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!
COSC 1 was the most challenging but rewarding class of this term. I had minimal coding experience prior to this class, but the course is manageable because of all the support available. COSC 1 is one of the largest classes offered at Dartmouth—a total of 200 students split in two sections—but there was always ample help from Professor Vasanta's classes and concept hours and the TA team's recitation and office hours. I enjoyed that assignments had creative flexibility—I recreated "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" book cover, wrote an adventure story, and made games for assignments.
I had completed my language requirement by taking CHIN 4 in my last term, but I was interested in further pursuing Chinese through CHIN 22. CHIN 22 is very similar in structure to CHIN 4—small class size, vocabulary exams, and drill sessions. I was lucky to take CHIN 22 with the Beijing Normal University's exchange professor, Professor Yin, who often adds color to lessons by explaining cultural element of China. Some interesting topics we've discussed include the effects of China's One Child Policy, transportation regulations in Beijing, and the symbolism of snow in Chinese culture.
With the development of generative artificial intelligence (AI), why learn design when ChatGPT can create it for you? CSDA 21 (Computer Science/Digital Arts 21, previously known as COSC 21) argues for the importance of human agency in design (and why AI-generated designs are flawed). Using Adobe Photoshop and After Effects, we explored a range of topics, including typography, poster design, generative AI, and motion graphics. Professor Mahoney is an incredibly supportive teacher with deep knowledge of the creative industry—make sure to go to office hours if you take the course! As CSDA 21 was my first digital arts class, I’m excited to explore the department more!
It still feels like I just landed at Dartmouth yesterday, but it's almost been an entire year now! Looking ahead, here are some things I've either:
1. Loved doing last fall and need to do again,
2. Haven't tried yet,
3. Or I'm just looking forward to it!
Whether it's your first term on campus, or even the first time you've heard of Dartmouth, I hope my list can help illustrate how exciting campus is in the fall. In no particular order, here's the list!
My classes!
Next term I'll be takingCOGS 1: Intro to Cognitive Science, CSDA 22: 3D Digital Modeling, and a third class I'm not entirely sure of yet. I loved CSDA 21 when I took it last spring, so I'm excited to explore the digital arts department further with CSDA 22!
The Norwich Farmer's Market is only a short drive or bus ride away from campus in Norwich, Vermont. Last fall, my trip leaders took us to have some of the best strawberries I've ever had, munch on fluffy cinnamon rolls, and browse piles of fresh produce. Last year, there were a bunch of blogs about the farmer's market—see Crystal's, Eloise's, Tao's, and Taylor's—so the market's a bit of a blogger favorite.
Go apple picking
New Hampshire apples are some of the best I've ever had. Last fall, I used to eat an apple a day for weeks because I had picked so many (read about my experience here!). Different organizations on campus usually organize apple picking trips throughout fall term, so keep an eye out and maybe go for free!
Hike Gile mountain
I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I haven't hiked Gile. Gile is a short, 30 minute hike that ends at a watchtower where you can see above the Hanover treeline. I've seen so many photos of the gorgeous view from Gile in the fall, but just never got to it.
Getting outdoors more
On that note, one of my first year regrets is not taking advantage of the outdoors. I'm looking forward to hiking trips with the Dartmouth Outing Club, renting a kayak from the Ledyard Canoe Club, and stargazing on the golf course!
I've always been curious about the Book Arts Studio, but didn't get the chance to sign up for a class last year. A friend of mine told me about Open Studio Hours, where you can just drop in to work on a project, without needing to sign up for a class. Next term I'm definitely stopping by.
Cooking with friends
Next fall, I'll be living in Summit on Juniper, an off-campus housing option just a 20 minute bus ride from campus. One of the perks of a Summit apartment is the personal kitchen, where I'm hoping to cook meals with friends! Read more about living at Summit in this post by Yehalah '26!
Figuring out what I'm doing with my off term
I'm planning on taking Winter 2025 off, which means I need to figure out what I'm doing quickly. I'm hoping to find an internship back home or I might do an H-term, Dartmouth lingo for when someone is staying on campus but not taking classes, usually participating in research or a campus job.
Seeing the '29's bonfire (and the '29s)
Seeing the '28s bonfire was a wild experience. Our path was pretty far away from the center, but I could still feel the radiating heat. Running around the bonfire was one of my core memories from first year, so I'm excited for another bonfire and to see lots of new faces on campus!
Stepping on a crunchy leaf
Obviously, the best part of autumn.
And of course, I've included a few seasonal foods:
Hot apple cider and an apple cider donut from Lou's
If you're like I was—staring at your closet wondering what "essentials" actually means—here is what I packed, what I'm grateful I brought, and what I now know you can leave behind.
New England's most iconic clock tower, captured from every angle and in every season! From sunrises to snowfalls, here's Baker Tower in all its glory. A visual love letter to Dartmouth's most timeless landmark.
Dartmouth is known for its outstanding graduate schools of business, engineering, and medicine, but how can undergraduates take part in that enriching environment? Read more to find out!
