - the interim period before winter term, winter break), I'm excited to get back on campus! The good thing about college is that breaks are long—especially Dartmouth's unique winterim, which is six weeks from Thanksgiving to New Year's. But after all the relaxing and catching up with friends and family, I'm ready to get back on the academic grind. I'm looking forward to the Winter Carnival, ice skating on Occom Pond, and eating Foco (students' nickname for our dining hall) cookies!
One of the most rewarding parts of my time at Dartmouth so far has been participating in research. Read on to learn more about how Dartmouth makes research accessible for all students!
In my freshman year, I wrote a blog revisiting my decision of attending Dartmouth College. Now that more than a year has passed, I would love to revisit my decision again, with a more realistic lens.
